The last time the U.S. Women’s national team was seen at a high-level global tournament, the results were disappointing: a Round of 16 exit at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The favorites struggled to generate offense, winning only one match in the group stage and scoring just four goals in four games under coach Vlatko Andonovski. New coach Emma Hayes is now charged with getting the USWNT back to the top of the podium on the international stage.
Leading the charge for the USWNT are four veterans with more than 100 caps: midfielder Lindsey Horan (150 caps), forward Crystal Dunn (149 caps), goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (106 caps) and midfielder Rose Lavelle (106 caps), three of whom were on the 2019 World Cup-winning squad. Team USA, along with Zambia, Germany and Australia, comprise Group B at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Time: 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT
Location: Stade de Nice | Nice, France
Channel: USA Network
Stream: Fubo, Peacock
Stay with Yahoo Sports for full coverage of the USWNT opening up group play at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Focused in France. pic.twitter.com/szfRVrTuMR
U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 25, 2024
The Starting XI for Zambia:
It appears at first glance that Zambia will play three at the back vs. the #USWNT:Musole (GK) Siamfuko, Mweemba, Tembo G. Chanda, H Chanda, Chilufya, Chitundu, Mupopo Kundananji, B. Banda.Kundananji & Banda the big names, but look out for former 400m champion Mupopo.
Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 25, 2024
Here is the Starting XI for USWNT:
A Nice XI to start the Olympics Full Lineup Notes ⤵️#USWNT x @Visa
U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 25, 2024
Still waiting for Zambia’s lineup…
In Group C, World champion Spain defeated Japan, 21.
Another winner for Spain! Mariona Caldentey scores to lead her team to victory over Japan. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/oMbBucn79J
NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) July 25, 2024
Also in Group C, Nigeria and Brasil are matched up today.
Defending Olympic champion Canada defeated New Zealand, 21, in Group A to open the Women’s Soccer Tournament on Thursday.
Meanwhile, New Zealand takes the lead over previous Olympic winners Canada with this goal from Mackenzie Barry.What a start to the Olympics: pic.twitter.com/pfsQwDFCR1
Kamran Nia (@kamran_nia) July 25, 2024
Also in Group A, France and Colombia will play at 3 p.m. ET.
Emma Hayes was born and raised in central London, and enchanted, like so many British kids, by football. Shed play with her two sisters, Rebecca and Victoria. Shed play in cages, or on family vacations at the beach. Shed play with boys at primary school. She jumped to a local club, then rose through Arsenals academy. Shed play wherever she could until she couldnt.
Around age 17, after damaging her ankle on a ski trip, she had to stop.
For months, perhaps years, she was devastated, heartbroken, her sisters wrote. She went off to college in Liverpool, focusing on European studies, Spanish and sociology. She later went after a masters degree in intelligence and international affairs. Her intention, she has said, was to work in counter intelligence; to become a spy. I wanted to work for the United Nations, she added on a recent podcast. I wanted to become a peacekeeper.
But football always pulled at her. So did her dad, Sid, who loved the sport. He attended football all over the world, often as a ticket tout but he would watch all the games too, Emma recalled. And as his daughter explored coaching, he phoned her from the United States, during either the 1996 Olympics or the 1999 Womens World Cup. Emma, he said, after describing the crowds and the buzz, youve got to move to America. This is where its at.
Read the full feature on Hayes here.