Belief, freedom, fun: U.S. soccer stars reveal why Emma Hayes was the key to gold at Paris 2024
Belief. Freedom. Fun.
Those are the key pillars behind Emma Hayes’ title winning start to life as the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) head coach, according to her players.
Just over two months into her new role, the Englishwoman led the Americans to a fifth Olympic football gold with victory at the Paris 2024 Games, beating Brazil 1-0 in the final.
It ended their 12-year wait for another title at the Games, and the players believe it is the arrival of the British coach that acted as the catalyst for their success.
“I think this [gold] is just the start for us,” USWNT forward Sophia Smith exclusively told Olympics.com.
“I know we’ve gone through our fair share of ups and downs, but I do feel like we’ve finally found our footing and a lot of that is credit to Emma.
“I think she has come in and helped us rediscover who we already knew we were, but we just needed a little bit of guidance.”
That sentiment is echoed by team-mate Naomi Girma, who chalks their title-winning campaign to having the freedom to play their own way.
“I think she just came in and allowed us to be ourselves and play freely and express ourselves,” the defender said.
“I think we have such a good group and to just have that freedom helped us to gel quickly and be successful.”
The ‘unseen’ side to the USWNT’s success
According to Trinity Rodman, who was a mainstay on the right wing, there is an element of Hayes’s coaching that goes unseen.
She takes her role seriously and is all business when it comes down to it, but there’s also one thing she encourages her players to have: fun.
Whether it is in training or on the pitch, Hayes is instilling joy in this side once more.
“I think the fun aspect goes a little bit unseen in sports, but I think it was huge for us,” the 22-year-old told us.
“In training sessions, even game days, there’s always music blasting [by designated team DJ Crystal Dunn], there’s always dances, there’s always fun.
“I think that helps us with our success; being one and being together.”
That kind of unity and friendship translated on the pitch, with the current crop of USA stars flourishing together.
“When a coach believes in you, it goes a long way,” added Mallory Swanson, who scored the game-winning goal against Brazil.
“She [Emma] just kept saying ‘play with joy, have fun’, and that’s exactly what we did and you could see that.
“We’re just good friends and best friends off the field and that shows on the field.”
But while her players are giving her the plaudits, Hayes is modest in her glory.
The way she sees it, the winning formula had already been set in motion, she just helped “facilitate” things.
“I think [winning gold] is a combination of many things – the culmination of the team and journey it was already on,” Emma revealed.
“I just came in and helped facilitate what was already a work in progress.
“This team is super adaptable and we had a really good tournament.”