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By: Jason Anderson | Pro Soccer Wire

The U.S. women’s national team began the Emma Hayes era in impressive fashion, winning gold at the 2024 Olympics. Despite the English head coach having just a few weeks from the end of her successful tenure at Chelsea to prepare for a major tournament, the USWNT looked more like itself than it had in years.

Still, this was by no means a finished product, and Hayes’ next act will be making sure this wasn’t simply a case of being the team that endured the specific grind of an Olympic tournament better than anyone else. Hayes would be the first to tell you that winning one tournament — particularly one where all three knockout games were so close-run — doesn’t mean the job is done.

With eight gold medal final starters under the age of 26, and younger players like Jaedyn Shaw and Jenna Nighswonger seemingly certain to play a bigger role going forward, plenty of places in Hayes’ regular rotation seem settled.

However, with one-third of the USWNT Olympic roster already over 30 and the next major tournament a whole three years away, this is a crucial moment for the team. Whether it’s simply to increase competition for places — a hallmark of USWNT culture that softened following the 2019 World Cup — or to remake the core group more comprehensively, one thing is clear: The starters in the Olympics will not be the first 11 at the 2027 World Cup.

Pro Soccer Wire isn’t privy to whatever long list of players Hayes wants to evaluate and promote in the coming months, but we can take our best guess.

In alphabetical order, here are the best bets to claim major USWNT roles in the near future:

Croix Bethune: Midfielder, Washington Spirit
Bethune is so obviously the next big thing for the USWNT that this segment is almost a cheat. Hayes named the Washington Spirit rookie as an Olympic alternate, and subbed her into a group-stage game after Jaedyn Shaw’s leg injury.

But just to reiterate: Bethune is one assist away from tying Tobin Heath’s NWSL record for assists in a single season after just 16 games as a pro. She’s in the league MVP race, which is to say she’s one of the best players in the world in 2024.

Rose Lavelle is a star for a reason, but the 29-year-old’s battle with injuries has been a story in nearly every tournament she’s played. The fact that Hayes opted to drop her in the gold medal game raises questions about whether the coach is ready to fully trust Lavelle.

Here’s the thing, though: even if those questions all end up being brushed aside, Bethune has flat-out played her way into the team to such an extent that her role as an alternate was arguably less than she deserved at the Olympics. Based on current form, it is already her time.

To be frank, it would be baffling if the USWNT’s Bethune era doesn’t get underway in the coming months.

Center backs abound
Hayes took just two natural center backs to France, with Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson backed up by a do-it-all defensive option (Emily Sonnett) and a fullback (Casey Krueger).

However, that was less a statement about the players available and more of a risk taken due to the unreasonable 18-player squad limit in place for the Olympics. Emily Sams was brought along as an alternate, but the Orlando Pride center back is one of several who will be vying for a place in Hayes’ plans.

The list here is long enough that we’re going to cluster them all into this section. Sam Staab is out for the rest of 2024 due to a torn Achilles tendon, but was granted a long-awaited call-up before the Olympic roster was announced. Paris Saint-Germain’s Eva Gaetino was called in for the SheBelieves Cup, indicating that Hayes wants to evaluate several options.

North Carolina Courage pair Malia Berkely and Kaleigh Kurtz have both acquitted themselves very well in a system where being able to defend in space is a must. Washington’s Tara McKeown would bring some much-needed aerial ability to the table, particularly as Brazil and Mexico have both shown that the USWNT is uncertain when games become long-ball battles.

Girma, Davidson, and Sonnett are probably settled into their spots on the team, but beyond that? The competition to get into the mix is serious.

Mandy Haught: Goalkeeper, Utah Royals
It’s not clear whether there will be an opening among the goalkeeper pool, with Alyssa Naeher offering a reminder of what she’s still capable of in the gold medal triumph over Brazil. With Casey Murphy and Jane Campbell yet to hit 30, and Aubrey Kingsbury pushing that duo for the final spots on the Olympic squad, it’s a deep group.

However, Haught was the No. 1 for an NJ/NY Gotham FC side that took the NWSL title last year. In 2024, she’s second among goalkeepers only to Ann-Katrin Berger (the player the Bats brought in after trading Haught for expansion draft protection) in American Soccer Analysis’ Goals Added (G+) metric, a measurement of all-around contribution to a team’s success.

Yes, Utah has had a rough go of it in 2024, but it would be so much worse if Haught weren’t playing at the level of a Best 11 contender. While the 25-year-old may have some rough edges in terms of coming out of her area, the stuff that’s harder to teach — raw shot-stopping, bravery, and agility — is in place.

If Naeher decides this was her last hurrah with the USWNT, or if Hayes wants to up the competition among her goalkeeping options, look for Haught to get called up in the near future.

Hal Hershfelt: Midfielder, Washington Spirit
Another Olympic alternate, Hershfelt was something of a surprise inclusion by Hayes. The rookie has had a strong start to her NWSL career, but before Hayes’ arrival seemed on course for a post-Olympics call-up rather than ending up on the flight to France.

However, you have to consider how Hershfelt’s well-rounded skill-set aligns with some impending USWNT needs. Teams like Brazil and Mexico have shown in 2024 that speed, aggression, and physical strength are issues for the USWNT’s central midfield starters.

The Spirit box-to-box midfielder isn’t necessarily a Julie Ertz clone, but covers huge swaths of the field while bringing a bite that the U.S. has lacked without the retired star. As a ball-winning presence that can drive the team forward on the ball or with her range of passing, Hershfelt seems to be an ideal compliment to any of the USWNT’s midfield starters from this Olympic tournament.

Hayes’ call-up underlines the argument that Hershfelt has a set of tools that the USWNT has long prized. With Horan slowing down, and with a midfield that otherwise skews towards the less physically imposing side of the coin, don’t be shocked if Hayes finds minutes for Hershfelt in the team’s fall friendlies.

Claire Hutton: Midfielder, Kansas City Current
Hayes went more or less all-in on Sam Coffey for these Olympics, which almost proved costly after the Portland Thorns midfielder picked up a suspension for the USWNT’s quarterfinal against Japan.

With Sonnett needed at the back, Korbin Albert looked uncomfortable playing out of position as the No. 6 on the day. With bigger rosters in the team’s future, that’s a good reason to evaluate the 18-year-old’s fit within the senior team going forward.

It doesn’t hurt that Hutton has a chokehold on a starting spot for Vlatko Andonovski’s league-leading KC Current. Defensive midfield is a position that often requires experience, yet Hutton has looked like a hard-nosed, grizzled veteran as a teenage rookie in that role.

Much like Hershfelt, Hutton brings some toughness and speed to the job, and winning a starting midfield job on this Kansas City team is impressive work. Hutton’s argument for future call-ups is as strong as just about anyone else on this list.

Ally Sentnor: Winger/Forward, Utah Royals
Utah has had a nightmare on the field in 2024, but like Haught, Sentnor has thrived regardless. The rookie attacker is having the kind of season that points to future call-ups on the horizon.

On a team that has been routinely outplayed and that has lacked weapons going forward, the 20-year-old has still managed to secure a place in the NWSL’s top three in terms of shot-creating actions (level with Bethune and trailing only Temwa Chawinga). Of the 10 players to attempt the most dribbles this season, Sentnor’s 47.6% rate trails only MVP candidate Barbra Banda, placing Sentnor ahead of players like Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman.

In just about any attacking category, Sentnor’s name is at or near the top of the list, and unlike the USWNT’s top players, she’s doing this without much support. With Mina Tanaka and Cloé Lacasse joining Utah, the versatile Sentnor may well be able to make a stronger case for inclusion on the roster for the post-Olympic friendlies coming up in the fall.

Gisele Thompson: Defender, Angel City FC
The younger Thompson sister is among the 30 field players at any position in G+ this season (third-best among fullbacks), and is standing out despite Angel City’s erratic performances.

That dovetails well with some impending team needs with the USWNT. While Emily Fox looks secure as a starter, Thompson could find her way into a role as the Arsenal defender’s understudy. Crystal Dunn and Krueger will both be in their mid-30s by the time the 2027 World Cup arrives, and while neither is showing signs of slowing down right now, Hayes has to be prepared for that eventuality.

Thompson’s strengths right now center on her one-on-one play, in both directions. In 612 minutes played thus far this season, her rate of successful dribbles exceeds that of Dunn and Nighswonger, and compares favorably with the league’s best attacking fullbacks. Defensively, Thompson’s quick feet and competitiveness make her tough to beat, which is what the USWNT needs to shut counter-attacking threats down.

Thompson’s first job is winning a full-time starting role with Angel City, where there’s competition from veterans Jasmyne Spencer and Merritt Mathias. Still, don’t be surprised if Hayes wants to see how she operates within a USWNT environment, or if Thompson emerges as Becki Tweed’s first-choice option down the stretch.

USWNT-experienced players looking to get back into the picture
When we talk about who’s next for the USWNT, we can’t forget some really talented players who have, in the early days of Hayes’ tenure, found call-ups harder to come by.

Ashley Sanchez has over the last two or three months been in electric form for the North Carolina Courage, and seems to have solved how to add more goals to her game in Sean Nahas’ system. Sanchez is sixth in the NWSL with 62 shot-creating actions on the season, which puts her right up there with Bethune, Smith, and Rodman.

Taylor Flint has flown under the radar at Racing Louisville, but the towering midfielder has been arguably the best No. 8 in the league this year. There may be more of a stretch on her end to operate within a more patient, possession-oriented system, but like Hershfelt she could really add a lot when the USWNT finds itself in a more direct, physical sort of game.

Alyssa Thompson was finding her form in league play before the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup began, particularly in terms of chance generation off the dribble. Thompson is a very different player from Lynn Williams, but with the latter turning 31 in May, it’s a good idea to have more options available in terms of speed on the wings.

Andi Sullivan was a pre-Olympic call-up as a training player, and has had a stronger 2024 with Washington (a team that looks significantly less confident when the defensive midfielder has been off the field). In Hayes’ more coherent USWNT midfield structure, Sullivan should be in the mix to compete with Coffey.

Lily Yohannes: Midfielder, Ajax
Yohannes scored on her USWNT debut back in June, before Hayes said that the 17-year-old wasn’t quite ready to make her choice between being cap-tied to the U.S. or the Netherlands.

The midfielder’s staggering maturity in a USWNT shirt was not a surprise given her UEFA Women’s Champions League play, and winning that recruiting battle is very likely a top priority for Hayes in the months to come.

It just so happens that Yohannes will also have an avenue to playing time that could accelerate her development. She has the size and mobility to compete with Hershfelt, Albert, and others for time as the USWNT’s No. 8, while arguably being even more comfortable as a No. 6.

Yohannes’ range of passing, vision, and composure are off the charts already, and she has all the potential needed to become a dominant midfielder in the years to come, whether that’s in a U.S. kit or in Dutch orange. It’s not crazy to think of her as becoming one of the team’s star players, and her current trajectory favors that happening in the next few years.