For the first time since 2012, the USWNT took home the gold medal, and they proved a few things along the way at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Ever since the inaugural Olympic women’s soccer tournament in 1996, the U.S. Women’s National Team dominated the competition. Over the next two decades, the Stars and Stripes won a record four gold medals. For all their success, though, the USA had failed to make a gold medal match in the last 14 years, and the next generation of talent looked to change that this summer.
The USWNT came into the Paris 2024 Olympics unbeaten under new manager, Emma Hayes, and they extended their streak with six consecutive wins in France. The USWNT were the only squad (men’s or women’s) to finish their Olympic campaign with a perfect record that culminated in a gold medal.
Here’s a breakdown of four things we learned from Hayes’ team at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
4 things we learned from USWNT at the Paris 2024 Olympics
1. The USWNT is back
It is no secret the USWNT had a major fall-off after 2019. The once dominant side could only manage a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and then made a Round of 16 exit at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Expectations heading into Paris were much lower than they had been in the past.
Despite the naysayers, the United States reintroduced themselves as a powerhouse in women’s soccer over the last two weeks. Emma Hayes’ squad, lead by a magnificent trident up top of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson, showed the world that they are once again the gold medal standard.
2. Alyssa Naeher is an all-time great for the USA
There is so much talk (and rightfully so) surrounding Briana Scurry and Hope Solo as the two best USWNT goalkeepers, but Alyssa Naeher solidified her spot in the conversation as one of the all-time greats for the United States between the posts.
The 36-year-old did not concede a goal in the knockout stage, keeping three consecutive clean sheets on the way to a gold medal. Naeher now has two clean sheets in two of the biggest games for the USWNT—the 2019 Women’s World Cup final and the 2024 gold medal match.
3. Emma Hayes is the perfect fit to lead the next generation
Emma Hayes arrived in the United States just two months ago, and yet she has already accomplished more in her short time as head coach than previous USWNT managers throughout their entire tenures. Some questioned Hayes for taking such an inexperienced squad to the Paris 2024 Olympics and leaving home veterans like Alex Morgan, but the former Chelsea manager trusted her young talent, and ultimately led them to a gold medal.
The players believe in Hayes just as much as she believes in them, and it is clear they want to win for her, something that makes this Stars and Stripes squad even more dangerous moving forward.
4. Naomi Girma is a future captain
Naomi Girma proved she will one day be the captain of this USWNT. The center-back played every second of the USA’s Paris 2024 Olympics campaign, and led the backline in their exceptional defensive efforts.
Girma is a leader both on and off the pitch, and after a performance like the one she had this summer, it seems only fitting that she will earn the privilege of wearing the armband for the Stars and Stripes.
