Hayes seeking right mix in bid to return USWNT to Olympic glory

Hayes seeking right mix in bid to return USWNT to Olympic glory

U.S. women's national team head coach Emma Hayes has promised to assemble a squad featuring a delicate mix of veterans and youth before heading to this year's Paris Olympics where she hopes to return the team to golden glory.

Hayes, speaking on Thursday on NBC's "Today" program, turned her full attention to the national team this week after winning a fifth straight Women's Super League title with Chelsea on Saturday and stopped short of predicting Olympic gold.

"My focus is on the performances of the team," said Hayes. "I want to get that right first."

Hayes was named head coach of the national team last November but finished her final season as coach of Chelsea before formally taking over this week.

The 47-year-old Londoner acknowledged the women's soccer landscape has changed dramatically and that many teams from around the world have caught up with the previously dominant U.S. women's national team (USWNT) who have won four Women's World Cups.

But despite an incredible amount of success, the national team have not won Olympic gold since 2012 and last year endured their worst-ever performance at a Women's World Cup when they lost in the Round of 16.

"There's no denying that historically, the program has been hugely successful but the rest of the world and their resources has made that an equal playing field," said Hayes.

The U.S. team won four of the first five editions of the Olympic women's soccer tournament, failed to win a medal for the first time in 2016 before returning to the podium at Tokyo 2020 where they took bronze.

Hayes announced this week her first USWNT roster for a pair of early-June friendlies against South Korea and will unveil her Olympics squad later that month.

Hayes told "Today" her focus is on obtaining a balance between veterans and up-and-coming talent.

"For me it's the combination, the blend, we need the right mix," said Hayes. "You can't go to an Olympics with a complete inexperienced squad. We need our experienced players but getting that composition right, that's my job between now and June 16." REUTERS

OTHER NEWS

22 minutes ago

Fight for control of Yemen's banks between rebels, government threatens to further wreck economy

22 minutes ago

'This Week' Transcript 6-16-24: Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, Sen. Tim Scott and Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein

22 minutes ago

Sen. Tim Scott says he stands by vote to certify 2020 election

22 minutes ago

Euro 2024: Man shot by Hamburg police after axe threat

22 minutes ago

Brandon McMullen says Scotland will be ‘back stronger’ after T20 World Cup exit

25 minutes ago

Who is Matthieu Pavon's wife Melissa? What we know

25 minutes ago

Germany's Pavlovic gets new Bayern contract after missing Euro 2024 with illness

31 minutes ago

‘I was in the depths of alcoholism. Then my son said two sentences that changed my life’

31 minutes ago

SP demands future elections through ballot papers

31 minutes ago

MPs & MLAs should constantly monitor development and public welfare works: CM Yogi

31 minutes ago

Labor disregards renewable costings and slams Opposition’s nuclear ‘cost of transition’

31 minutes ago

Stocks are sexy, but these market gurus see a generational opportunity in bonds

36 minutes ago

Kaunda’s posting to NCOP came as a shock

36 minutes ago

Brittney Griner Sends Serious Team USA Message Despite Backlash

37 minutes ago

UN welcomes Israel announcement of Gaza ‘pauses’ for aid deliveries

37 minutes ago

France coach Deschamps on brink of ton of triumphs

37 minutes ago

A Father's Day ode to Papi, and what I never asked

41 minutes ago

Video: Kate Middleton embraced late Queen's 'stoicism and calm' as she showed 'confident determination, reassurance and support' during Trooping the Colour, body language expert claims

42 minutes ago

Behind the scenes at Hajj: The lifecycle of Jamarat pebbles

42 minutes ago

Scotland vs Switzerland: Euro 2024 prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds

42 minutes ago

De Minaur wins Dutch grasscourt title to hit a new high ahead of Wimbledon

42 minutes ago

How much does it cost to build a golf course?

42 minutes ago

Nearby Iranian ship ignores distress call of ship attacked by Houthis

42 minutes ago

This part of the US is at highest risk for a devastating tsunami

42 minutes ago

Russian soldier says army suffering heavy losses in Kharkiv offensive

43 minutes ago

Police shoot axe-wielding man before Euro match

43 minutes ago

Two killed, several wounded in shooting in Texas park

44 minutes ago

Jack Draper beats Matteo Berrettini to win Stuttgart Open and first ATP title

44 minutes ago

Search resumes for boater reported missing in Chicago's ‘playpen'

46 minutes ago

Video: British couple, 44 and 30, are rushed to hospital with second-degree burns after boat explodes in Majorca

47 minutes ago

Dog bitten by venomous snake at Connecticut state park prompts risky mountaintop rescue

47 minutes ago

Brilliant Bulls end Leinster's season and reach URC final

47 minutes ago

Donald Trump challenged Biden to a cognitive test, then got his own doctor’s name wrong

48 minutes ago

Ukraine updates: Swiss peeace summit enters second day

48 minutes ago

NT government confirms option on the table to build more houses, infrastructure outside of Wadeye

48 minutes ago

One House Of The Dragon Star Refuses To Watch Game Of Thrones

48 minutes ago

Influencer Jadé Tuncdoruk welcomes first child with husband Lachie Brycki and reveals newborn's unique name

51 minutes ago

Heathrow faces near billion-pound rates time bomb

51 minutes ago

Euro 2024 scores, results, highlights, standings: Switzerland top Hungary in Group A; Spain face Croatia

52 minutes ago

The rise of ‘micro-schools’: Parents opt for alternative child learning amid public education concerns