It was a year of transition for the U.S. women’s national team. Emma Hayes came in as head coach, and 14 players made their debuts in the year between her hire and the final game of 2024 against the Netherlands.
The U.S. won an Olympics gold medal a mere 12 months removed from their ignominious 2023 World Cup, where the Americans crashed out in the round of 16. Positions that once seemed bereft of options now appeared to be bursting with talent.
Central midfield was one such key area. Sam Coffey hadn’t found favor with former head coach Vlatko Andonovski, and Julie Ertz had to hold off retirement just to give the squad some depth in that zone. There are now six or seven options to play the two spots behind the attacking midfielder, an astonishing turnaround in such a short time.
Who distinguished themselves in the 15 games played so far under Hayes? Who made a case for the starting XI, who has fallen out of favor, and who should Hayes shift her opinion on? Let’s dive in and rank them — specifically the midfielders who play lower, not the talent-rich No. 10 position — starting with the best options.
