What insights did the USWNT gain from the series against Japan in preparation for the World Cup?

The United States women’s national team (USWNT) has just concluded what could be the most significant international window in its pursuit of the 2027 World Cup.

The USWNT started and ended this series with two notable victories against Japan, the Asian champions, amidst a mid-series defeat. This three-match series will significantly aid a developing squad in their progression. Coach Emma Hayes will also gain a clearer understanding of which players are more prepared for the World Cup and which combinations can effectively challenge a top-tier team.

The Americans secured a 2-1 victory in the first match on April 11, lost the second encounter 1-0 on April 14 with a completely different lineup, and then triumphed over Japan with a commanding 3-0 win on Friday, featuring nearly a first-choice starting XI. That 3-0 victory was as authoritative as it gets between two of the top-five women’s teams globally, even though Japan is currently under interim management.

Here are five key insights from the U.S.’s international window.

Possession and creativity are integral to the USWNT approach

Japan has been praised for its appealing possession style since its unexpected World Cup victory in 2011, but just as that team’s identity has transformed in recent years, so has the USWNT’s.

The Americans are recognized for their athleticism and capacity to outpace teams in transition—a stereotype reinforced by the prevailing styles in the NWSL—but the notion that the USWNT solely plays long balls is an outdated idea. This three-match series against Japan served as an eye-opener for those who may not have been aware of the team’s evolution.

The USWNT maintained 60% or more possession in each of the three matches against Japan, according to ESPN Insights. They also attempted nearly double the number of passes (635) compared to Japan in Friday’s 3-0 victory, where the opponents managed a mere 0.14 expected goals.

“I think if you took the two crests away and asked people, ‘Which team’s which?’ most people would place Japan where the U.S. is and vice versa,” Hayes remarked after Friday’s match, while viewing a screen displaying the USWNT’s statistical superiority. “But I believe to achieve the greatest successes, you must control the ball.”

Hayes emphasized throughout the week that possession must serve a purpose. While the Americans did struggle with precision in the final third at various times, the end product was evident on Friday, from Rose Lavelle’s goal following a deep midfield run to Claire Hutton striking the crossbar after a swift change in the point of attack.

The USWNT successfully navigated Japan’s high press in the first match (the 2-1 win) by playing through it rather than resorting to panic-driven long balls. There were instances where full back Emily Fox connected with a central midfielder, who then executed one-or-two-touch passes to winger Trinity Rodman, exemplifying a common pattern. Hayes had previously criticized the USWNT’s creativity in her media roles before assuming her position in 2023, but that seemingly uninspired team is now a thing of the past.

“I think the difference now is that we can dismantle teams more effectively than we did before,” Hayes stated after Friday’s win. “We might have relied on a spectacular goal or a singular chance, whereas now I believe we’re generating at least one xG per half against a top opponent, which is about standard. But I think we’re entering the right areas in a significantly different manner.”

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Lessons for players thrust into challenging situations

A markedly different—and less experienced—starting XI faced Japan in the second match, resulting in a 1-0 loss amid heavy rain in Seattle. The squad struggled with accuracy throughout the game, from misplaced passes from the back to missed opportunities in the final third.

This was undoubtedly the toughest match of the three for the USWNT, but it may prove to be the most crucial for establishing depth and making roster decisions. The U.S. engages in these types of matches in every cycle: a player or group of players who are not established starters are given the opportunity to face a top team to assess how they handle the pressure. In 2015 and 2019, those were relatively significant road defeats to France, yet the USWNT emerged victorious in the World Cup both times.

The 1-0 defeat to Japan on April 14 provided several players with the kind of real-world exposure to a team like Japan that can only be gained through experience. It was an opportunity for 18-year-old rising star midfielder Lily Yohannes to understand how much quicker she needs to play against a team of that caliber; it allowed full back Lilly Reale to recognize the deceptive nature of attackers like goal scorer Maika Hamano; it demonstrated to forward Ally Sentnor how swiftly top teams can create space; and it offered forward Jameese Joseph a brief glimpse of her highest level to date.

The practical lessons learned from that loss will resonate with the group as they prepare for the World Cup.

“It’s like when someone hands you a Michelin Star recipe,” Hayes said following the loss, prompting several days of culinary metaphors from the coach. “They say, ‘Well, you can cook it, right?’ And you respond, ‘Well, I’ll give it a try, but I won’t make it look like that Michelin Star chef.’

“I think we have players who possess some of the recipe and are attempting to apply it fully, but it’s a work in progress.”

Hayes noted that she could discuss strategies on a whiteboard with those players, but “it’s akin to cooking the recipe. You won’t truly know until you experience it.”

Claudia Dickey asserts her position in goal

Phallon Tullis-Joyce has been the presumed new No. 1 goalkeeper since last year when she made a remarkable debut in a 2-0 victory over Brazil. Hayes even mentioned earlier this year that Tullis-Joyce was ahead of Claudia Dickey at that time, but she qualified that statement by noting that the NWSL (where Dickey plays with the Seattle Reign) was in preseason while Tullis-Joyce was in mid-season form with Manchester United.

This window, occurring a month into the NWSL season, may have shifted the momentum in favor of Dickey for the starting role.

Dickey participated in both victories during the three matches with what was evidently Hayes’ preferred lineups, and the goalkeeper (who is humorously nicknamed “The Claw”) was reliable when needed, such as late in the first match when she denied a close-range shot from Riko Ueki to avert an equalizer.

Importantly, with that save and others, Dickey did not concede a rebound to an opposing player. She has appeared composed and assured in goal, and is equally adept with the ball at her feet as the USWNT seeks to build from the back in its assertive 3-5-2 formation.

Sophia Wilson seamlessly reintegrates

Wilson made her eagerly awaited return to the USWNT during this window after giving birth in September. However, by the third match, it would have been difficult for anyone to discern that she had not been with the team for 17 months.

Wilson gradually acclimated throughout the week, starting twice and shining in the No. 9 position during the third match. She displayed her typically threatening form in the game, from a spin-volley from seven yards out to a powerful shot from distance at the start of the second half that led to the corner kick for the team’s first goal.

Additionally, there were explosive moments, such as when she maneuvered out of a double team (with legend Saki Kumagai on her back) in her own half and dribbled upfield to initiate a counterattack. Those are the signature Wilson moments that captivate audiences. And there were numerous instances of such brilliance on display on Friday.

The starting No. 9 position remains contested between Wilson and Catarina Macario (who is currently sidelined with injury). Throughout these matches, Wilson quickly reminded everyone that she held the position during the 2024 Olympic gold medal campaign and could do so again at the 2027 World Cup.

Stock rises for Gisele Thompson, Hutton, Wesley

Following a SheBelieves Cup characterized by advancement, full back Gisele Thompson may have solidified her place in the starting XI during this window. Hayes described Thompson’s performance as “fantastic” in the first victory over Japan; she was relentless in applying pressure high up the field, and her aggressive approach resulted in the turnover that led to the game-winning goal.

Thompson combined exceptionally with her older sister, winger Alyssa, on the left flank, and that partnership appears poised to yield benefits for years to come. Thompson also learned valuable lessons, including being slow to clear her line and leaving Ueki onside for Japan’s goal, but her stock has risen again during this April camp.

Center back Kennedy Wesley also made notable progress. She came off the bench on Friday to record a goal and an assist (both from corner kicks) within 20 minutes, and Hayes acknowledged the development she observed from the 25-year-old throughout the week. Wesley started the first match alongside Naomi Girma, indicating that she has ascended the center-back depth chart since her debut in October.

Further up the depth chart, it is evident that this was also another pivotal window for midfielder Claire Hutton. She has performed beyond her years in her two-plus NWSL seasons as one of the league’s top holding midfielders, and last week she became the youngest player (20) to captain the USWNT from the start of a game in 25 years.

Hutton has quickly gained the trust of Hayes in the essential box-to-box No. 6 role, where she started over established player and Olympic starter Sam Coffey on Friday. This was likely more about experimenting with a new combination alongside Lindsey Heaps (who Hayes noted had another outstanding camp) than a judgment on the position, but Hutton is undeniably prepared to play a significant role at the 2027 World Cup as a two-way midfielder.