The veteran helped make the difference in a game defined by historically young squad, setting up final against Japan
Emma Hayes made 11 changes for Sunday night's match against Australia. Like, all 11 players. This was a totally different U.S. women's national team than the one that took down Colombia on Thursday night. This was a team loaded with youth and inexperience. Hayes was clearly throwing putting them to the test.
They survived, but only just. It finished as a 2-1 win over Australia, a narrow victory that will keep the USWNT alive in their quest to win the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. Considering the inexperience in this team, though, Sunday's victory seemed to be something bigger – a major step forward for a group of young up-and-comers fighting to be more than that in advance of the 2027 World Cup.
It was a veteran who scored the USWNT's first less than a minute into the match. Lynn Biyendolo, formerly Williams, was the goalscorer, capping a sequence led by young stars Emma Sears and Jaedyn Shaw. It was largely the youth that stood out in a game that saw Hayes name the youngest USWNT XI since 2001.
“I feel like this is a new chapter for me,” Biyendolo told TNT. “I changed teams in my NWSL career, I changed last names (after an offseason marriage), but more importantly I’m just excited to wear the crest and help out my country.”
Young stars made an impact off the bench, too. Ally Sentnor and Michelle Cooper combined for the USWNT's second goal, and the U.S. will be glad they did as that turned out to be the game-winner. Cooper's finish – her first international goal – made Australia's 80th-minute goal just a consolation as the U.S. held out for the final 10 minutes.
It will be a memorable day for Cooper, of course. It was a big one for Sears, too, who made her own case for more chances. Perhaps the biggest winners of all were the Thompson sisters, who started alongside one another to make USWNT history. Sunday marked just the fourth time in U.S. history that sisters have started a match together, with the other three of course being the Mewis sisters, Kristie and Samantha.
There were young stars spread throughout the pitch. Virtually all of them can leave with heads held high.
Wednesday night's SheBelieves Cup final against Japan won't be about feel-good stories, though. Japan rolled to back-to-back victories, as well, scoring four goals in each match. This was the time to experiment, and that's what Hayes did.
Now, heading into the last match of this tournament, the USWNT coach will have to pick a strongest XI – and several players made their cases to be in it with their performances in this win over Australia.
GOAL rates the USWNT's players from State Farm Stadium.
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Mandy McGlynn (6/10):
Had to make some big punches in both halves, and she handled those well. Had one nervy moment on the ball, but she recovered. Not much to be done on the Australia goal, so you can't hold that one against her.
Crystal Dunn (6/10):
A relatively quiet game on both sides of the ball. Never really got forward to impact the game in the way we're used to seeing.
Tierna Davidson (7/10):
Wore the captain's armband for the first time, which is always a cool achievement. Was absolutely rock solid, too, cleaning up everything that came her way.
Emily Sams (6/10):
Had a few nervy moments, but wasn't published for any of them. Did well defensively, but needed to be a little bit better with the ball.
Gisele Thompson (7/10):
Real credit to the young player who, at times, looked like the best defender on the pitch. Combined well with her older sister and showed no fear defensively. A really impressive day for the teenager.
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Korbin Albert (5/10):
Just wasn't quite able to impact the game on either side. Didn't do enough defensively but also wasn't really able to add anything to the attack. You can chalk it up to playing with a newcomer in midfield but, as teh most veteran member of that group, Albert needed to lead a bit more.
Claire Hutton (6/10):
Not great, but not particularly bad. Didn't really have much chemistry with Albert, leading to a fairly static midfield. Some things to build on, though, as she looks to continue on after this first cap.
Jaedyn Shaw (7/10):
Provided the assist early and then remained aggressive throughout. It never quite came off for her in front of goal, but the hunger was certainly there.
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Emma Sears (8/10):
Really stood out from the opening whistle. Gave Australia headaches all night as so much of the attack went down her side.
Lynn Biyendolo (8/10):
Got her goal and was unlucky not to have gotten a second. As one of this group's few veterans, she really led from the front and set the tone. A goal within the firs minute will do that.
Alyssa Thompson (7/10):
Didn't have a signature moment necessarily, but there were plenty of good ones. Coped well with the physicality Australia brought and combined well with those around her, including her little sister.
GettySubs & Manager
Tara McKeown (6/10):
Nothing too spectacular from the defender, who looked much like she did in the second half of the Colombia game.
Ally Sentnor (7/10):
Gets credit for the assist on Cooper's goal, although she was surely going for goal herself. Continues to make things happen whenever she's on the field, which is how you endear yourself to a coaching staff
Sam Coffey (6/10):
Came on to do Sam Coffey stuff. Brought a bit of stability to a midfield that, until that point, wasn't always solid.
Michelle Cooper (8/10):
A first international goal for Cooper, who came off the bench to make an instant impact. It was a great finish, too, and it turned out to be the game-winner.
Yazmeen Ryan (6/10):
Wasn't as lively as Sears, but definitely had a few bright moments in her 30 or so minutes.
Emily Fox (5/10):
Can't fault her too much for the Australia goal considering how quickly they moved, but she still could have done better on it. It's fine, though. Fox gets a bit of leeway given her history here.
Emma Hayes (7/10):
Took some major risks and still walked out with a victory. Wasn't as pretty as it could have been, and the USWNT had to sweat a bit at the end, but Hayes surely learned plenty about a large group of young players.
