Emma Hayes‘ naysayers were quite vocal about her ‘no substitution’ policy during the already hectic Paris Olympics. She fired back at them, saying that’s how high-octane tournaments are played and how players ready themselves for the big stage. Anyhow, the USWNT players were well aware of the Olympic tournament’s rigorous nature. They, in fact, learned to embrace this crammed schedule after getting a stunning reality check from Coach Hayes. US star Emily Fox was physically drained during the Olympic campaign. Yet, she gleefully looks back at the tough fight she and her teammates gave.

Emily Fox had previously detailed the ordeals of playing every other third day at the Paris Olympics. Iterating the same, Fox has now revealed Emma Hayes’ advice to the US players. “We knew before the Olympics just how demanding it was playing every three days. We were ready to embrace that. Emma was saying, ‘Expect to be tired,’ said Emily Fox during her interview with the Athletic.

Emily Fox was one of the physically worst-hit players at the Team USA camp. She took a knock to her knee during the USWNT’s Olympic quarter-final against Japan. Yet, she had to recover amid the short turnaround and find the grind to fight for the American squad at the Olympics. “We had to be able to grind it out and lean on each other, and make those 10 sprints that we need to do to end the game. We just needed to suck it up and just do it,” Fox added.

Suffering is a given when you play in the Olympics under coach Emma Hayes. But if fought together, suffering won’t feel like it, says Emily Fox.

Emily Fox says suffering together has brought the USWNT players closer

Be it Emily Fox’s quarter-final injury or Catarina Macario and Jaedyn Shaw picking early knocks, the USWNT had a woe-filled Olympics, we must say. However, seeing each others’ struggle has prompted every other USWNT star to stand up and have their fellow teammates’ back. As Fox recalled in her Athletic interview, USWNT’s ace defender Naomi Girma felt sick one day. Imagine what could happen to the US back without Girma! So, anyhow, Girma hesitated no moment to seek her teammates’ help.

She told Fox and other USWNT pals that she needed motivation. Everyone was eager to give Girma a shoulder. What Girma contributed for the USWNT in the Olympics is nothing but history. Coach Emma Hayes could now be proud. Like she said amid every controversy, she was tough on players so that they learn to thrive. Hearing Fox’s words, nobody would ever doubt that this USWNT has learned a lot.