When Emma Hayes was asked at the pre-match press conference on June 28, before their victory against the Republic of Ireland, “Coach, your first time in Cincinnati. What are you expecting from the environment here?” The USWNT head coach didn’t skip a beat to respond, “Well, if this is where Rose comes from, then I like this place.” If this wasn’t enough to reiterate the importance of Rose Lavelle in the USWNT roster, then perhaps the scoreboard against the Republic of Ireland, 4-0, should be enough to convince, right?

After being sidelined for over 186 days in total due to an ankle injury on December 4, during a friendly match against the Netherlands, Rose said upon her return to the field for the NWSL Matchday 11, “It feels really great. It was a long time away, which just made me miss it a lot.” She also added, “So really happy to be back with the girls.”  While the timing of her return was emphatic, many wondered whether coach Hayes would see her fit enough to be added to the USWNT roster just ahead of the double-header clash against the Republic of Ireland and subsequently against Canada on July 3. Boy, did Hayes deliver on her promise. And after Rose’s entry, there was a different energy running through the women’s soccer squad. 

Emma’s admissions on two different press conferences implied the tactician wanted Rose Lavelle on the roster at any cost. But why does Rose Lavelle matter most to Emma, even if the US women’s national soccer team has four more veterans? A week ago, when the HC was informed about Lavelle’s availability for the Friendlies, her first reaction described why she wanted her in lineups. 

Emma said, “First of all, her personality and character in the locker room have been sorely missed in the past six months. She’s primarily gifted as a football player and plays between sort of eight to ten positions… She’s someone who is maturing like a top football player.” And she scored her 25th career international goal in the game on Thursday. Rose became the 19th player in USWNT history to do so. 

Talking about the Cincinnati experience at the pre-match presser, Hayes said, “Rose is a world-class football player. I’ve said it so many times, when I came into this job, she was probably the one player I was really looking forward to working with. I think the structure in the team has allowed her game to elevate to another level.” She continued, “And what we saw the other night was how much we’ve missed her even in the few months she’s been out.” And also added, “But I have to again proceed with a bit of caution because she’s just coming back. So, it’s a really tight turnaround and I’m going to have to manage things properly tomorrow for her, but we’re delighted to have her back.” 

Rose Lavelle scored a goal and assisted another in her superb return after seven months on the sidelines. Thanks to her strong performance, the USWNT defeated the Republic of Ireland with a 4–0 final score at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, on Thursday.

But wait—there’s a catch. Rose still isn’t sure she’s fully recovered from her ankle injury. Still, she’s excited to play at home in the upcoming game. ‘I feel like it’s kind of a full-circle moment to be able to give back to the sport in the same way that it gave to me,’ Lavelle said, speaking about the Cincinnati match. “Hopefully, every girl and boy in Cincinnati can look up to me and realize that they can be in this position, too,” she added. The second game will take place in Cincinnati, and as the matchup draws closer, Emma Hayes has sent a subtle warning to her counterpart from Ireland.

Emma Hayes’ subtle warning to the Ireland head coach before the 2nd Friendlies 

Game 1 of the Friendlies between Ireland and the USWNT saw strong performances from defender Avery Patterson, midfielders Sam Coffey and Rose Lavelle, and forward Alyssa Thompson, giving the US team an emphatic win. Now, with the next game right around the corner, the 48-year-old head coach has offered a glimpse of her strategy for the matchup at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hayes told reporters after the 4–0 win, “Yeah, no, I won’t change who I am. Definitely not—not for anyone, even if I like you. The U.S. Women’s National Team has such a high bar that it’s up to me to keep pace with that and deliver teams that pursue excellence every time, so we will absolutely be looking to do that again.” She also appeared to send an indirect message to 41-year-old Carla Ward, her counterpart from Ireland.

The USWNT holds an undefeated record against Carla Ward’s team. In their 16 total meetings, Hayes’ squad has defeated them with a combined goal tally of 55–1. According to USSoccer.com, it’s the best 100% record against any opponent in program history, and the current run marks the USWNT’s longest winning streak against any UEFA opponent. Notably, credit goes to the USWNT goalkeepers — the team has kept a clean sheet in 13 consecutive games, according to the stats.

So, in the next game, the USWNT has no real pressure to prove itself, unlike the Irish team, which is still searching for a breakthrough. Carla Ward and her squad have much more to prove and will need to step up in the next match.