When Mary Earps left Manchester United last year, one question lingered in the minds of fans: Who would fill this iconic void? It was a valid concern—before her move to Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, the English goalkeeper had only grown in stature, winning the Euro 2022, earning not one but two FIFA Best Goalkeeper Awards, and even receiving a personalized mural at Old Trafford. The answer wasn’t immediately clear, even to United, but they ultimately entrusted the iconic role to Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

The result, you ask? Well, after featuring in all 22 WSL matches and pulling off some audacious saves, the American goalkeeper went on to claim the Barclays WSL Golden Glove this season—thanks to her league-best save percentage of 83.9%. Her heroics not only helped Manchester United secure a third-place finish but also earned them a return to European competition after a year-long absence.

While it’s safe to say that Tullis-Joyce has done a stellar job filling the void left by Mary Earps, one can’t help but wonder—did she ever feel the pressure to live up to the hyped-up “legendary status” of United’s former No.1? “I definitely knew that I was coming into a high-pressure environment, especially coming after such a great goalkeeper,” began Tullis-Joyce during an exclusive chat with BBC.

As surprising as it may sound, the 28-year-old knew what she was getting into, and even if there remained a sense of pressure, Phallon was quick to admit that it never came due to the Mary Earps. “I think for me, that pressure was never related to Mary. I know that I am a different keeper, I never really let that affect me,” added the former OL Reign (Now Seattle Reign) star. So if not because of Earps then what?

“It was more the pressure of making sure that I kept to the same standard that is expected of a Manchester United goalkeeper,” continued Phallon, before briefly sharing how she managed to get hold of that pressure. “I took that very seriously and that [was about] taking each moment as [if it was] a very precious one. That’s really how I handled it,” concluded the Red Devils star.

Smart—just like how she conducts herself on the pitch. It’s clear that rather than being affected or intimidated by the name and fame her predecessor earned, Tullis-Joyce is focused on her own growth, aiming to build a legacy that is similar in impact, yet distinctly her own. To be fair, she already has in some way or the other.

While this covers her domestic achievements, the real question is whether Phallon has made a solid impact on the international stage—and also if she sees herself as the solution to the biggest dilemma her country has been facing for quite some time!

Is Phallon Tullis-Joyce fulfilling her role at USWNT?

Last year, Alyssa Naeher announced her international retirement, leaving the team without a dependable brick wall between the posts. That put considerable pressure on Emma Hayes and her staff, who were left constantly brainstorming potential names to fill Naeher’s shoes. The answer seemed to emerge during April’s friendly clash against Brazil, where the U.S. women secured a commanding 2-0 victory.

The New York City native delivered a string of impressive saves to keep a clean sheet. As if that wasn’t enough, her crucial double save for Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City further cemented her status as a fan favorite. Naturally, questions were soon directed at Emma Hayes: Would Tullis-Joyce be the new No. 1 for the USWNT?

Interestingly, Hayes described Phallon’s performance as “tremendous, authoritative, and commanding.” However, the praise came with a dose of constructive criticism. The English boss acknowledged that while Tullis-Joyce delivered a solid debut, she still has areas to improve. This is quite important, especially if she wants to secure more minutes and carve out a lasting role with the national team.

One concern lies in her tendency to play a more direct style at Manchester United, which doesn’t quite mesh with the USWNT’s preferred system. “Her next step is something I’ve been clear on: her team Man United don’t play a lot of buildup. They tend to go from back to front but her next steps is with pressure being able to make the short passes to come out,” explained Hayes.

So the key is to make sure this concern is fixed by Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Rest assured, it seems the goalkeeper has the blessing of her national team manager to take the torch from Alyssa Naeher.