Pre-Match Notes: After winning the 2024 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, the U.S. Women’s National Team is back, this time for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup. The SheBelieves Cup is set up differently from the previous years. Instead of four teams competing in a group stage, and the team with the most points winning the SheBelieves Cup, there are two semifinals, a final, and a match for third place. The teams competing in the 2024 SheBelieves Cup include the U.S., Japan, Canada, and Brazil. The U.S. will be facing Japan in their semifinal, while Canada will be meeting Brazil. The U.S. also has the chance to rematch with either Canada or Brazil, after beating both teams in the Women’s Gold Cup.

This is a good time for the USWNT to continue preparing for the Olympics this summer. There haven’t been many changes from the previous Women’s Gold Cup Roster; however, Mallory Swanson and Catarina Mecario have been called up this time around after recovering from injuries. This will be good news for the U.S.’s attack in regards to buildup plays, pressure, and creating chances for the attacking players. This will also be a good time for the U.S. to work on their attacking partnerships, building their chemistry, and finding their rhythm.

In regards to the U.S. midfield, that area still needs more focus and attention. When it came to the Women’s Gold Cup Final, where the U.S. went on to win 1-0 against Brazil, the midfield at times had trouble maintaining control and possession. This is where the midfielders, especially Sam Coffey and Korbin Albert, are needing to step up and make their presence more known in the midfield when it comes to control and fighting to regain possession. It will also be interesting to see how new call-up, Lily Yohannes, fits into the midfield and attack. Overall, the U.S. midfield needs to be more aggressive, in addition to having strong defensive play there as well.

On top of defensive play in the midfield, there also needs to be consistency in the U.S. backline and defense. When it came to the U.S.’s Gold Cup matches against Canada and Brazil, the U.S. has proven that the backline, the team as a whole, can defend when called to do so. The U.S.’s backline had been called into question many times last year. Now, building consistency and solidifying the backline will be just as important as building chemistry and connection in the attack.

When it comes to this match against Japan, Japan is often regarded as underdogs, however they are a team that can compete at the highest level, and can put up a good fight against the U.S. Last year, in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Japan stunned many fans, journalists, and analysts when they were able to defeat Spain 4-0 in the group stage. Up to that point, Spain had been virtually undefeated. The last time Spain had come away with a loss was in the 2022 Women’s Euro Quarterfinal against England.

Recently, Japan is coming off both a draw and a win against North Korea in Olympic qualifying, and both a loss and a win against Brazil in two friendlies last year. Japan is going to challenge the U.S., and it’s going to be exciting to see how or if the U.S. will be able to step up and overcome this challenge.

Line Up Notes

Starting Eleven: We have Alyssa Naeher in the goal. For defenders Jenna Nighswonger, Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, and Emily Fox. For midfielders and forwards Lindsey Horan, Sam Coffey, Mallory Swanson, Jaedyn Shaw, Trinity Rodman and Alex Morgan.

Substitutes: Abby Dahlkemper, Olivia Moultrie, Eva Gaetino, Catarina Macario, Sophia Smith, Emily Sonnett, Korbin Albert, Lily Yohannes, Casey Murphy, Crystal Dunn, Casey Krueger, Jane Campbell.

It’s an interesting line up. I was expecting to see Macario start in this match, but she’ll most likely come on in the second half with Smith and Yohannes.

It’s great to see Swanson starting. She’ll be able to help with the U.S.’s attacking press, while also creating chances for other attacking players like Horan, Morgan, Rodman and Shaw. The connection in the attack and in the box is still going to be important, and hopefully the U.S. has been working on developing those attacking partnerships. I am especially looking forward to seeing more of Shaw, given her outstanding performance in the Women’s Gold Cup. She is still a player to keep an eye on as we start to near the Olympics.

When it comes to the U.S.’s midfield, that is going to be an area to watch out for in this match. It appears as though Kilgore is going with a different formation. It could be a 4-2-3-1, with Horan and Coffey seated back deeper in the midfield, however it’s going to be interesting to see how or if the U.S. will be able to maintain control and possession with this formation, since it was something the team struggled with against Brazil in the Women’s Gold Cup.

Coffey and Horan can both take on a more defensive role in the midfield; however, Horan is usually more involved in the attack, given her position at Lyon as a more attacking and central midfielder. As long as the team can balance between offensive and defensive play in the midfield, the U.S. should be all right in this match.

In regards to the U.S. backline and defense, something to look out for is consistency. The backline needs to shut down Japan’s attack, as well as close down any gaps in the box. Additionally, we need to see good support in the defense from the rest of the team.

First Half Notes

USWNT 1-1.

Goal Scorer for the U.S.: Shaw (1).

After Japan scored early in the first minute, Jaedyn Shaw, with a shot from outside the box, would get one back for the U.S. in the 21st minute.

This first half has left a lot to be desired. The U.S. backline needs to do better at reading long passes and through balls behind the backline. Japan in this first half has been too successful getting behind the U.S. backline. The U.S. left wing is also proving to be an issue for the defense. There have been too many times where Nighswonger would leave the left wing open, and because of that, Japan has been able to create chances from there, or from outside. There needs to be better awareness from Nighswonger and the rest of the backline.

Concerning the U.S.’s midfield, the offensive play is all right, but in regard to defensive play, the U.S. needs to respond better to Japan’s counterattacks and transitions, in addition to having better control in between the middle and defensive third. So far, Horan has been doing well to recover possession, but there needs to be more of an effort to keep control.

When it comes to the U.S. attack, there needs to be more going into the second half. The U.S. has been able to get forward and create some chances, however they haven’t been viable enough. The attack thrived when it came to applying pressure, and forcing turnovers in the Japan backline. If the U.S. can do that more in the second half, they’ll be able to create more and better chances.

Additionally, there has been good build up play in this first half, however there would be too many touches in or around the box, which would result in Japan stealing the ball away, or clearing their lines. The U.S. needs to figure out how they can get their attack off quicker with fewer touches in and around the box.

Second Half and Closing Notes

USWNT Wins 2-1.

Goal Scorers for the U.S.: Shaw (1), Horan (PK).

After Sophia Smith was tripped in the Japan box, the U.S. was awarded a penalty kick. Horan would step up and convert the penalty making it 2-1 for the U.S.

I still think this match as a whole left a lot more to be desired. The U.S. backline and defense did somewhat better in this second half, but Nighswonger still needs to be more alert and aware when it comes to defending the U.S. left wing. Granted, she did get better in this second half.

When it comes to the midfield and attack, there was better control and movement in the midfield, and they, along with the attack, were able to get forward in the second half. The U.S. created more chances; however, the connection in and around the box, along with finishing, wasn’t up to par. That is still an area that needs more improvement. I believe there needed to be more intensity and urgency from this U.S. team, but I don’t think we saw much of it in the second half. Besides the U.S. doing a better job at maintaining control and possession, and getting their attack forward, there wasn’t much significant change from the first half.

When it comes to Japan, this was still a challenging team for the U.S. There were moments where Japan was able to put the U.S. in some dangerous situations, and make them panic. They didn’t make things easy for the U.S., but then again, no team will.

The U.S. will now move on to the SheBelieves Cup Final, where they’ll face either Canada or Brazil.

UPDATE: The USWNT will face Canada in the SheBelieves Cup Final