Somehow, some way, the U.S. women’s national team escaped from The Hague with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands despite a particularly worrisome first-half performance.
A bizarre own goal derailed Dutch momentum after the Oranje had otherwise completely dominated the first half, and USWNT substitutes — with Lynn Williams leading the way — significantly lifted the team after the break. Williams would bag a 70th-minute winner, while much attention was paid to Lily Yohannes after the teenager made her first U.S. appearance after choosing Emma Hayes’ side over the Netherlands in a high-profile recruiting battle.
Still, as much as those subs and one last strong national team outing for Alyssa Naeher are undoubted positives, the USWNT’s final game of 2024 left a lot of questions about what’s to come in 2025.
As a reminder, here’s the Pro Soccer Wire player rating scale:
- 1: Abysmal. Literally any member of our staff would have been been able to play at this level.
- 6: Adequate. This is our base score.
- 10: Transcendent, era-defining performance. This is Carli Lloyd vs. Japan in the 2015 World Cup final.
GK: Alyssa Naeher – 7
Naeher’s final USWNT appearance was a severe test thanks to struggles further up the field. By the 11th minute she had already seen more work than she did in all of Saturday’s scoreless draw with England.
Naeher was possibly caught leaning on Veerle Buurman’s opener, though the sequence had far bigger problems resulting in a center back getting a free header from six yards that we’ll discuss below.
However, much like she did in a 2022 win over Germany that saw the U.S. outplayed for a chunk of the first half, Naeher was the starter to make big individual plays to keep the team from taking on water amid stormy seas. Her reflex save to deny Dominique Janssen’s 38th-minute volley (another set piece gone wrong for the USWNT) was spectacular, and her kick save on Daniëlle van de Donk as the game got stretched in the second half was just as good.
In terms of sensing what the team needs and being able to deliver it so consistently, there are some huge shoes to fill for the USWNT.
RB: Emily Fox – 5.5
With the other flank being the source of so much Dutch success, Fox had less to do, but this was still a very tepid outing for the Arsenal defender.
To be fair, Fox faced the more complicated challenge, as the Dutch had Jill Roord dipping inside from the left to open up a channel for the attack-minded Esmee Brugts to surge forward from left back. That contributed to Fox arriving too late to make effective challenges, which would explain a 20% win rate on ground duels and 18 losses of possession.
Fox was more stable in the second half, offering the kind of intensity and better positional choices most would normally expect out of her.
CB: Naomi Girma – 6.5
Girma had to come up with some timely blocks and interceptions as always, but was maybe a touch off of her normal high standards amid the chaos unfolding further forward. In particular, Girma — defending zonally — was caught off-guard on the Dutch goal by a shove from Dominique Janssen. Is that a foul? It looks like one for sure, but usually Girma is so aware that it’s hard to even shove her from behind like this.
That said, the San Diego Wave center back’s ability to connect passes (41-for-44 overall) was a rare source of stability in the first half, and then helped the U.S. leverage the elevated performances the team’s substitutes were providing on an individual level.
CB: Tierna Davidson – 7
Credit where it’s due: Davidson’s free kick delivery somehow became a stunning equalizer in one of the more bizarre sequences of 2024.
It’s a strange goal for sure, but Davidson put this service into a dangerous spot, and sometimes you get lucky when you do that.
At halftime Davidson was shuttled out to left back to resolve the ongoing danger the Dutch created on that flank, and though she wasn’t perfect, she was far harder to get past than Jenna Nighswonger was in the first half. Her one-on-one defending was a plus, but the real key was that Davidson’s positioning kept her from being isolated.
The Gotham FC defender had to approach that change as much cerebrally as anything else, and quietly helped the U.S. climb up off the mat in the second half.
LB: Jenna Nighswonger – 3.5
Nighswonger is a much better player than what we saw Tuesday, but a quiet run of dipping form with NJ/NY Gotham FC (who justifiably dropped her in favor of Mandy Freeman for its NWSL regular-season finale and playoff games) has now become more of a clear problem.
The Dutch midfield dominance allowed multiple players to routinely pick Romée Leuchter out in isolation against Nighswonger, and other than set piece play, this was where the Netherlands turned simple control of the game into serious danger. Sofascore said Nighswonger was beaten on the dribble three times, but it feels like a significant undercount given how her 45 minutes went.
Nighswonger struggled to get her angles right, and seemed to have to think through every choice rather than being confident enough to play more naturally. The 24-year-old couldn’t stay connected with her teammates either, leaving her on an island even after turnovers. This allowed Leuchter to torch her repeatedly, and when it wasn’t via the dribble, the hosts would play a quick one-two.
Overall, a miserable first half for the USWNT helped exacerbate what was arguably Nighswonger’s worst performance since turning pro.
RCM: Korbin Albert – 4
Albert’s place within the USWNT continues to be a puzzle, as this was yet another game that passed her by to some degree. Usually that’s been a marginal problem where one would want to see more of an ability or willingness to influence the game, but the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder truly struggled at the Bingoal Stadium.
The 23-year-old’s distribution was slow and predictable, even as her 75% passing accuracy was in line with every other U.S. midfielder on the day. Moreover, Albert wasn’t offering herself as an option, which during a first half where the USWNT looked worse than it has at any point under Emma Hayes was a cardinal sin. When you’re being outplayed, your midfielders have to show personality and courage, and Albert instead shied away from that responsibility in possession.
Albert’s performance wasn’t all bad, as her four successful tackles are a step forward. However, even in terms of showing some bite, there were issues: Albert’s attempt to commit a statement foul late in the first half came in a moment where the Dutch had nowhere to go, and a promising pressing scenario was wasted.
Finally, Albert had the job of marking Buurman on the Dutch goal, and the teenaged center back left her in the dust. The replay below shows the outcome: Buurman scores while Albert arrives too late to have a chance to do anything.
With Albert picking up what looked like a hip issue as the second half wore on, Hayes swapped her out for Hal Hershfelt.
Given that Albert is struggling to make an impact for club and country (StatsBomb rates her Pass
On-Ball Value as the worst of all central midfielders in France’s Première Ligue), it’s past time for an explanation for her place within the USWNT hierarchy. A rough performance like this one may force Hayes’ hand on that front.
LCM: Sam Coffey – 6.5
In the first half, Coffey struggled the least of the three starting central midfielders, but couldn’t seize control of the game as the situation deteriorated around her.
Coffey ended up providing three blocks, two interceptions, and three tackles, but also lost more duels than she won thanks to how much scrambling she had to do trying to bail teammates out. That improved in the second half as the U.S. adjusted to a few specific movements that the Dutch were using to open up the central midfield and play through them.
Overall, Coffey was put into some really difficult spots, and more often than not helped the cause.
RW: Yazmeen Ryan – 6.5
Ryan’s first half was much like that of the rest of the team, with the Gotham FC attacker behind the pace and chasing shadows rather than pressing out of a proper structure. She struggled to turn her moments on the ball into real danger, but more importantly couldn’t really make herself an option.
Some of this comes down to role, with TNT noting that Hayes felt the team was too narrow against England. Asking Ryan — who is among the NWSL’s best at accessing the half-space coming off the wing — to provide true width isn’t ideal, but the USWNT manager likely wanted to know what Ryan can do in that scenario.
There’s merit to that, especially with Ryan emerging as a real contender to be the top alternate to Trinity Rodman on the right. Rodman stays high and wide, balancing Mallory Swanson’s tendency to dip inside; for Ryan, the path to a bigger role will likely require stretching in this specific way.
The second half was much better, with an inch-perfect assist for Lynn Williams’ winner the clear highlight. Overall, the more critical step for Ryan was her ability to contribute on the counter-press, which helped contain Brugts as the game wore on. We know she can play the pass she played for her assist, but the ability to gut out a difficult start to the match and improve is something Hayes will file away as a big positive.
AM: Lindsey Horan – 5.5
Horan’s role in this 4-2-3-1 formation was to function as a pressing/goalscoring No. 10, rather than as a pure playmaker. Out of possession, that meant hustling to join Jaedyn Shaw up top whenever possible.
Unfortunately Horan’s heat map reveals the hazards of using this kind of role when a) the opponent is controlling the game and b) your team didn’t park the bus. Horan ended up chasing and chasing in the first half, but was not able to get ahead of the game very often. As such, her influence — whether pressing, creating chances, being physical, or any other category — was muted at best. Additionally, the desire to help press ended up gifting the Dutch a pocket between the lines that the hosts gleefully exploited.
You’ll sense a recurring theme here: the Lyon midfielder’s second half was better, with positional adjustments at halftime paying off. Horan also improved in terms of battling with opponents, getting into fewer duels than against England but winning a bigger share. Horan eventually made way for Lily Yohannes in the 66th minute, but set something of a blueprint on how the youngster should approach this role during her 21 second-half minutes.
No one will call this a good performance from the 30-year-old, but there’s also an issue here with regards to deploying her in a role that very rapidly became about damage limitation rather than putting a talented star in position to thrive.
LW: Rose Lavelle – 5
This might have been a very different game if Lavelle had buried a fifth-minute chance that fell her way before the Dutch figured out where the USWNT was vulnerable. It was a big moment in terms of the tone of the game, but Lavelle fired right at Daphne van Domselaar.
From there, it was a mixed bag with a bit more bad than good for Lavelle. She ended up having more losses of possession (18) than completed passes (13), and unlike her work against England, looked uncomfortable creating from the touchline. There were moments where the Gotham FC midfielder’s normal standard became visible, and she did win most of her individual battles defensively, but it’s generally not good when Lavelle’s grit is the thing to underline.
Still, like Horan, this feels at least partially rooted in a role that takes something away from what Lavelle does best, and there must be credit given to the Dutch fullbacks for their performances in a man-marking scheme out of possession. Kerstin Casparij and Brugts both gave Lavelle no room to breathe in her 66 minutes, and this performance reflects that reality.
ST: Jaedyn Shaw – 5
With the USWNT struggling behind her, a big part of Shaw’s lack of influence was simply being the No. 9 on a day where the whole team was playing poorly. It’s difficult for anyone to look solid in that situation.
However, Shaw seemed caught off-guard by the physicality of center backs Janssen and Buurman, which largely ruled her out as a reference point for the attack. Without the option to find Shaw to feet, the awkwardness of this starting 11 became more and more clear, and Shaw’s runs to give verticality were few and far between.
It’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem here for Shaw, but even in a bad situation, she looked some way from her best.
Coach: Emma Hayes – 4.5
TNT’s note that Hayes felt the USWNT was too narrow against England sits uncomfortably alongside the fact that she then played a far narrower selection against the Dutch. While there is merit to testing Ryan’s aforementioned ability to do her thing closer to the touchline, a lineup focused on technicians who love to play in tight quarters lacked anyone to offer width or verticality.
That played into Dutch hands in the first half, with the U.S. lacking any way to punish the positional aggression required of a team that breaks the game into a series of individual duels. The Netherlands could afford to take extra risks in pressing the ball, because there was no avenue to spread it wide and punish what is a very familiar tactic for manager Andries Jonker.
Beyond fielding an 11 that was always going to struggle with the tactical questions posed by the hosts, arguably a bigger problem was one Hayes bemoaned in the post-match press conference: the U.S. was simply not ready to play in the opening stages, particularly once Lavelle’s big chance didn’t end in a goal. The Dutch were flying, treating this friendly like last year’s World Cup clash, and the USWNT looked very much like a team playing one last friendly before getting a vacation in.
Hayes’ halftime substitutions were the right moves, and the U.S. looked far better at seeing the angles needed to break the man-marking approach. However, these are adjustments to address foreseeable problems, which means we have to go with a lower rating than a normal “tale of two halves” showing would merit.
Sub: Lynn Williams – 7.5
If there was ever a player tailor-made to come into a game like this one, that player is Williams. The veteran forward’s speed changed the calculus for the Netherlands before she even made a single run in behind, her thoughtful pressing and ability to take up smart positions slowed the Dutch build pattern, and on top of that she buried the game-winner in classic Lynn Williams fashion.
The Gotham FC forward later played a spectacular ball that another sub, Alyssa Thompson, nearly turned into a third goal. Overall, Williams’ competitive fire and ability to figure out exactly what the game needed from a tactical perspective were critical on a day where the USWNT was well off its best.
Sub: Emily Sonnett – 7
Sonnett came on for Nighswonger at halftime, with Davidson moving to left back in the shuffle. Like Williams, her experience shone through immediately, with Sonnett’s choices in passing (she’d go on to complete all but two of her pass attempts) befuddling the first line of Dutch pressure.
Moreover, Sonnett’s positioning meant she had fewer duels to go win, and her partnership with Girma in possession allowed the U.S. to do far less defending as the group began exerting control on proceedings. Adding a player who never lacks for competitive fire was also critical, with Sonnett making a couple of interventions inside the box after winning battles with Dutch players seconds earlier.
This was a “little things” performance from Sonnett, and she’s one of the best at the stuff that turns lucky draws into lucky wins.
Sub: Alyssa Thompson – 6
Thompson replaced Lavelle as part of a triple sub, and while she didn’t make a big dent in this game, she did offer one key moment that underlined how the USWNT’s mentality improved in the second half. As good as Williams’ service in behind was on the Angel City FC winger’s big chance, it still left the California native with a battle to win.
Yes, Thompson would eventually end up denied by van Domselaar, but the fact that she shrugged off a larger player by being assertive and taking the initiative was more than we saw from anyone in an attacking role during the first half.
Sub: Hal Hershfelt – 6.5
The Washington Spirit midfielder replaced Albert in the 66th minute, linking up with Coffey as part of the USWNT’s double pivot. It’s telling that Hershfelt amassed the exact same passing data (12-for-16) as Albert in just 24 minutes, and her ability to get after it physically was more suited to the game the Dutch had imposed.
Overall, Hershfelt was another sub ready for the fight at hand, which in turn helped the USWNT start to tilt the field in a way that eventually became the game-winner.
Sub: Lily Yohannes – 6.5
The prized recruit came on to a mix of cheers and jeers from the crowd in the 66th minute, replacing Horan as the No. 10. Yohannes played a role in the winner, adjusting quickly to nod Buuren’s intervention back over the center back and into Ryan’s path. It’s a small thing, but that sort of quick thinking wasn’t there for anyone on the U.S. before halftime.
Yohannes later made a very mature interception, giving it a moment to seem open before stepping in just as the ball was struck on a sequence that ended with Thompson’s angled bid for a third goal. In this instance, it was Yohannes’ patience to leave a window open just long enough to make it seem viable that set up a turnover that nearly sealed the game.
There’s subtlety in Yohannes’ game that was on display here, and with the more established USWNT midfielders struggling of late, she and Hershfelt may be pushing their way into bigger roles sooner rather than later.
Sub: Ally Sentnor – NR
Sentnor came on as a right winger for the final five minutes, and while she did have an impressive moment on the dribble, that’s not enough time to get a fair evaluation for this piece.
