Emma Sears, a rising star on the US Women's National Team, shares her exhilarating debut experience, complete with a goal and assist. She discusses the supportive atmosphere created by veteran teammates and reflects on her journey in adapting to coach Emma Hayes. Emily Keogh, ESPN writer and analyst, dives into the Ballon d'Or ceremony, questioning the lack of a Kopa or Yashin trophy for women. The duo also highlights the disparities in recognition for female athletes and advocates for better visibility and treatment in sports awards.
Emma Sears made a remarkable debut for the U.S. women's national team, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a victory against Iceland.
Coach Emma Hayes emphasizes adaptability and teamwork, fostering a positive environment despite losing key players from the Olympic gold-winning squad.
The podcast discusses the need for improved recognition of women's football in major awards, highlighting ongoing challenges in visibility and representation.
Deep dives
Emma Sears' Stunning Debut
Emma Sears made a significant impact during her debut with the U.S. women's national team, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 3-1 victory against Iceland. This achievement places her among a select group as only the fourth player to achieve both in their first match. Her feelings about the debut were overwhelmingly positive, describing the experience as surreal and a culmination of her hard work. Sears highlighted the strong support from her friends and family, emphasizing the importance of their presence as she celebrated this milestone with her teammates.
Game Highlights and Team Resilience
The match featured a comeback by the U.S. team after initially trailing due to an unusual Olympico goal conceded by their goalkeeper, Casey Murphy. Lynn Williams equalized in the second half, demonstrating the team's resilience and ability to bounce back under pressure. Lindsay Horan's goal gave the U.S. the lead, showcasing a focus on improving set piece execution as discussed by coach Emma Hayes pre-game. Ultimately, the added goal from debutante Emma Sears solidified the U.S. victory, reflecting a strong offensive performance and tactical adjustments made by the team.
Inside Emma Sears' Game Experience
During the conversation reflecting on her debut, Emma Sears described the assist she provided to Lynn Williams as a critical moment that helped regain momentum for the team. She was in the right place at the right time during the chaotic play in the penalty box, showcasing her readiness and instinctive play. The goal she scored was also a product of quick reaction, highlighting the importance of position and awareness in forward play. Looking back on the entire experience, Sears expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete on such a level after having no youth national team experience.
Emma Hayes' Impact as Head Coach
Emma Hayes, the head coach of the U.S. women's national team, has garnered praise for her attacking style and ability to uplift the team through challenging transitions. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes adaptability and developing players’ innate qualities, which was evident in the match against Iceland. Despite the loss of key players, the team has maintained a positive trajectory under her leadership, clinching the gold medal at the Olympics and demonstrating a cohesive unit. Hayes noted that the individual awards and recognitions are secondary to the broader goal of team success, emphasizing the importance of her players' contributions.
Ballon d'Or Discussions and Women's Game Recognition
Discussions regarding the Ballon d'Or and its recognition of women's football revealed ongoing challenges in how the women's game is honored at such events. Despite the inclusion of women's categories since 2018, many feel that the treatment of female athletes remains secondary to men, citing scheduling conflicts and lack of visibility as significant issues. Emma Hayes and others have called for improved organization and representation, indicating that the women's game deserves more prominent recognition given its growth and achievements. The conversation surrounding the Ballon d'Or reflects a need for continued advocacy to ensure fairness and respect for women athletes globally.
Alexis Nunes & Jeff Kassouf are joined by Emma Sears to break down her debut with the United States Women's National Team. Sears explains what it was like to join the Olympic Gold Medal winning squad and how she's adapting to life under Emma Hayes. The crew is also joined by Emily Keogh to question why there isn't a Kopa or Yashin trophy on the womens side and argue why the timing of the ceremony is a poor reflection for the women's game.