Midfielder Lily Yohannes, the youngest player on the U.S. Women`s National Team at just 17, recently returned with the squad to the very place where she made her national team debut and netted her first USWNT goal approximately one year ago.
Yohannes was included in the starting lineup for a friendly match against China at Allianz Field in Minnesota. The U.S. team secured a 3-0 victory, with goals from Catarina Macario, Sam Coffey, and Lindsey Horan (Heaps). Yohannes served as a frequent option for the team in building attacks and was essential in maintaining possession.
During the win, she finished second on the team in total ball recoveries with seven. Both Coffey and Yohannes effectively managed the team`s tempo in the midfield, neutralizing China`s attempts at high pressing. This performance represents another forward step for the young defensive midfielder.
Head coach Emma Hayes recently marked her one-year anniversary in the role. Lily Yohannes` trajectory within the team under Hayes` leadership could be seen as either perfect timing or coincidence, but regardless, the talented teenager is clearly just beginning her journey.
“I thought Sam [Coffey] was excellent. I thought Lily [Yohannes] grew into the game,” Hayes commented to the media after the match. “Their roles were what we call `low support players` when the ball moved out wide. I thought they linked up really effectively with those wide players, and their rotations to receive the ball in deeper positions were very good. But overall, I think the team chemistry and cohesion have significantly improved during this camp.”
Yohannes has quickly emerged as one of the most exciting rising talents in women`s football. She has demonstrated elite playmaking skills and a maturity far beyond her years for both the USWNT and her Dutch club, Ajax. A midfielder with exceptional technical ability, Yohannes has rapidly become a regular presence on USWNT rosters in 2025 as the team prepares for the international cycle leading up to 2027-28.
“I keep reminding everyone, she`s only 17. She still needs a couple more years of professional experience,” Hayes told the media before the match. “I believe the next two years of her development will be crucial. Being at Ajax has provided an unbelievable developmental path for her. For me, that experience has, I think, advanced her positional play in a way that makes her stand out relative to her age.”
While not yet a consistent starter, Yohannes has garnered attention in Europe for her vision, composure, and tactical understanding. At just 16, she became the youngest player ever to start a UEFA Women`s Champions League group stage match. She is also the eighth-youngest player all-time to debut for the USWNT and the third youngest to score for the senior national team.
Part of the discussion surrounding Yohannes last year involved her potential eligibility to represent either the United States or the Netherlands. Lily was born in Virginia but relocated with her family to Europe in 2017. It was there that she participated in the Ajax academies before signing a full professional contract with the first team in 2023.
She received her initial call-up to the USWNT during Emma Hayes` first official matches as head coach in June 2024. That following November, the teenage midfielder formally committed her international future to the U.S. national team.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to both the United States and Dutch Football Federations for their steadfast support and patient guidance throughout my decision-making process regarding my international future. Their dedication and encouragement have been invaluable, and I extend my sincere thanks to both Federations,” Yohannes stated in a social media post last year.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to commit to representing my country, the United States. The U.S. is my homeland, my birthplace, and where my extended family resides. These strong connections have motivated me to honor my roots and proudly commit to U.S. Soccer. I am enthusiastic and eager to continue working hard and earn my place on the U.S. Women`s National Team.”
Since the beginning of 2025, Yohannes has been named to every senior roster, from the January camps and the SheBelieves Cup to the recent friendlies kicking off the summer schedule. She now has six international appearances for the national team and her single goal from her debut. However, Hayes` approach with Yohannes is one of patience, ensuring the young player continues her development at the international level even as her profile continues to rise.
“She has developed physically in the last 12 months, and tactically, especially in possession. When she plays for her club team at Ajax, they typically have possession against mid to low defensive blocks. So, I think she`s really improved that aspect of her game,” Hayes explained. “For us, playing against teams like Brazil and Japan were extremely high-level matches that will benefit her greatly in the future. But as I always emphasize, she still has considerable development ahead. I think there will be ups and downs, you`ll see truly excellent moments and you`ll see different moments. I think that`s what is to be expected from a 17-year-old.”
“She possesses unbelievable maturity and coachability, and I know she will become a significant part of our program. But I am invested in that development, and we must be patient, considering her young age and limited international and high-level experience.”
As Yohannes gains diverse experiences in the UEFA Women`s Champions League and with the USWNT, she is actively learning from her surroundings. She credits all her USWNT teammates for influencing her development, specifically mentioning captain Lindsey Horan (Heaps) and forward Catarina Macario as key examples of that influence.
“Everyone is incredibly helpful and has made my integration into the team so much easier,” Yohannes shared. “From Lindsey [Horan] to Cat [Macario], I could honestly name so many players. All the experienced players have been here for a long time, so they understand what it`s like coming in as a newcomer. Now that I`ve been in camp for a bit, I think I`ve become more comfortable, and I`m simply trying to keep improving.”
What distinguishes her most is her remarkable maturity. Despite her youth, she plays with the composure of a veteran, rarely looking rushed with the ball and consistently making intelligent decisions. This quality has earned her trust at both her club and international levels. Yohannes` game is characterized by her extensive passing range and her ability to control the pace of play. She is comfortable playing in both deeper and more advanced midfield positions and excels at breaking defensive lines with accurate through balls and retaining possession under pressure.
During Ajax`s 2023-24 UEFA Women`s Champions League campaign, she demonstrated her fearlessness against top European competition, showcasing a talent for finding pockets of space and connecting play between the defense and attack. Her assist in Ajax`s victory over Roma, where she initiated a turnover and created an attacking sequence, underscored her capacity to unlock defenses with a single pass.
“I think it`s one thing to perform as she does for Ajax in club football and play in the Champions League, but stepping up to the international level is always a different environment and a different challenge,” said Horan (Heaps). “But I think she has fit in seamlessly. I believe you all have seen how special she can be; she is a different type of footballer than we might be used to, exhibiting many special qualities. So, I`m incredibly proud of what she`s achieving. But truly, she`s still only 17 years old, so there is so much more to come.”
Team vice-captain Naomi Girma recently rejoined the national team for the first time this year. Girma is no stranger to a rapidly rising profile herself. Shortly after being drafted by San Diego in the 2022 NWSL Draft, her outstanding performances as a center-back quickly earned her Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year awards, and her consistent play led to her inclusion on the 2023 USWNT World Cup roster.
While the parallels are somewhat limited, given the next World Cup is still two full years away, Yohannes` role within the team can undoubtedly evolve significantly during that time. It is not an unlikely scenario that she could secure a spot on that roster as a 20-year-old if her development continues on its current path.
“I think she has developed so much in the past year,” Girma commented. “She joined as a young player, but she played like someone who had already been with us for a while. You could tell she possesses that calm and confidence on the ball. I think that`s an excellent trait for a midfielder to have.”
“She is just level-headed. And I feel like, despite her rising prominence, she remains very much herself. It is truly wonderful to see someone like her performing so well and genuinely establishing herself within the team.”
