Emma Hayes will mark her one-year anniversary as head coach of the U.S. Women`s National Team as the squad concludes the current international window by facing Jamaica on Tuesday.
This match, originally planned as the second game of a series against China, sees a change in opponent to a familiar Concacaf foe, the Reggae Girlz. The game will take place at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The United States enters the match following a comfortable 3-0 win over China on Saturday. Jamaica, in contrast, had a challenging April international window, suffering two losses against regional rivals Mexico.
Hayes and her team are aiming for a second consecutive shutout after splitting their April series against Brazil with a 2-0 win and a 2-1 loss. With one win already secured in the summer window, the coaching staff is actively evaluating the player pool. The victory against China saw midfielder Lo`eau LaBonta make her USWNT debut at 32, while defender Kerry Abello and goalkeeper Claudia Dickey could potentially earn their first caps on Tuesday evening.
Jamaica`s difficult April window saw them concede seven goals across their two defeats to Mexico. Head coach Hubert Busby Jr. will be without key players for this fixture, including star striker Bunny Shaw, midfielder Drew Spence, and experienced goalkeeper Rebeca Spencer. The manager has not provided a timeline for Shaw`s return as she recovers from a foot injury.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, June 3 | Time: 8 p.m ET
- Location: Energizer Park — St. Louis, Mo.
- TV: TNT | Live stream: Max
Head-to-Head Record
Tuesday`s match will be the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams. The USWNT has won all five previous encounters against the Reggae Girlz. Their most recent game was during the 2022 Concacaf W Championship, which served as a qualifier for the 2023 FIFA Women`s World Cup. The U.S. national team dominated that match, winning 5-0 with goals scored by Sophia Smith, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, and Trinity Rodman.
USWNT Perspective
The U.S. side was tested early in their match against China but ultimately found the breakthrough just before the half-hour mark, leading to a convincing 3-0 victory. The game offered valuable opportunities to see the team`s improving in-game awareness and quicker decision-making when facing a higher pressing opponent, compared to a more structured, defensive setup.
The players, ever the high-performance athletes, were already demanding more from themselves after the game. Head coach Hayes noted that this reflects the group`s tactical growth. She believes the more scenarios they face that require finding solutions, the better they become.
`When you`re trying to put together so many new players, as a coach, you want to make sure that every time you`re with them, you`re making less and less tactical corrections, and this week, we`ve made less than we`ve ever had to make. Because Avery Patterson knows where to be [on] both sides of the ball. So does Lily [Yohannes], so does Michelle Cooper, so that in return, means the group as a whole can go up higher level, because they`re getting better at their understanding of that,` Hayes said after the match against China. `But I`m asking them to deliver a performance with a level of patience, so, I`m not going to criticize them for that. I feel like tactically, we`ve gone up another level. I really feel that way. I feel that there`s so many more players that are so much more in control that we`re able to do more.`
Jamaica`s Viewpoint
As Jamaica builds towards the next World Cup cycle, head coach Hubert Busby Jr. faces a similar situation of evaluating the talent pool while multiple experienced players are unavailable. The program aims to capitalize on its recent success of reaching two consecutive World Cups, despite experiencing ups and downs.
Recent losses to Mexico raised concerns among supporters, but Busby insists the team is heading in the right direction by facing Concacaf rivals and a future fixture against England. He views these games as crucial for experimentation and assessment.
`As we kind of moved from that game into this one, we looked at a couple of things, and some different players into different positions, you know, and we had conversations about players and looking to try things. It`s what these games are about. We know we have our strengths, we have our deficiencies, but we have to be able to utilize these games. I know everyone wants to win every single match. That`s what we`re here for … but these games are for us to be able to experiment and try things. We can`t do them in World Cup qualifiers, right? So we have to be able to have this full picture of what it is,` he said after announcing the Reggae Girlz roster. He added, `There`s all these little puzzle pieces that we have to be able to little jigsaw pieces that we have to be able to put together, that allows for us to seal this finished product. And again, it`s not, we`re not anywhere close to where it should be, yet, I think we`re on the process of getting done … It is always about progression. Even in that progression, it might not seem like it, because the results might not show, but we take the information and we extract it, and we have a better understanding of where we are, and we can put it in our toolbox, and we can file it away.`
Predicted Lineups
USWNT: Claudia Dickey; Emily Fox, Tara McKeown, Emily Sams, Kerry Abello; Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, Lindsey Heaps; Catarina Macario, Ally Sentnor, Alyssa Thompson
Jamaica: Sydney Schneider; Naya Cardoza, Chantelle Swaby, Allyson Swaby, Konya Plummer; Deneisha Blackwood, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Amelia Van Zanten, Atlanta Primus; Tiffany Cameron, Jody Brown
Key Player Spotlight
Claire Hutton, USWNT: The 19-year-old defensive midfielder from Kansas City Current has been involved in USWNT camps throughout 2024 and has already made two senior appearances. Hutton is a crucial player in the midfield for her club, known for both disrupting opposition play and contributing to attacks, with two assists and five chances created. She is forming promising chemistry with fellow young player Lily Yohannes, and the U.S. coaching staff may look to further develop this partnership.
Match Prediction
The USWNT prepared for an organized defense against China but faced a different approach. They might be overly prepared for a Jamaica side that typically employs a mid to low defensive block. Given the absence of many of Jamaica`s key players, this match is likely to be another dominant performance for the United States.
Prediction: USWNT 3, Jamaica 0
