Losing its top spot in global soccer after the 2023 World Cup washout, the USWNT was in dire straits when it hired ex-Chelsea boss Emma Hayes. Now, in her first season in America, in an instant, coach Hayes and the USWNT reclaimed the throne. While Team USA’s Olympic gold win felt like a surreal tale, Hayes hailed as a savior, former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas feels like it was routine for USWNT to reclaim the top spot. Besides, Lalas appreciated the likes of final goal scorer Mallory Swanson. But he also listed a couple of factors that panned out to Team USA’s advantage.

Alexi Lalas routinely took to X and gave two cents about the former Chelsea boss’ big win. But, he perhaps might have felt he was giving a reality check on the Olympic win. “Love Emma Hayes, but she isn’t a magician. She’s smart, clear, & confident. Did what needed to be done,” said Lalas. Thereafter, the 54-year-old not-so-subtly iterated USWNT did well without controversially excluded stars like Alex Morgan. “Got rid of players not good enough, brought in better players, & made existing players better,” he added.

Alexi Lalas continued, “Also benefitted from good timing (Swanson return, WC failure, Olympic opponents.).” Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Lalas has said USWNT had an easy opponent in the final. He earlier stated that USWNT is lucky it did not have to play the World Champions Spain in the final. Spain, meanwhile crashed out 4-2 against the runners-up Brazil and then lost the bronze medal match to Germany. Indeed, Emma Hayes seems to have put USWNT back on top.

Emma Hayes’ triumph is not magic for Lalas. But she said her career peaked when the USWNT clinched the Olympic gold.

Emma Hayes values USA’s Olympic gold above her 16 titles with Chelsea

In fact, Alexi Lalas was reasonable to say Emma Hayes had to do something regular for her. Winning is indeed routine for Hayes, who led Chelsea to 16 titles in England and Europe including 7 Women’s Super League titles, of which five were won in a row. But none of these sensational triumphs seem to have given Hayes the rush like this Olympic gold win.

“Chelsea has been my love. Every trophy I won with that club is dear to me. But this professionally is probably much bigger than anything else I have ever done.” said Hayes.

USWNT’s stars, the forward triple espresso Rodman, Swanson, and Smith, skipper Horan, and superstar center-back Naomi Girma, among others, did not have it easy. They outfought demons even in the final against Brazil, which, however, did not go into extra time. They started weakly and changed to the attacking gear only in the second half. But even when Mallory Swanson powerfully broke the deadlock, her goal came so close to being ruled offside. Hence, this young team has truly written a phoenix-esque saga in Paris, after the World Cup washout and whatnot.