Real-life superheroes come in different forms. They are soccer players in the current day and age. Fans want entertainment as their favorite players take to the pitch. However, some players crumble under the pressure. They are humans, just like us. They need rest. Moreover, it helps them replenish their energy, as Emma Hayes saw them as human beings rather than soccer players when she came to the national team. For years, the USWNT ran a strict regime. In Hope Solo’s latest docuseries on Netflix, she stated how the 99 USWNT team set the standards.

With a lot of serious work behind the scenes, the pressure to succeed often came first, rather than players enjoying their lives. For Emma Hayes, that’s significant, as told by Trinity Rodman. The daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman entered the limelight in the past few seasons with her stature as one of the best players in the squad. Talking to Pro Soccer Wire, Rodman explained how the paradigm shift occurred.

“The shift was definitely Emma, and I’m going to say that so honestly. It’s not like this master plan. It’s little things, like allowing us to be free, get our activation done, but know that we’re still people, and that we still want to dance to Cheetah Girls during activation for two seconds.” Rodman loved the fact that she didn’t force things on the players. Having a fun time helps in team bonding and the former Chelsea coach had a knack for getting the best out of players.

“We’re still going to get our job done, but it’s OK to be us and have fun. Because when you take all the fun out, then it’s another situation where you’re just forced to do it. You don’t really want to be at that point,” Rodman said.

Emma Hayes’ influence is unreal!

I mean, nobody expected the USWNT to win the Olympic gold medal. On top of that, Emma Hayes took over the team 2 months before the Olympics. Where’s the time to gel the players? Where’s the time to tactically set them up? We would love an Amazon Prime documentary All or Nothing: USWNT edition to see what happens behind the scenes.

Having fun would be crucial for the players to get their mojo back. Therefore, Hayes did it perfectly, as Rodman knew they would succeed in Paris.

With the 2027 Women’s World Cup in less than 3 years, she has time. Time to set her squad up and develop the younger core on the side. With 10 goals in the Olympics between Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith, the ‘Triple Espresso’ gained complete match experience and will be ready to unleash themselves again. Friendly games become a gentle reminder of the standards set by Emma and, knowing her history, she wants to win.

Take it one game at a time. Emma is leading the USWNT to another World Cup in 3 years, one might say. Well, let’s not put pressure on her!