From being forgotten to finally being back in the spotlight—Alyssa Thompson, take a bow. Her journey has indeed been nothing short of remarkable, as she not only made her way back into the USWNT roster after more than a year-long absence but also scored her first goal against Iceland. While that saw her garner praise from many including Trinity Rodman and Megan Rapinoe, it was also the perfect time for Emma Hayes to finally address Thompson’s snub from the Paris Olympics.

Sure Alex Morgan’s snub might have been questionable but USA fans understood the former Chelsea manager’s decision. However, not inviting a 19-year-old Alyssa, who had enjoyed a decent breakthrough NWSL season with Angel City was something many didn’t understand. While it almost seemed as if Hayes completely ignored Thompson, that apparently wasn’t the case.

“I have been watching her performances since the Olympics,” admitted Hayes in the post-match presser after an emphatic 3-1 win. “I know she’s committed to looking for the next level in her play. I think you see just how threatening and dangerous she is,” continued the 47-year-old, before praising how brilliantly the forward netted her first goal. “It’s not an easy goal. Chop in from the left-hand side and roof it in the top corner.”

So even if Hayes was aware of Thompson’s quality, why did she eventually decide to fly to France without her? “But she’s someone who, her international career started at a very early stage. That’s why, I believe it does take time. Maybe she wasn’t ready before but I can see from tonight’s performance she offers a lot for us going forward,” concluded Hayes, as compiled by journalist Justin Ruderman on X.

Despite the extraordinary talent, Hayes knew that it was too early for someone like Thompson to be loaded over with the pressure of constantly delivering greatness at the Paris Olympics. That explains why she played just 17 minutes under Vlatko Andonovski during the 2023 FIFA World Cup campaign. As for Hayes, she eventually decided to go with ‘Tripple Espresso’, who did a brilliant job.

Either way, the Angel City star surely made her case to become a regular selectee in the USWNT roster. In fact, Thompson’s performance today has not only made her a star in the eyes of Hayes but even her fellow teammates and icons!

Alyssa Thompson basks in the glory of her dream USWNT debut!

The 19-year-old took just 37 minutes to announce her return to the USWNT, scoring a brilliant goal to instantly light up the entire Q2 Stadium. Interestingly, the moment was shared by all the fans with many revered names also jumping on the bandwagon. Starting off with Megan Rapinoe, who shared Thompson’s goal on her Instagram story with the caption “🥹 the lil hop”.

Another icon, Tobin Heath, also shared a picture of Alyssa’s celebration with a heartfelt caption: “You can’t replace this kind of joy. Congrats, @alyssathomp🧡.” Furthermore, speaking of her fellow Angel City teammates, Ali Riley gave a shoutout to Thompson on her story, while Sydney Leroux expressed her emotions with “🥹🥹🥹.”

Indeed, it’s quite a joyous occasion for Alyssa Thompson. Just as they say, upwards and onwards!