“The curtains fell, the gloves were hung up, and an era ended“. Alyssa Naeher, the fortress of the USWNT for years, walked off the pitch for the last time as a national player. Her exit wasn’t just a goodbye, it was a handover a passing of the torch to a younger generation. Emma Hayes applauded Alyssa’s immense contribution but didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. “Who steps up now?” The answer? Only the future will reveal.

Even though the scoreboard read a 2-1 victory against the Netherlands, the USWNT team was slightly off. There was an undercurrent of uncertainty as the game wasn’t perfect either. The USWNT struggled to hold shape with and without the ball, missed crucial passes, and let the Dutch women exploit gaps in their midfield. Yet, as they say in soccer, “A win’s a win.” Don’t you agree? It’s also a lesson a moment to regroup, reassess, and rebuild.

Big hole, but a bigger opportunity for the young generation – Emma speaks

The air was thick with nostalgia as Emma Hayes stepped up to the mic after the USWNT’s final match of the year. The 2-1 win against the Netherlands was significant, but the real story lay in the emotional farewell of Alyssa Naeher – Do you agree? With her gloves officially hung up, the question wasn’t just about celebrating her career it was about the future too.

“She’s the greatest goalkeeper this country’s ever had,” Hayes began, her voice filled with admiration. Alyssa Naeher’s journey hadn’t been an easy one. There were years spent waiting patiently on the bench, moments when critics doubted her ability, and whispers that her time had passed. But Alyssa? She always found a way to rise above. There is a saying that goes “Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of a new chapter.“ Now, with Alyssa stepping away, the team faces a similar kind of new challenge.

“Yes, there’s a big hole,” Hayes admitted, “but there’s also a big opportunity.” And she wasn’t just tossing platitudes. Hayes highlighted the wealth of talent waiting in the wings names like Phallon, Mandy, Jane, and Casey. The challenge, Hayes explained, is giving these players the experience they lack. “Over the next year, we’ll have to go through a period of figuring out who the next number one will be. It’s exciting, but it’ll take time.”

Now a moment to regroup, reassess, and rebuild is what Emma Hayes and co have to work on with the SheBelieves Cup fixtures at the end of February.

Who is the next USWNT guardian of goal (Future keepers to watch)

Rising concerns about the USWNT’s young goalkeepers have led some to question the team’s future chances. Even Naeher confidently talked about her teammates saying “I know that the future of the team is in incredible hands as they keep doing that and the new young ones.” However, as the saying goes, if there is no competition, there is no development, and the USWNT, like any other team, has a large number of contenders for this position, demonstrating the squad’s actual potential and depth.

Casey Murphy, in particular, has been making an impression as Alyssa Naeher’s backup for some time. Murphy has kept 15 clean sheets in her 20 caps, demonstrating outstanding consistency when called upon. But it isn’t just Murphy. Other players vying for the top slot include Mandy Haught, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Jane Campbell, and Aubrey Kingsbury, displaying the USWNT’s goalkeeping depth.

Emma Hayes’s belief in the team’s depth shows team’s future remains safe. But as for the next goalkeeper for the USWNT team, we will have to wait and see if someone can fill the void left by Alyssa Naeher.