The USWNT dominated the SheBelieves Cup for five years in a row. Naturally, after their 2024 Paris Olympics success, Team USA’s women looked forward to winning the title for the sixth year in a row. Their opponents? Japan. A team the USA had beaten under coach Emma Hayes in the Olympics quarterfinals. Yet, this time, it was Japan that edged out the mighty defending champions in the final.

Now, with the other Olympic rematch looming in the shape of an international friendly, Hayes has hinted at taking the “tough love” approach with her players. “Our young group has to recover after a loss against Japan,” she told reporters earlier, and this time, she won’t go easy on them. However, Hayes’ new vibe has terrified Good Vibes show host Sam Mewis.

Mewis discussed how she had never seen Emma Hayes being so serious during interviews with co-host Becky Sauerbrunn on The Women’s Game YouTube channel. “I’m not even a player, and I’m like terrified. It’s kind of scaring me,” the host confessed while discussing the change in approach. Yet, she also explained why the English coach is doing what she’s doing.

Although the 48-year-old took the loss as a learning experience, she didn’t like how Team USA lost to Japan. Mewis explained how the USWNT players being out of position helped the Japanese player tap the ball into the back of the net. Hayes didn’t like that. So both Mewis and co-host Becky Sauerbrunn theorized that the former Women’s Super League coach would grill the players.

It’s going to be like a “cold called by the teacher,” explained Sauerbrunn. The former soccer stars believe that Emma Hayes wants her squad to know exactly where they need to be at all times. Yet, that tough love scenario of theoretically putting each player on the spot is far from the only thing that’s difficult about this camp.

Even earning a spot on Emma Hayes’ final roster won’t be easy

Besides getting back to their winning way, there’s a lot of expectations riding on Hayes and the U.S. women. What kind? Well, for starters, the USWNT will take on Brazil on home soil, for the first time after beating them in the Olympic final. And as if the expectation to once beat the team you’ve already defeated isn’t enough, the venue makes this friendly clash historic.

That’s because the USA vs. Brazil double-header will be the first professional women’s sports event at SoFi Stadium. So Emma Hayes wants everyone on the roster to be in peak form. “We absolutely have to make sure that physically we are at a level to compete with Brazil and make sure on our home turf that we deliver the expectations that I set for the team,” she told Attacking Third: Soccer Highlights and Commentary.

Hayes also didn’t mince her words when discussing the starting 11. Star players won’t get a free pass when the Ballon d’Or winning coach chooses the final roster. “All of the players know they have to earn every roster spot, every starting spot, and every minute they get as a finisher off the bench,” explained Hayes. However, it’s not like the mood is gloomy at the USWNT camp.

A lot of faces on the USWNT roster belong to California. Alyssa Thompson, Tara McKeown, and Trinity Rodman hail from SoCal. Meanwhile, Tierna Davidson, Catarina Macario, and Jane Campbell represent the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, Rodman is hyped about “being able to go back to California,” and play in front of the home crowd. Will the roster’s Cali roots add more fuel to their motivation? Soccer fans will find that out on SoFi Stadium (April 5) and PayPal Park (April 8).