Question: Have you ever been convinced that Emma Hayes is the best thing to happen to the USWNT? Well, if you are, you’re not alone. Sure, if winning an Olympic medal in just 75 days may not be the ideal way to reach such a conclusion, then she gave us more ammo to believe so after subsequent events. However, for Sam Mewis, this sentiment rings true, as the iconic midfielder firmly believes the American ladies are in ‘great hands’ under Hayes’ leadership.

In the latest episode of the Good Game with Sarah Spain, Mewis discussed the impact of the former Chelsea boss on the four-time World Champions. We all have seen the change within this USA team, but this change goes beyond the pitch. Sam noted that she finds it interesting that team staff can take and post a player’s photo without their approval.

The ex-KC Current star questioned the lack of control, wondering what if a player had a double chin, messy hair, or simply disliked the image. However, since the arrival of Hayes, athletes haven’t been affected by media appearances. In fact, it amazes Mewis how the USWNT boss is actually taking care of such minute details as well.

“I think that it’s just such an important distinction,” said Mewis, praising how Emma is helping the team in slightest of aspects as well. “The more I learned about Emma; hear her talk about this stuff, the more I’m like, ‘Wow, the national team is in such great hands.'”

Obvious isn’t it? We aren’t all that surprised to see how Hayes is helping the USWNT overcome challenges beyond the field. After all, their on-pitch performance is directly related to how they feel outside it. As Naomi Girma once stated in an interview what Hayes often told her players: “We’re going to hold on to this, and we’re also going to grow in this way.”

We’ll just go ahead and consider making ‘connections and openness’ as rule 101 in her Hayes’ coaching playbook. In fact, the players rightly deserve to and are lucky to be treated with such an approach; in the past, a lack of communication led to Mewis facing challenges in the later stages of her career.

Sam Mewis in awe of Emma Hayes’ USWNT approach

Mewis emphasized that she insisted on clear and open communication stems from her own past misfortune. She recalled her experience with a chronic injury that she sustained in 2017—one that ended up affecting the rest of her career. The former NC Courage star recalled that there was never really a proper dialogue about managing the condition, that only made it worse for her.

No one was able to figure out Sam’s injury situation, nor did anyone even attempt to discuss her workload or how to extend her career. As a result, four years later, she played her final game with no resolution in place. “I just got run into the ground… It happens, but it’s super unfortunate,” she admitted while expressing her anguish over her situation.

In fact, Mewis admitted that if there had been the same “better communication and more awareness of the situation” that the current USWNT enjoys under Emma Hayes, she could have overcome the challenges of her cartilage damage and worn-down knee at that time. She also believes her career would have lasted longer.

Then again, fate had Mewis struggle, forcing her to end her soccer career at just 31. It is quite a morose illustration to explain how the current USWNT is fortunate to receive such meticulous care under Emma Hayes, but then, it is what it is. How this approach ultimately benefits the team is something that remains to be seen.