USWNT Focuses on Growth, Adaptability in Series Against Japan
USWNT Focuses on Growth, Adaptability in Series Against Japan Losses are few and far between for the U. S. Women’s National Team, a program which holds the best all-time winning percentage of any international sports team in history at 84%.
Of the USA's 75 total losses since 1985, only two were at the feet of Japan and the most recent was in their last meeting during the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. It was the first loss under U. S.
head coach Emma Hayes who took over the team eight months prior. Hayes has reflected on that match often over the last few months as the team prepares to face Japan three times. She explained that her squad wasn’t yet fully developed, and while they are certainly still growing, the evolution of the team has progressed over the past year.
“As a coach, the things I look for are all the tactical, technical, psychological, social elements that come with the team, and I think we’ve progressed so much,” Hayes said. “That doesn't mean you're entitled to win anything. What it means is that we're in a better position now than we were then.
” Hayes said this April roster is much more developed now, whether it be from the younger players that have spent the last year in her system or the return of a few veterans. Hayes said the team has a better understanding of how it wants to play and she wants to see it come together against a World Cup-qualified squad coming of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title. “I have huge respect for [Japan], but we’re a good team,” Hayes said.