USWNT coach Emma Hayes’ undefeated Hello Kitty hat, plus: 16 NWSL things to watch

Sigh. Coming up: 🧢 Chef Hayes’ hat 🥊 A real rivalry yet? 👀 NWSL returns On to the main course: USWNT Watch: Don’t mess with the chef Two things became clear during the last international window: Emma Hayes loves a good food metaphor, and she might not lose when sh

Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is The Athletic ’s weekly women’s soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. Welcome to Full Time, where we’re still recovering from the Megan Rapinoe-Sue Bird breakup news .

Sigh. Coming up: 🧢 Chef Hayes’ hat 🥊 A real rivalry yet? 👀 NWSL returns On to the main course: USWNT Watch: Don’t mess with the chef Two things became clear during the last international window: Emma Hayes loves a good food metaphor, and she might not lose when she’s wearing the Hello Kitty cap pictured above (more on that in a sec).

The United States women’s national soccer team put itself through a proper three-game test against fifth-ranked Japan over the last 10 days: a 2-1 win in San Jose, Calif. , on April 11, a 1-0 loss in Seattle on April 14 and a 3-0 statement in Commerce City, Colo. , on April 17.