.Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 11, 2024, 10:25 AM ETCloseSam Borden is a senior author for ESPN.com.PARIS-- 1 day final winter, Crystal Dunn sent out Emma Hayes a text.The notification was actually something along free throw lines of, "Ma'am, I listen to rumors!" Dunn recalled just recently, and also it was embeded in the gurgling conjecture as Hayes was actually mosting likely to come to be the new trainer of the USA girls's nationwide team.Dunn, a veteran defender that had played a time under Hayes at Chelsea before transferring to the NWSL, mentioned Hayes appeared delighted but was understandably observant in their exchange, and Dunn ended it through telling Hayes: "I hope it holds true. Due to the fact that I assume you're going to be fantastic." Nearly 10 months on, that interaction resides big in Dunn's moment initially since Hayes carried out in reality become the united state train and, in a tornado begin, has actually actually provided: The Americans won an Olympic gold award on Saturday in Hayes' initial primary tournament in charge.Editor's Picks2 RelatedIt is actually, by any type of measure, an advantageous starting point for Hayes, that only began the task in June after accomplishing the nightclub season. But it is actually additionally illustratory of what the future might hold for a system that is really precisely changing.In a short time, Hayes has approached the team's employees, strategies and also playing design in considerable ways, besides creating strong individual hookups-- some of which were trickier than others-- while also driving her team to uncover the joy the gamers feel for one another." She is actually implemented numerous traits and also coached us in such a way that our company have actually truly needed," USA captain Lindsey Horan said.U.S. forward Sophia Smith, that slashed three targets throughout the Olympic campaign, consisting of the dramatic game winner in extra time of the semifinal, claimed it much more just: "We're a different crew." That is no little feat, either, given the state of the course a year earlier. After being removed in the sphere of 16 at last summer months's Female's World Mug-- the most awful appearance ever in a major tournament for the U.S.-- the group moved on from trainer Vlatko Andonovski and also appeared towards what had been an inevitable recalibration.Hayes, who gained five game headlines in a row at Chelsea, had actually certainly never managed internationally yet was actually extremely accustomed to American players after training at Iona University and also at several specialist amounts in the USA from 2002 to 2012. She got here along with concepts and began executing all of them appropriate away.Her type-- and among the attributes that players almost globally claim they appreciate-- is actually to become sincere and candid. Various other coaches might have featured Alex Morgan, the United States mainstay in strike, on the Olympic roster, if only since it would certainly be the simpler selection for a new person being available in besides, Morgan is just one of the most ideal united state target scorers in past history. Yet Hayes had no instinct to soothe any person, making a decision that Morgan had not been a suitable for the type she would like to play and also liking as an alternative to choose a younger group.As it turned out, the opponents she opted for-- Johnson, Mallory Swanson as well as Trio Rodman-- were actually among the standouts of the competition, along with each one providing a crucial goal in 3 trustworthy 1-0 success for the U.S. as it brushed up with the knockout rounds.A gold award in the first handful of months of her tenure is impressive, but Emma Hayes has much bigger think about the USWNT and U.S. Football. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP through Getty ImagesHayes didn't simply throw the trio all together, either. She tweaked Smith's playing type, inquiring her to poach more around the objective as opposed to going down much deeper as she does with her nightclub team. And also she urged all three gamers to express themselves, to explore their collaboration, delivering a freedom within their offered tasks that resonated.Rodman suggested her highlight-reel, game-winning objective in the quarterfinals as an example. That strike, a blistering left-footed blast coming from span that ripped in to the upper corner of the objective, was actually a shot Rodman looked at merely given that she knew Hayes definitely would not determine her if she blasted it 20 backyards over." I had shanked one nearly for a throw-in right before that," Rodman pointed out. "But possessing her as a train, you sort of know that that's certainly not heading to change the manner in which she is actually seeing the game and also to simply always keep making an effort points." Defensively, Hayes created improvements, too. Leaving Behind Naomi Girma in location was actually a no-brainer-- "She's the best guardian I've ever before found," Hayes mentioned-- but partnering her along with Tierna Davidson and after that boosting the defense through including deep-lying midfielder Sam Coffey, that was ended Andonovski's Planet Mug lineup, are one of the techniques Hayes made with confidence.STREAM FUTBOL AMERICAS ON ESPN+H erculez Gomez as well as Sebastian Salazar question the most significant storylines as well as break down the greatest highlights that football in the Americas has to deliver. Stream on ESPN+ (USA only).She has actually additionally changed some postures around, playing Dunn as more of a go-forward winger than she has been in recent, for instance, while additionally limiting her substitutions as well as schedule improvements generally. While that absolutely triggered enhanced exhaustion, Hayes said she yearned for the players to "go through" because she believed that structure chemistry between her leading players was more crucial." I assume anytime there is actually freshness and adjustment, it is actually constantly a little rejuvenating in any sense merely to make that change," expert goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stated. "As well as I presume you may view every person type of approving it as well as approving her." Techniques apart, dealing with the individualities of a group of gamers of varying grows older and expertises is a problem all on its own. Some of Hayes' work in that place is actually essential as well as enjoyable-- she brought in a karaoke equipment for the team, which swiftly came to be a prime focus of the group's downtime. (Depending On to Horan, Flower Lavelle knows the verses to so many tunes that she does not also require to examine the display screen.) There are challenges as well as Legos to likewise aid them bond, but Hayes has functioned to develop partnerships along with the gamers that operate deeper. Dunn claimed that she as well as Hayes adhered over being moms, and also she and her trainer would certainly talk practically day-to-day regarding what it is like to handle interest for collaborate with the discomfort that possesses being actually away from your child." It feels like you try your downright finest to become able to commit to each motherhood as well as being a gamer, and also I presume that sometimes it is nearly impossible to balance," Dunn mentioned. "She is actually managed to enable me to have my insane instants when I feel like, 'I want him near me,' yet concurrently [inform me], 'All those sensations that you experience are pretty regular.'" Hayes likewise made up a shut connection with Korbin Albert, the gifted 20-year-old midfielder that attracted criticism after social networks posts in which she showed up to assist anti-LGBTQIA+ content. (She later on apologized for doing so.) Hayes illustrated that she has no persistence for anyone that does not wish to cultivate a comprehensive community, however likewise claimed her reaction as a mom is "to secure." Hayes believes that Albert understands the relevance of the mistakes she made as well as is actually real concerning intending to belong to the group, therefore as a trainer she wants to aid her expand. On Saturday, Hayes handed Albert a beginning in the ultimate against South america, as well as Albert supplied a best through-ball to put together Swanson for the winner.The clear expenditure coming from her instructor prompted Albert to communicate passionately concerning Hayes and what that sort of help implies to her." It is difficult passion in some cases," Albert claimed, "and it is actually really great only to have her below and just teaching me and guiding me in every step in every way personally as well as on the soccer field." She tells me of my mom often." Remarkable as this position act was from Hayes, both she as well as USA Soccer know that this is a long-term play. Hayes' contract goes through the 2027 Female's World Cup, as well as while a gold medal in the initial couple of months is impressive, the larger objectives lie ahead.Hayes possesses notions on how to overhaul the ability recognition body, the gamer growth system as well as the control in between youth national staffs and also the elderly staff. She possesses prepare for just how she would like to see USA teams play. She dreams on exactly how this program can puncture a sport that is receiving deeper on a daily basis, if it is actually pointed in the right direction.First, though, she is actually hoping to finally get to entirely unpacking her boxes coming from Chelsea. At that point, maybe, a couple of days off. Then the press will certainly proceed in ernest." Tonight, our experts have a gold medal, however it does not indicate it ends there certainly," she claimed. "Our company are simply at the starting point.".