USWNT’s biggest wake-up call: Is the team still a global powerhouse? | OneFootball

The USWNT is not used to losing, especially not on home soil. Snapdragon Stadium was a harsh reality check that no team is invincible. Japan halted the Americans' five-year SheBelieves Cup reign by defeating them 2-1, ending an 18-game unbeaten streak under Emma Hayes.

Early mistake, uphill battle

The match had barely started, and the U.S. was already trailing. Just 93 seconds in, Yuka Momiki capitalized on a miscommunication between goalkeeper Jane Campbell and defender Emily Sonnett. The two collided, and Momiki was left with a present, one she did not waste. Ball in the net, 1-0 Japan.

Losing a goal that early can break a team, but the USWNT came back quickly. In the 14th minute, Lily Yohannes set up Catarina Macario, who turned her marker inside out before putting in a perfect ball for Ally Sentnor. The young forward remained calm, placed her shot where it needed to be, and equalized.

The equalizer brought temporary reprieve, but only for a while. Japan did not flinch and continued to use its speed and technical skill in tight spaces. The U.S., on the other hand, was not able to convert possession into real chances.

Lapses in concentration and second-half punishment

Hayes did make some adjustments at halftime, bringing on Jenna Nighswonger and Jaedyn Shaw. But once more, Japan came out sharper. In the 50th minute, Yui Hasegawa struck a perfect free kick, forcing Campbell into a tough save. The problem? She palmed it right into the middle of the box, where Toko Koga was waiting. Rebound, goal, 2-1 Japan.

That along with, the U.S. needed two goals to complete a comeback. More substitutions were made, Korbin Albert, Lynn Biyendolo, Alyssa Thompson, and Tierna Davidson came in to shake things up. But Japan's structured defense held firm. Shaw and Davidson tried the keeper from distance, and Thompson tried to break through with some solo runs, but Japan absorbed the pressure and closed out the game.

End of an era, or wake-up call?

It's tempting to overreact to Hayes' first loss at the helm. But in the grand scheme, this defeat could be a learning experience. Japan is a quality opponent, and the SheBelieves Cup has always been a proving ground.

Meanwhile, looking back, the USWNT still has a dominant record against Japan: 32 wins, 8 draws, and just 2 losses. Statistics don't win games, though. Women's soccer is evolving, and the United States can't remain stationary.

Tougher tests await

How the USWNT responds to this loss will be significant. And the response will not have long to wait, the team plays two matches against Brazil, on April 5 and 8. Those matches won't just be about redemption; they'll be a stern test against a South American side gearing up for the Copa América.

Hayes will need to plug defensive lapses, tighten the offense, and get her team peaking at the right times. The talent is there, but the team needs more cohesion and precision at the times when it counts.

Japan exposed weaknesses, and that could be a blessing in disguise. If the USWNT internalizes it and addresses it, then this SheBelieves Cup loss will not be remembered as the start of the decline, but as the birth of a long-needed evolution.