The USWNT didn't win its sixth straight SheBelieves Cup, but for Emma Hayes, that's not what this year is about.

Copyright © 2025 Bleacher Report, Inc. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.

A closer look at the lesser-known players called up to the U.S. women's national team for this month's SheBelieves Cup

The United States women's national team suffered its first loss in the Emma Hayes era when a more experienced and tactical Japan side defeated the Americans 2-1 to win the SheBelieves Cup title on Wednesday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

Former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes lost her first match as manager of the United States as Japan won the SheBelieves Cup. The US were bidding for a record-extending sixth successive title in the annual round-robin invitational tournament.

If the SheBelieves Cup was an opportunity to get a gage on Emma Hayes' rebuild, Sunday's win showed that the USWNT are right on track.

Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title game. The Americans had not lost since last February when they fell 2-0 to Mexico in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

On Wednesday, the United States women's national team hit a first for the Emma Hayes era: It lost. Japan overpowered the U.S. to take a triumphant 2-1 win in the SheBelieves Cup. With the win, Japan lifts the tournament's trophy for the first time — and breaks a five-year SheBelieves win streak for the U.

Despite a 2-1 loss to Japan, Emma Hayes remains optimistic about the USWNT's future, highlighting squad progress and promising development toward the World Cup.

Individual players making strong cases for themselves brings into question who and how the team will play when "Triple Espresso" return