Hayes to see which prospects get a leg up

U.S. women’s national team coach will use training camp to evaluate talent pool.

- By KEvIN BAXTER

CROIX BETHUNE (20) is considered a "high potential" player for the U.S. squad, which will play Paraguay in a Saturday friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park.

(DANIEL COLE Associated Press)

When Emma Hayes took the reins of the women's national soccer team in 2024, one of her first goals was to plumb the depths of the team's talent pool. She knew what she had on the surface with veterans such as Rose Lavelle, Naomi Girma, Lindsey Heaps and Trinity Rodman. But what about the players under them? Who could step in in case of injury, absence or a lack of form?

Twenty months later, Hayes still hasn't reached the bottom of that pool, making this month's training camp in Carson an important one with World Cup qualifying looming in the fall.

“Some of the pool players are going to get an opportunity to shine,” she said.

“Some are high-potential prospects. I think about Hal Hershfelt or Croix Bethune, players who have not had a lot of opportunity with us. I get a chance to really see where they're at.

“My message is these players really have to take these opportunities because they will become few and far between.”

Hayes has given 27 players their senior national team debuts and has used 50 different starters in her 30 matches as coach. No other U.S. manager has named more than 36 starters over a similar span.