The USA Women’s National Team took to Wembley for a big game against England this Thanksgiving weekend and although they had to settle for a 0-0 draw, Emma Hayes will be pleased with her team’s performance.

The Americans were the better side from the outset and any criticism of their play came in the final third, where they often struggled to turn pressure into clear-cut chances. However, there is an easy excuse for that Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith everyone missed this game.

Overall, a mix of old and new faces continued to grow under Hayes, who gave his team a big test to end the year with matches in England and the upcoming friendly in the Netherlands.

On this day, they received a passing grade, leaving one match remaining to end their Olympic gold medal campaign.

Manager rating (scale 1-10)

Emma Hayes, 7 — Hayes had a tough task with her dynamic front line missing, some players hadn’t played for a month and the big crowd behind the Lionesses, but the USA were still the better team. Her selection of experience in defense and midfield took some pressure off the forwards and they controlled the game as a result, plus her half-time substitution of Yazmeen Ryan worked wonders. The Hayes era continued apace at Wembley.

USWNT Player Rating (0-10; 10 = Best; 5 = Average)

GK Alyssa Naeher5 — This looks like a harsh rating, but that’s only because the US defense was so confident that she was barely employed and a N/A might be more accurate. She had the best view of the more than 70,000 people at Wembley, and she didn’t even have to buy a ticket.

DF Emily Fox7 — The Arsenal defender looked as comfortable as he could be playing in London. She was a constant outlet down the right, helping the USA quickly push the ball into the final third while erasing any England attacks along her wings.

DF Emily Sonnett6 — With so much turnover up front, Hayes opted for experience at the back and Sonnett rewarded his manager’s choice with another solid performance. Life is pretty easy next to Girma, but Sonnett was confident, making the plays required of her and the two centre-backs giving everyone in front of them the freedom to take chances.

DF Naomi Girma8 — You’d be forgiven for thinking Girma didn’t have much to do. She simply cut off the threats so early and made the recovery runs look so easy that her typically excellent performance looked pedestrian. That’s what makes her one of the best players in the world and the linchpin of this team. Oh, and she almost scored another goal as a little bonus.

DF Casey Krueger7 — Krueger has been a favorite under Hayes in 2024 and she showed why again in another strong performance. She had total control over the left side, med Jessica Naz barely registers a mention opposite her the entire game. Krueger also came closest to a goal in the first half when her good shot from 18 yards forced a good save from Mary Earps.

MF Sam Coffey6 — Ho hum, Coffey picks up every other ball in midfield and quickly moves it forward before the opposition could even think to press. It’s rare for Coffey to do anything particularly noteworthy, but the midfield was humming because of the many little things she did, as usual.

MF Lindsey Horan6 — Horan was once again given freedom in the American midfield and found himself with regularity far up the pitch. At times it worked as she helped keep the pressure on England’s centre-backs, but she also gave the ball away cheaply a couple of times and didn’t bring as much creative juice as you’d like on the ball from that position.

MF Rose Lavelle7 — It was typical Lavelle play, with many clever little touches helping to keep the ball moving and creating space. She also got forward and made a couple of really smart passes, one of which would have set up a goal had Horan not gone offside.

FW Emma Sears4 — The hope was that Sears’ pace would reveal aging Lucy bronzebut it never happened. Experience paid off as the 23-year-old looked like a player in just her second match and she was suspended at half-time.

FW Lynn Williams5 — Williams can always be counted on to work hard and be a threat in the press, which she was, but she got little service and was often missing in attack. A new front line and lack of chemistry would never suit a forward like Williams who makes smart runs and needs someone to drop the ball at her feet.

FW Alyssa Thompson6 — The U.S. struggled to turn possession in the final third into chances in the first half, but not for lack of effort from Thompson. She was particularly good in her couple of 1v1 opportunities, beating her marker just to find some options to play after.

Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes receive no rating)

FW Yazmeen Ryan, 8 — Ryan came on on the break and immediately changed the game, not only threatening from the edge, but nipping inside and acting as a creative force from the center of the pitch. She set up a goal ruled out for offside, hit a sumptuous cross that almost set one up and had the shot that earned a penalty before VAR decided otherwise. This was only her third game, but she has already made a strong case to be part of the core group of forwards in this team.

FW Jaedyn ShawNO

MF Korbin AlbertNO