USWNT transformation under Emma Hayes begins. Don't expect overnight changes

Emma Hayes isn’t a miracle worker.

The problems that resulted in the U.S. women struggling at the last two major international tournaments didn’t develop overnight and they won’t be fixed in Hayes’ first official camp. Anyone expecting to see a radically different version of the USWNT against South Korea on Saturday, Hayes’ first game as coach, will be disappointed.

But Hayes said Friday she is already seeing progress. Keep building on that, and the improvements will come.

“We all know the main ingredients of the American DNA and that will not change under my stewardship,” Hayes said. “I think it’s been a better tactical understanding than I anticipated. But for me the most important thing has been the ability to grasp information really, really quickly and learn. Sponges. Unbelievable sponges. No matter what we’ve thrown at them this week, they’re taking it on and absorbing it.

“This team is desperate to improve, and it’s focused on the performances and the processes to do that.”

Since winning its fourth World Cup title in 2019, the USWNT has been a shadow of its mighty self. It isn’t just the results, though those haven’t been great: a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a round-of-16 exit, its earliest ever at a major international tournament, at last year’s World Cup.

It’s also the way the USWNT looked. Sluggish and overmatched, unable to keep pace with teams tactically or come up with responses when things weren’t working.

Hayes is enough of a difference maker that U.S. Soccer was willing to wait for her to take over until she finished her season at Chelsea — with another title, naturally. Hayes was in communication with her new team and worked closely with interim coach Twila Kilgore to begin the transition to Hayes’ favored style of play.

But nothing can duplicate having Hayes with the team.

“All those things that we were trying to do in the past few months, you get here and now you hear it from her, from Emma herself, and the things that she really wants, it kind of all starts clicking in your head,” captain Lindsey Horan said Thursday. “Obviously it’s things we’ve been working on, but now it’s coming to life.

“And players are just trying,” Horan added. “And that’s the most important thing. You’re taking this information and you’re trying to do your best, and I think the last few days, that’s something that I’ve seen. There’s a clear intention with what we’re trying to do in this process and it’s super exciting to see.”

The instructions on the field have been coupled with getting to know players off it. Hayes said she’s been having 15-minute meetings with each player, and hopes to be done with them before the next game, which is Tuesday, also against South Korea.

It’s not enough just to know her players’ technical abilities and what they can and can’t do. Hayes wants to know them personally, “where they’re from. How many siblings they have.” There will be a level of buy-in because of who Hayes is and because of the struggles the USWNT has had. But to make lasting changes, to get the USWNT back to the top of the game, she needs a full commitment.

And that requires a trust that is both personal and professional.

“When you have that personal relationship, it’s always better between staff and players,” Naomi Girma said. “I think it’s going to help us moving forward a lot.”

Hayes isn't here for just fun and games, however. She's here to do a job. With the Paris Olympics two months away, it’s tempting to want the USWNT to already look how it’s going to look in the future.

That isn’t how this works, though. And Hayes is smart and seasoned enough to know that.

“This is an opportunity, as I’ve said before, to learn about the players, learn about their tactical understanding, see where their technique is. What the top level (is),” she said. “Expose them to a strategic setup that prepares us for tomorrow, first and foremost, and get the players to understand the most important things that are required at the top, top level.”

That is the goal, after all. Not winning a specific game or even a certain color medal but getting the USWNT back on top. And this is how it starts.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.