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There's bad news for MLB teams that lost Game 1 of their wild-card series on Tuesday. Based on past results, it's unlikely that they'll come back to win the series.

As USA Today's Bob Nightengale noted, since MLB moved to its current postseason format in 2022, there have been 12 wild-card series. Ten of those 12 series have ended in sweeps. In addition to that, no team that lost the first game has wound up advancing to the next round.

That's really bad news for the Guardians, Padres, Yankees, and Reds, who all lost the opening games of their respective matchups on Tuesday. All head into Wednesday facing elimination, and the numbers suggest they'll all wind up on vacation soon.

The only teams to force a third game under the current format were the Mets in 2022 and the Brewers in 2024.

The 2022 Mets were hosting the Padres at Citi Field, but lost the opener of the series 7-1. They won Game 2 7-3, but lost Game 3 6-0 in the infamous Joe Musgrove ear game.

Last season, the Brewers lost Game 1 of their wild-card series against the Mets 8-4 at American Family Field. They bounced back in Game 2 to win 5-3, but New York bested Milwaukee 4-2 in Game 3.

We'll see if any of the trailing teams can reverse the trend this year.

India have appealed the guilty verdict against Suryakumar Yadav, who was fined 30% of his match fee

Danyal Rasool and Nagraj Gollapudi26-Sep-20254:11

Suryakumar: ‘A few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit’

India captain Suryakumar Yadav has been found guilty by the ICC of breaching the code of conduct for his comments that alluded to the military skirmish between India and Pakistan, after their group match in the Asia Cup on September 14.It is understood Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea was rejected by ICC match referee Richie Richardson and that he was fined 30% of his match fee. India have appealed against the verdict.Two Pakistan players, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, also faced disciplinary hearings on Friday, following their actions in the Super Four game between the two sides on September 21. Farhan was pulled up for his gun celebration after reaching his fifty, while Rauf was captured on camera making gestures that alluded to the downing of aircraft. They are still waiting to hear what sanctions, if any, they face.The PCB had complained to the ICC that Suryakumar’s remarks following the game on September 14 – both at the presentation ceremony and the post-match press conference – constituted a breach of the ICC regulation to avoid political messaging.In its complaint to the ICC, seen by ESPNcricinfo, the PCB quoted Suryakumar’s remarks where he “dedicated today’s victory to our armed forces”. He later specified this dedication was made to India’s armed forces who took part in a military operation against Pakistan in May, which triggered a skirmish between the two sides.Related

SKY fall: Suryakumar's slump becomes starker amid off-field controversies

Suryakumar told to refrain from making political comments

BCCI lodges complaint with ICC against Farhan and Rauf

Abhishek: Didn't like Pakistan 'coming at us without any reason'

The PCB had demanded the ICC impose a Level 4 sanction – reserved for the most serious breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct – on Suryakumar. It cited past examples of players who were either prevented from what was deemed political messaging or fined for deploying it. The PCB pointed out that in the past the ICC had deemed messages calling attention to the humanitarian disaster caused by Israel’s war in Gaza to be political in nature, most recently when it blocked Usman Khawaja’s attempt to wear shoes with the message “Freedom is a human right” inscribed on them.It could not be confirmed whether the appeal by India has been heard, or when it will take place. Generally, the match referee decides on a time and venue but India face Sri Lanka in the last Super Four match on Friday evening and then play Pakistan in the final on Sunday. If Suryakumar is found guilty after the appeal too, his sanction will be increased accordingly.There was heightened tension between India and Pakistan before their group game began on September 14, with India refusing to shake hands with Pakistan at the toss and after the game, which India won by seven wickets. In the Super Four match between the sides, there were a number of confrontations between Pakistan’s bowlers and India’s openers. Abhishek Sharma later accused Pakistan of “coming at us for no reason”.In that game, Farhan celebrated his half-century by miming the firing of a gun, which he later said was a “spur of the moment” decision. Rauf, meanwhile, made numerous gestures depicting the downing of aircraft while fielding on the boundary, in apparent reference to the recent military conflict.ESPNcricinfo understands Farhan and Rauf also pleaded not guilty and contested that the gestures were not political in nature. While no official verdict has been reached on the two players, the PCB privately accept that they are also likely to cop fines.

Even as the humidity went up due to the extended monsoon, both batters kept their cool and raised maiden Test tons, putting South Africa well on top

Mohammad Isam29-Oct-20241:47

Stubbs: ‘Getting to three figures was a big relief’

In local cricket circles, they say that if you have survived Mirpur, Sylhet or Chattogram is a breeze. This is obviously about the pitches at these venues. South Africa’s batters navigated the Shere Bangla National Stadium surface well last week, so when they got to the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, it was time to cash in. They did, finishing the first day on 307 for 2, and it was thanks mainly to the tenacity of the young pair of Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs.The two of them hit centuries – the first in Tests for both of them – after South Africa opted to bat, added 201 for the second wicket, and complemented each other when they batted together. Stubbs said afterwards that de Zorzi helped him through his nervous start and a tough period after lunch to keep the pressure on Bangladesh throughout the day.”To get to the three figures was a big relief more than anything,” Stubbs said. “This definitely ranks as my favourite hundred. Till lunch, I was scoring quite freely. After lunch, I was trying hard to get off strike. The ball was [reversing]. It was a good period for them. I grafted it out and once I got the rhythm back, I felt quite comfortable.Related

De Zorzi and Stubbs hit maiden tons to make it South Africa's day

“When the ball got a bit softer after lunch, we thought Taijul [Islam] got one or two to spin. He beat me on the outside [edge]. There was also a little bit of tail on the ball to keep you thinking. They also got the ball to [reverse] just enough to get you thinking. It was a good batting wicket but it was hard to score freely. You were going to get yourself out by giving them your wicket.”Stubbs got through his 198-ball stay by banking on the reverse sweep, his most profitable shot after the cover drive. Stubbs struck three fours with the reverse sweep, including one that went through the covers. De Zorzi, too, was strong on the sweep, which encouraged Stubbs to stick to what worked for him best.”My plan was to sweep before the game, but then I struggled with the actual sweep,” he said. “So it was more the reverse sweep today. Tony was sweeping very well today. Sometimes when it is working on that day, you commit with it. He did it really well.”I was really nervous up front. It was nice batting with Tony. He was very calm. He was flowing quite nicely. I give huge credit to him. Straight after lunch, he started cramping. The mental strength to go through the whole day was unbelievable. We kept reminding each other to not take anything for granted. It was really enjoyable batting with him.”De Zorzi ended the day having batted through the 81 overs for 141 not out, to Stubbs’ 106.Tony de Zorzi batted through the opening day•AFP/Getty ImagesSouth Africa’s major challenge in Bangladesh has also been the unseasonal heat. The extended monsoon has caused the humidity to go up, too, so the visitors have had to endure some tough weather in both Dhaka and Chattogram, where it usually cools down around this time of the year.”It was flippin’ hot in the Caribbean [too],” Stubbs pointed out. “Then we went to the UAE last month. It is about getting used to the uncomfortable heat. I sweat a lot so it is all about trying to keep my gloves dry. Fortunately, I have a nice sponsor who has given a lot of gloves for this tour. That’s the biggest challenge.”Incidentally, Chattogram has been a happy place for South Africa’s batters over the years, especially when it comes to putting together partnerships.In 2003, Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Rudolph put together 429 for the unbroken third-wicket stand at the old MA Aziz Stadium across the city. It is still the highest Test stand against Bangladesh. And five years on from that, Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie added 415 for the opening stand at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium – a world record for the opening wicket. De Zorzi and Stubbs haven’t threatened those numbers, but theirs is a partnership that is likely to have a similarly big impact on this Test match.

أثار رمزي صالح، حارس مرمى الاهلي السابق، جدلًا واسعًا بعد تصريحاته حول مستقبل الفلسطيني حامد حمدان لاعب فريق بتروجيت، حيث تحدث عن رؤيته الفنية ونصيحته له بالانتقال إلى القلعة الحمراء وعدم الانضمام لـ الزمالك.

وقال رمزي صالح في تصريحات عبر قناة mbc masr 2″: “كنتُ مع حامد حمدان بالأمس، ونصحته بأن يغلق على نفسه دائرة التفكير قليلًا، وألا يسمح لأحد بالتأثير عليه، فاللاعب يحتاج دائمًا إلى الاستقرار، ولا يتوفر ذلك إلا في نادٍ يتمتع بالانضباط والجماهيرية والبطولات”.

وتابع: “وهذه الصفات موجودة في الأهلي والزمالك، غير أن غياب الاستقرار داخل الزمالك يمثل مشكلة حقيقية، ولا أقول ذلك لأنني منتمٍ للأهلي، بل لأنها حقيقة واضحة”.

وعن نصيحته لحامد حمدان، قال: “لا أحد يرفض عرضًا من الأهلي، ولكن القرار في النهاية يعود للاعب وحده”.

طالع أيضًا | رمزي صالح: زمن مصطفى شوبير قادم.. وجلوسه لـ محمد الشناوي مفيد

وأضاف: “أحزنني تصريح شقيقه حين قال إن حمدان لن يلعب إلا لنادي الزمالك، هذا كلام غير واقعي، ولا يجوز قوله، نحن نتحدث عن الاحتراف، وعلى اللاعب أن يبحث عن المكان الذي يطوره ويخدمه من جميع الجوانب: فنيًا وجماهيريًا وإعلاميًا وماديًا، وهناك لاعبون في الزمالك يعانون من مشكلات بسبب عدم استقرار النادي”.

وتابع: “حامد حمدان لاعب ذو قيمة فنية كبيرة، ولديه عروض من أندية في الخليج، وهذا يعزز فرصه، ولهذا كان من غير المناسب أن يطلق شقيقه مثل هذا التصريح؛ فهو بذلك يُغلق أمامه أبوابًا مهمة، وأظن أن حامد نفسه منزعج من كلام شقيقه، فالتعامل معه يجب أن يكون بعقلية اللاعب المحترف”.

وأردف: “وسام أبو علي يمتلك عقلية مختلفة؛ فقد عاش في أوروبا ويتعامل باحترافية بعيدًا عن العاطفة، ولم يتأثر بالبيئة العاطفية الموجودة في عالمنا العربي، لقد نظر للأمر من زاوية الفائدة؛ حصل على عرض جيد، وحقق استفادة له وللنادي الأهلي”.

واختتم: “وسام أبو علي لاعب مؤثر في أي فريق، لكن الأمر برمته كان مرحلة وانتهت، وهو يتحمل مسؤولية قراره”.

Manchester United have an exciting production line of stars for the future, and now appear to be interested in adding to that by capturing a gem that shone at the Under-17 World Cup.

The Red Devils will have enjoyed taking some time over the international break to digest what has been a credible start to the Premier League campaign, even if Ruben Amorim came under pressure during the early stages at Old Trafford.

Sitting tenth with a game in hand, Manchester United could move as high as fourth position with three points against Everton on Monday night, albeit they could be without Matheus Cunha due to a surprise injury concern.

Ben Jacobs confirmed on X that the Brazilian had suffered a head knock during training, forcing him to miss Altrincham’s Christmas light switch-on as a result, sparking attention on social media.

Nevertheless, the nature of his injury looks only to be minor, so there may still be a chance that he features against the Toffees if deemed fit to do so by the Red Devils’ medical staff.

As ever, Manchester United will hope to avoid a mounting list of absentees over the festive period. However, that is bound to affect everyone, especially with a heavy fixture schedule.

The January window could prove pivotal at Old Trafford, and the Red Devils are now favourites to sign Ajax prodigy Jorthy Mokio ​​​​​​amid concerns over Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo.

Now, they also have eyes on a gem who performed at his best during the Under-17 World Cup, which has garnered attention from clubs around Europe.

Man Utd make approach to sign Mohamed Zongo

According to Africa Foot, Manchester United have made an approach to sign Tenakourou Academy star Mohamed Zongo, who they are now keen to hold discussions over signing on a permanent basis.

At only 15 years of age, the Burkina Faso youth international shone at the Under-17 World Cup with two goals and three assists to his name, leading to him being dubbed a “revelation” in some quarters.

Earning man of the match awards several times during the competition, his highlight came in a 1-0 victory over Germany where he was the only scorer in a famous victory for his country.

An attacking midfielder by trade and capable of featuring across the forward areas, Zongo is also on the radar of Manchester City, Villarreal and Anderlecht, illustrating how high his ceiling could potentially be with the correct development path.

Ultimately, he still has a tonne of growth left before coming into contention at first-team level overseas. However, Manchester United may be the best environment to earn his stripes.

Mainoo 2.0: Man Utd can axe Ugarte for one of England's "best young players"

October was certainly a month to remember for Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim enjoying the best month of his tenure after taking the reins 12 months ago.

His Red Devils side won all three of their Premier League outings, even beating defending champions Liverpool at Anfield for the first time in just under a decade.

As a result, Amorim has been handed the Premier League Manager of the Month award, with the 40-year-old claiming the trophy for the first time at Old Trafford.

Such a record has catapulted the club up England’s top-flight in 2025/26, with the first-team finally heading in the right direction after getting to grips with the 3-4-2-1 system.

The success of the team is certainly credit to the manager and his tactics, but there’s no denying that he has one player to thank for the recent upturn in league form.

Why Mbeumo won October’s Premier League Player of the Month

As part of the £200m summer spending spree, United landed the signature of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford – forking out a staggering £71m for his services.

The Cameroonian arrived with huge expectations after scoring 20 league goals last season, with the attacker already starting to come good after his big-money transfer.

He scored his first top-flight goal in the win against Burnley back in August, but his career at Old Trafford has ignited after his form over the last month.

The 26-year-old played three times in October, scoring three times and registering one assist – subsequently achieving a goal contribution in every game he played – helping him win the division’s Player of the Month award.

He scored within the first two minutes of the victory over Arne Slot’s side on Merseyside, undoubtedly playing a vital role in the triumph and making himself a fan-favourite.

Mbeumo’s goalscoring tally for the month ended with a double against Brighton and Hove Albion, helping Amorim’s side make it three wins in a row for the first time in his tenure.

The United star who should have won Player of the Month

During the last few weeks, numerous United players have managed to catch the eye and are deserving of more credit for their impact in the Premier League.

Senne Lammens made his Red Devils debut in the first triumph over Sunderland at the start of October, with the Belgian since cementing his place as a regular starter between the sticks.

The 23-year-old has already kept a clean sheet in the Premier League, whilst also playing a vital role in the historic victory at Anfield – as he made a total of five saves.

He’s not been alone in impressing, with Amad Diallo also massively thriving despite operating in a somewhat unnatural right-wing-back during the recent run.

However, central midfielder Casemiro has gone somewhat under the radar, especially after his poor form at the start of the campaign, which led to fans questioning his future at the club.

The Brazilian international has since resurrected his career at Old Trafford, with Amorim starting the experienced star in all of the victories during October.

Such a period has allowed the 33-year-old to prove some incredible numbers, many of which should have seen him being named the Player of the Month over Mbeumo.

Casemiro, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has registered two goals and assists in as his three matches – with both of his efforts coming against Brighton.

However, other numbers such as 90 passes completed and 148 touches showcase his ability to dictate the play despite his deep-lying midfield position.

Casemiro’s stats for Man Utd in October 2025

Statistics

Tally

Games played

3

Goals & assists

2

Minutes played

213

Passes completed

90

Touches

148

Defensive contributions

31

Tackles won

9

Recoveries made

13

Duels won

16

Stats via FotMob

Out of possession, he’s been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 13 recoveries and 16 duels won, with such numbers allowing Bruno Fernandes to operate in a more advanced role.

The revival of Casemiro over recent weeks is nothing short of sensational, with huge credit needing to be directed his way after his recent performances.

Mbeumo has also done superbly well to win the award, but his teammate will no doubt feel aggrieved that he wasn’t able to get his hands on the trophy.

Related Not Bruno or Mbeumo: Man Utd star is becoming one of the "best in the world"

Manchester United have already unearthed a new world-class under Ruben Amorim.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 7, 2025

In a trade deadline stunner, Carlos Correa is headed back to the team he won the World Series with in 2017. According to multiple reports, the three-time All-Star has been traded from the Twins to the Astros.

Correa, 30, is set to move to third base in Houston to finish the season in place of the injured Issac Paredes and upon his arrival, sent a fired-up message to Astros fans:

"I’m coming home and there’s only one goal in mind," he told Brian McTaggart in an interview with MLB.com. "And that’s to win championships."

Houston has been an MLB juggernaut over the last decade, playing in four World Series' since 2017 and winning two of them. Correa won one, and will now look to win another as the Astros sit at 62–47 and in first place in the American League West. The infielder is hitting .267 this season with seven home runs and 31 RBIs.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank, in particular, will have been delighted with Saturday’s 2-0 win over his former club Brentford in the Premier League.

Goals from Richarlison, signed for £60m, and Xavi Simons, signed for £52m, secured all three points for the Lilywhites, as two of their most-expensive signings start to show their quality.

An expensive signing who is not offering too much to the team at the moment, though, is £47.5m addition Brennan Johnson, who was an unused substitute against Brentford.

Why Brennan Johnson has not been a waste of money for Spurs

The Wales international has not scored in the Premier League since August, with four goals in all competitions this season, and has not been used off the bench in two of the last three matches, per Sofascore.

Signed for £47.5m from Nottingham Forest in 2023, Johnson does not currently look like good value for money, given his struggles this term, but he has not been a waste of money on the evidence of his overall time at the club so far.

The 24-year-old attacker has delivered 27 goals and 18 assists in 104 games for the Lilywhites, per Transfermarkt, including the winner in the Europa League final last season.

You could argue that his winning goal in that final was worth the £47.5m on its own because of the memories that it created, as the club’s first trophy in 17 years.

Meanwhile, there is another expensive signing in the Spurs squad who should be sold, as he has been a bigger flop than Johnson and has yet to justify his price tag.

The Spurs player who should be sold in January

Dominic Solanke has been out with an ankle injury since August, with no return date given by Frank, but he should be ruthlessly sold in the January transfer window.

Spurs splashed a club-record transfer fee of £65m to sign the English striker from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024, and his performances on the pitch have not reflected that huge outlay.

For a 27-year-old, now 28, who was brought in as a Premier League-proven star in the prime years of his career, Solanke has not offered enough in front of goal to suggest that he has been worth the money, with just nine league goals for the club to date, per Sofascore.

In April, pundit Micah Richards claimed that the £65m signing had “been a disappointment all season” in the 2024/25 campaign, and it is hard to disagree with that assessment when you look at his statistics, notably costing them around £4m per goal so far.

Appearances

27

13

xG

10.97

5.58

Goals

9

5

Big chances missed

12

4

Minutes per goal

245

161

As you can see in the table above, Solanke underperformed against his xG in both the Premier League and the Europa League last term, missing more ‘big chances’ than he scored goals in the former.

Johnson, meanwhile, hit double figures for goals with 11 Premier League strikes for the Lilywhites, which means that he has scored four more league goals for Spurs than Solanke since the start of last season, per Sofascore.

This shows that the Welshman, who plays on the wing rather than as a striker, has been more productive than the ex-Bournemouth man in the Premier League, whilst also being more impactful overall, given his trophy-clinching goal.

Solanke has simply not done enough on the pitch since signing for the club to prove that the Lilywhites were right to splash £65m on him, which is why they should cut their losses and cash in on him in January.

His current injury issues only add further fuel to the fire because Spurs now do not know if they can rely on him to be fit and available, whilst they also do not know if they can rely on him to be efficient in front of goal as their number nine.

Richarlison’s return of six goals and two assists in nine Premier League starts so far this season, per Sofascore, also suggests that Solanke will not be the first-choice number nine when he is back fit.

Fewer touches than Vicario & 88% duels lost: Spurs flop must now be dropped

One Tottenham Hotspur player may need to be dropped despite yesterday’s win over Brentford.

ByEthan Lamb 5 days ago

That is further reason for the club to cash in on the big-money flop in January to invest in a new signing in that position, as the Englishman’s move to North London has not worked out so far.

During one of the most pivotal moments of Game 3 of the World Series, the Dodgers turned to one of their most iconic and experienced players.

Clayton Kershaw, who has made 451 starts for L.A. in his esteemed career, entered Monday's game during the 12th inning in relief of Emmet Sheehan. Kershaw inherited an extremely delicate situation; two outs and the bases loaded in extra innings of the World Series.

It was a tense moment for everyone in the ballpark, and everyone watching at home. The 37-year-old, who is pitching in his last postseason before retirement, was called upon for one final, crucial out.

And he delivered. Kershaw induced a ground out to second base in order to escape the bases-loaded jam, keeping the score knotted at 5–5. His wife, Ellen, who was watching from the stands at Dodger Stadium, went through an emotional roller coaster, which ended in jubilation after the ground out.

That's what October baseball is all about. Ellen was holding on for dear life throughout the eight-pitch at-bat, and Clayton delivered in the biggest spot with an absolutely vital third out.

It was a short outing for Kershaw, but he did exactly what was asked of him out of the bullpen, easing the nerves of Dodgers fans and his wife alike.

It's a wild time to be a fan of American soccer, leaving those who follow it plenty to be grateful for this holiday season

Ah, Thanksgiving – what a holiday. Cooked turkey, family time, maybe, if you want, some time watching the football. It isn't a traditional soccer holiday, although there are Europa and Conference League games on this year for fans who need their holiday dose of footy.

Even for fans who prefer the American side of the sport, there’s plenty to take stock of this holiday. There’s a lot to be thankful for – and even more to look forward to – no matter your lane. MLS fan? There’s a ton happening right now. USWNT diehard? Some fun matches are on the way. USMNT supporter? The World Cup will be here before you know it.

With that in mind, GOAL looks at the people, moments, and developments that American soccer fans can be thankful for.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  More Messimania

  You can't really talk about American soccer without mentioning the world's most famous Argentine. As long as Lionel Messi remains in MLS, he will largely be the face of the American game, and what a face he is as he continues to run laps around the competition.

  Despite all he's already done in MLS, Messi might actually be in his best form yet heading into this year's Turkey Day. He's running riot throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs, making Inter Miami look like a legitimate juggernaut capable of cruising to a trophy. Whether that happens or not surely matters, but Messi's recent run also matters, too, as he continues to take the league seriously while also making it all look so easy.

  Say what you want about how Messi being a spokesman for MLS and his PR "requirements", but every week, he steps onto the field and makes magic happen, and there's no better advertisement in the world than that. So, while that is happening, be thankful for it because, regardless of what team you support, you have to acknowledge that Messi brings something unlike anything you've ever seen.

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• Getty Images
  

  The upcoming dose of Espresso

  It's all been up and down for Trinity Rodman since the Olympics, and, in truth, there have been more injury downs than ups. She is, however, a special player when healthy, and the good news is that her top running mates will be back alongside her, too.

  Throughout this year, one of USWNT manager Emma Hayes’ biggest challenges was navigating life without Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson. She’s handled it well. New faces have emerged in the attack, and when healthy, Rodman has been every bit the superstar American fans expect. And Wilson and Swanson will be back soon, too – which is pretty exciting.

  Rodman, meanwhile, faces a massive club decision as her contract with the Washington Spirit winds down. And that, in itself, is something to appreciate: Rodman looks poised to redefine the market for the women’s game’s top stars – and potentially change the NWSL for good.

  Some time soon, though, this trio will be back on the field together as they begin a new fight for places in a forward group much deeper than the one they left behind.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Poch's culture shift

  All year long, Mauricio Pochettino talked about the importance of culture. The USMNT needed a foundation – only then could anything meaningful be built on top of it. Over the course of 2025, that foundation has started to take shape, and as the year winds down, it’s clear what Pochettino is putting in place ahead of the World Cup.

  It wasn't an easy year. March's Nations League exposed flaws, while the Gold Cup began the process of fixing them. By the time Pochettino and his team got to the fall, though, the work began to pay off. The USMNT closed the year on a five-game unbeaten run, one which saw them play their best soccer against multiple teams bound for the World Cup next summer.

  Pochettino isn't done, of course, and that'll be good news for USMNT fans. There's plenty of reason for optimism, though, as the coach's vision has truly come to life ahead of this holiday season.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Hayes builds the pool

  At this time last year, Hayes was just beginning a process. While Pochettino was taking a stunted USMNT back down to studs before rebuilding it, Hayes was taking an Olympic champion and rebuilding that team on the fly. In some ways, they reached the top quicker than expected, but that didn't mean Hayes would rest on her laurels.

  Over the last year, Hayes has made that clear. In total, including the run to and during the Olympics, Hayes has coached 28 matches for the USWNT. In that time, players have earned their first senior team caps. Hayes has begun a total turnover while still keeping her most important pieces in place. It's been wildly impressive.

  Throughout 2025, we've seen multiple players blossom. Young stars have become stars. New faces have become USWNT mainstays. All the while, the old guard continues to thrive and contribute, helping usher in a new generation that should keep the USNWT near the top of the game for years to come.

  With Hayes leading the charge, there's little concern about dropoff or steps back. No, she simply keeps building, which is why this team is in an even better place than it was 12 months ago.