The U.S. women have been carrying the nation on their back during this Olympics, and it’s no different in soccer.

While the men have been knocked out of the Olympics with a 4-0 scoreline by Morocco, the women have been very impressive under new head coach Emma Hayes, scoring nine goals in the three games played so far.

That’s a world of difference from last year this time, when they were bang average under former coach Vlatko Andonovski in the Women’s World Cup. The team only scored four goals in four games at that tournament.

If you take away the three goals against a very poor Vietnam side in the opening game, the USWNT scored just one goal in the three games played against the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden. It was a header from a corner kick.

After firing Vlatko, U.S. Soccer chased after the best coach in the women’s game to lead this team, and they’ve got it— Emma Hayes.

She’s an English manager widely successful with Chelsea, winning 16 trophies for the club. She also knows American soccer well as she actually lived in the U.S. for a few years and started her coaching career here. The hire was a no-brainer.

Hayes has immediately had the USWNT firing on all cylinders. It’s only been two months since her first game in charge, and they have won six out of seven games, scoring 17 goals and conceding just twice.

The thing that stands out quickly is her ability to get the best out of her players, and making big decisions to leave out popular veterans like Alex Morgan.

Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman have had trouble translating their sizzling club form to the national team in the past. Under Hayes though, they have been playing lights out and together with Mallory Swanson, the attacking trio has been terrorizing defenders in this Olympics. 

The USWNT trifecta played a role in eight out of nine goals the USWNT have scored so far, and they will be key if the USWNT want to win gold in Paris, something they’ve been missing for a while.

That’s right. Although the USWNT are by far the most successful team in the Olympics women’s soccer with four gold medals, they haven’t won one since 2012.

After missing out on the last two gold medals, this team will be eager to get back to being the world’s best.

In 2021, they were knocked out by the neighbors Canada in semifinals and in 2016, they couldn’t even reach the semis as they were knocked out by Sweden in the quarterfinals.

Before that though, the USWNT won gold in three consecutive Olympics.

In 2012 London Olympics, they were eager to win gold after losing the Women’s World Cup final a year prior. They won all their seven games that year, scoring 16 goals and conceding five. 

It included beating Canada in the semifinals in extra time, with Morgan scoring the winner in the 123rd minute, and getting revenge over Japan in the final— the same team that beat them in the Women’s World Cup final.

In Beijing 2008, they weren’t as dominant, but still got the job done after suffering a shock 2-0 loss to Norway in the opening game.

They ended up beating Japan and New Zealand to top their group, beating Canada in extra time in quarters, defeated Japan again in semis, and in the final, Carli Lloyd scored the extra time winner against a tough Brazilian side.

Athens 2004 was far from easy for the USWNT. After starting off brilliantly against host Greece and Brazil, they were held to a draw against Australia. 

In the quarterfinal, they had a hard fought win over Japan and in the semis, they had an even harder time against Germany, only beating them in the extra time.

The Americans faced Brazil again in the final, and they also had to play another game through extra time. Abby Wambach scored the late winner though and sealed the gold medal for the USWNT.

The first Olympics gold medal for the USWNT came right at home in Atlanta 1996, which was also the first time women’s soccer was added to the Olympics.

Only eight teams competed in that edition and the USWNT only finished second in their group after a scoreless draw against China.

In the semifinals, they managed to beat Norway in the extra time, thanks to the golden goal rule.

In the final, in front of over 76,000 people, they faced China again. This time though, the USWNT got the job done by beating them 2-1.

Looking at the performances throughout the years, 2012 was the USWNT’s best tournament and because of the increased quality in women’s soccer, they will have to play even better this year to win gold.

The current world champions Spain may be their toughest opponent and despite missing a head coach, Canada continue to impress with three wins out of three in the group stage. Host France can’t be underestimated either as they are led by Herve Renard, who’s actually been linked with the USMNT job.

Hayes’ team doesn’t have anyone to fear though, as they are playing brilliantly in France so far despite a little scare late in the game against Australia. They’ve won a lot of Americans’ hearts again this summer and if they can bring back gold after 12 years, that will be cherry on top.

Tomorrow, their knoockout stage begins with the battle against Japan.