U.S. Women’s National Team tops Italy 2-0 in friendly with three teens in lineup
Soccer fans who showed up at Chase Stadium on Monday night got a glimpse of some of the young players who could feature for the U.S. Women’s National Team on the road to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Coach Emma Hayes, determined to deepen the talent pool, started three teenagers in the friendly match against Italy. Eighteen-year-old Lily Yohannes started in midfield as did 19-year-old Claire Hutton and 19-year-old defender Jordyn Bugg.
It was the fourth time Hayes started three teens since she took over the team last year and they stepped up in a 2-0 victory.
Yohannes, an Eritrean American who plays for French club Lyonnes, was the youngest player on the roster. Her skills were on display early in the game and she delivered a perfectly weighted long ball to Cat Macario, who scored with a right-footed shot in the 20th minute to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
Macario was coming off a brace in the 3-0 U.S. win over Italy on Friday in Orlando.
Yohannes became the second teen in the last 25 years to record assists in back-to-back USWNT games.
“She’s my best friend at Lyonnes, and there’s a bit of an age gap, but it does not seem like that on the field, as a player, as a person. My gosh, she’s so mature, on the field, as well. I’m so impressed. I wish that was me at 18. The potential that girl has is incredible.”
Born in Springfield, Virginia, Yohannes moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was 10 years old and joined Ajax when she was 13. She signed a contract with the club at age 15. On Nov. 15, 2023, at age 16, she became the youngest player to start a UEFA Women’s Champions League match and youngest American to play in that competition.
In November 2024, she committed to play for the U.S. national team, though she has dual citizenship with the Netherlands.
She joined Lyonnes in the Summer of 2025 and scored in her debut against Olympique de Marseille. This was her 13th appearance and eighth start for the USWNT.
Hayes said as good as Yohannes is now, she has plenty of room for growth.
“She’s 18 and all the super strengths she has, we want to keep developing them, but at the same time, we’ve got to upskill her in the things are going to be required for the top level,” Hayes said. “And I don’t mean in possession of the ball, because when you play the best teams, you have to be able to recognize how to defend spaces and recognize the right moments to do certain things.
“She’s a willing student, watches tape all the time...she is committed to being a world class player. Right now, she’s a world class prospect.”
Jaedyn Shaw, 20, doubled the lead in the 41st minute with a powerful right-footed banger from outside the box to the top right corner. Shaw was making her 13th start.
She made headlines in September when she was transferred from the NC Courage to Gotham FC in an NWSL intraleague-record $1.25 million deal. She became a major contributor to their push for the 2025 NWSL title.
She returned to the U.S. roster in October after spending the previous two FIFA windows with the U-23 team.
“It’s been a lot of growth this year, having those conversations with Emma, her being extremely transparent with me, I’ve learned so much,” Shaw said.
The U.S. dominated from start to finish on Monday night with 65 percent possession, seven shots on goal to one, and 16 shot attempts to six.
Hayes said these last two victories over Italy were her favorite team performances of the year.
“[Italy] is a team that nearly made the Euro final, that’s a really good side,” she said. “We got the patience. We can control the game in the right moments. We can turn the heat up on a team, if we want to. We got better at being patient without the ball. They value each other. I’ve really enjoyed the performances in these two games. I think they’re my favorite performances of the year because more players delivered, not just eleven.”
In addition to the teenagers and Macario, the U.S. starting lineup included: goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, defender Naomi Girma, defender Kate Wiesner, midfielder Lindsey Heaps, forward Alyssa Thompson and defender Emily Fox.
Hayes made three substitutions to start the second half. Emma Sears replaced Thompson, Avery Patterson went in for Fox and Kennedy Wesley replaced Girma. Then, at the 75-minute mark Croix Bethune replaced Yohannes and Lilly Reale replaced Wiesner. Three minutes later, Heaps left the game, and Jaelin Howell went in.