USWNT vs. Japan score: Japan lift first SheBelieves Cup as Emma Hayes collects first loss as USA coach

Japan beat the USWNT 2-1 on Wednesday

SAN DIEGO – Japan won the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over the U.S. women's national team, handing the hosts their first loss since Emma Hayes took over as head coach in June.

The visitors got off to a quick start by scoring just two minutes into the game, with Yūka Momiki giving her side the lead from close range. The USWNT survived Japan's early pressure, though, and were level by the 12th minute courtesy of Ally Sentnor, who scored her second international goal in three games.

Japan looked more comfortable on the ball than an inexperienced version of the USWNT, with Hayes using the SheBelieves Cup to try out new players and fresh tactical ideas with a long wait until the next major international tournament in 2027. The visitors' hard work paid off by the 50th minute, with Tōko Koga scoring from inside the box after Japan earned a freekick.

This also marks the first time the USWNT have lost in exactly a year, dropping a group stage game in the Concacaf W Gold Cup against Mexico.

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:36 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

FT: USA 1, JPN 2

That's a wrap in San Diego, where Japan have come out with the win to lift the SheBelieves Cup. Hayes' comment on Tuesday proved true -- Japan's experience playing together paid off, with the visitors looking like the more complete side than the USWNT. This is far from a catastrophe for a youth-focused USWNT, and there's plenty food for thought as they collect their first loss since Hays took over in June.

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:33 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Campbell in the box

90'+3 Heaps is fouled around the box and wins a freekick near goal, with Shaw standing over it. Hayes has given Campbell the signal to go forward but in the end, the freekick doesn't turn into much. The clock is ticking for the USWNT to find those two goals they need to win the SheBelieves Cup, which looks likely to be Japan's.

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:28 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USWNT find some urgency

88' Albert connects with Coffey and the play ends with Davidson getting a shot off and forcing a corner after a strong save from Yamashita. The U.S. can't make much of the corner but that shot has livened up the pro-USWNT crowd, and may set up for a thrilling finish here.

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:20 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Shaw with a shot

80' The USWNT have their most promising chance since Japan's second goal, with Davidson connecting with Shaw, who has a great opportunity from a little bit of distance. Her strike goes straight to Yamashita, who is able to catch the ball with relative ease.

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:17 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Mild tempo

77' As the final whistle gets closer and closer, it's obvious that the USWNT are looking for chances to score. They aren't really able to execute, with Japan taking on a nice defensive shape as they know the result is more than enough to win the SheBelieves Cup. Nighswonger and Coffey and others have been stifled by different Japan players intercepting their plays, and it's hard not to wonder if that will be the way things go for the rest of this game.

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:08 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Kumagai's back

68' After a six minute absence from the game, Kumagai is bandaged and back on the field. She goes straight into the back line to defend a chance, though the USWNT can't get a shot off. 

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:06 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

One final USWNT substitution

67' Hayes goes to the bench one last time, bringing on Davidson for McKeown.

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:02 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Tooth check?

62' Right after Heaps' shot, play comes to a stop as the medical team checks on Kumagai. She may have picked up a facial injury during the most recent sequence, and Heaps is maybe.checking if there's a tooth missing. She's now off to the side, walking there but takes a seat as the medical team keeps an eye on her.

[Feb 27, 2025 at 12:01 am ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Close one for the USWNT

62' The USWNT manage a nice little play, with A. Thompson samlessly making her way through Japan's half before connecting with Nighswonger, who sends the ball Heaps' way. Her header sails just over the bar and it's possible the offisde flag would have gone up if the ball went into the back of the net.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:55 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

More changes for the USWNT

58' Albert, A. Thompson and Biyendolo come on Yohannes, Macario and Ryan. That's already five changes for the USWNT, who now need two goals if they are to win a sixth successive SheBelieves Cup.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:51 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USWNT with a freekick

52' Now it's the USWNT's turn on a set piece, this time won by Heaps and from an angle. Macario stands over it and sends the ball to the far post, but cannot connect with anyone and so the ball rolls out of play.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:50 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USWNT on the other end

50' Almost immediately after conceding, the USWNT make their way down to the other goal as Ryan runs down the right flank and whips a cross into the penalty area. No one's there to finish it, though.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:48 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! USA 1, JPN 2

49' Ryan fouls Fujino near the penalty area and so the awards the visitors with a freekick. Hasegawa takes it and goes straight for goal, buth Campbell makes the stop. The ball goes straight back into the play, though, and Koga scores -- and does a nutmeg -- to give her side the lead yet again.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:44 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Second half underway

Hayes has opted to make a pair of halftime changes, bringing on Nighswonger for Dunn and Shaw for goalscorer Sentnor. The USWNT have 45 minutes to wind a winner, or lose the SheBelieves Cup to Japan. Per the broadcast, the substitutions came because both players looked a bit tired and Hayes did not want to force anything out of them. Both are still in preseason mode, technically speaking.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:21 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

HT: USA 1, JPN 1

A game that had the potential to be fascinating has lived up to the hype so far, with the teams trading early goals. The USWNT will be happy with the fact that they responded fairly quickly to going down and are definitely not the worse team by much, but it's hard to argue that Japan aren't just a little bit better right now. They have succeeded by committing numbers iwhen it's time to counterpress and have the shot count to back it up. There's still a lot of time left on the clock, though, and plenty of moves left for Hayes to play.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:26 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USWNT have a look

45'+2 The USWNT have tried to go for goal, though their attempts have often fizzled out before they could get a shot off. That wasn't the case just now, though, with Ryan winning the ball and having a decent chance to score herself. She instead notices Macario making the run, and the San Diego native gets a shot off but can't put it in the back of the net.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:14 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Injury stoppage

34' McKeown is down on the ground and currently receiving medical attention, and it looks like they're working on a part of her lower body. She's able to walk over to the sidelines for some further looks but she's back out with the team in just about no time.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:10 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Japan go for goal again

31' Both teams have had their spells of possession but slowly, Japan are the one generating a little bit more end proecut.  This time it's Hamano who's right in front of goal, but she hits it straight at Campbell and makes it a bit easier than need be for the USWNT goalkeeper.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 11:04 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Japan close to another

25' The tempo of this game has mellowed out a bit since the goals, but Japan just mustered up a nice chance with Hasegawa connecting with Kitagawa, who's done well on the left flank so far today. She can't get the right tough on the ball and so her shot from an angle sails wide of the net, even though she had the opening to score.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 10:50 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! USA 1, JPN 1

12' And the USWNT are level! Yohannes plays a pass to Macario, who comes up with a brilliant turn in her hometown before Sentnor has the ball. Sentnor's first touch is impressive enough to catch Yamashita in a bad position and soon enough, the Utah Royals forward has her second international goal in three games. This trio impressed quite a bit last week against Colombia when they all started, and they've just put together another excellent moment today.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 10:50 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Signs of life from the USWNT

11' After a pretty nervy start, the USWNT have settled into the game a bit, with Ryan trying to set up Sentnor for a shot and then Coffey doing her best to keep the play alive. Soon enough, it's Dunn setting up Heaps for a header that forces a save out of Yamashita, officially marking the USWNT's first shot. 

[Feb 26, 2025 at 10:45 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

All Japan, (almost) all the time

7' It's still early, but that goal does from Japan does not feel just like it was a flash in the pan. The visitors are moving the ball really cleanly in midfield and are having no problem going at the USWNT's defense, who have felt a bit slow and on teh back foot even if they haven't conceded another shot just yet. The hosts have made their own attempts to go forward, with Heaps combining with different teammates on a few occasions. The first shot hasn't come yeet, though.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 10:39 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

GOAL! USA 0, JPN 1

2' That was fast! Japan are officially on the board after just two minutes, as Hasegawa gets the better of the USWNT defense, putting the ball in behind Sonnett. and Momiki has the finish. Japan are off to the races early again, scoring in the first minute just three days ago against Colombia.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 10:37 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USA 0, JPN 0

The SheBelieves Cup finale is officially underway in San Diego.

[Feb 26, 2025 at 10:23 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

SheBelieves Cup update

The earlier game has come to a close, with Colombia beating Australia 2-1 to pick up their first win of the competition. Here's a glance at the table ahead of the USWNT's clash with Japan, a game in which a draw favors the visitors.

1. Japan, 6 points (+7 GD)
2. USWNT, 6 points (+3 GD)
3. Colombia, 3 points (-4 GD)
4. Australia, 0 points (-8 GD)

[Feb 26, 2025 at 10:08 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Balancing expectations and progress

Since winning Olympic gold in Paris last summer, Hayes has begun the real work she's been hired to do -- develop the next generation of players and get the USWNT prepared for the 2027 Women's World and the 2028 Olympics. The team is embracing a "growth mindset," which has at times felt like it is at odds with the expectation to win that's constantly placed on this team. As Crystal Dunn argued, though, the two might actually go hand-in-hand.

• Dunn: ""I think we live in a world where multiple things can exist at the same time, multiple truths can be held in the same space. We are about developing these young players and getting them brought up to speed. I mean, we're in a tournament. We're playing in a final tomorrow. We want to win. We want to try to get that result. We obviously know it's going to be a perfect game. These games are about us finding our groove and our way of incorporating new players but I think, the goal in itself is to try to get the job done to our best ability and we know that with the depth that we have in this group, we are more than capable of doing that."

[Feb 26, 2025 at 9:53 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Familiar foe, unfamiliar conditions

The USWNT will face Japan for the 42nd time, a matchup that has favored them way more often than not -- they have won 32 of those games and outscored them 113 to 31 along the way, most recently in a 1-0 win in the quarterfinals of last summer's Olympic Games. Japan have only beat the USWNT once, though it was on an incredibly memorable occasion -- the 2011 Women's World Cup final. They just might be favored tonight, considering they are technically the more experienced team today.

Here's Emma Hayes on the challenge Japan pose today.

• Hayes: "It's fair to say Japan, as a team, are more played-in together than we are, so their connections and their application of their way of playing will probably be more pronounced than ours, but that's not to say we can't have success and it doesn't matter if you have 150-plus caps or your third cap, it's about us playing our way and our style, with our principles and to execute that at another level, which is what this game will be, so I expect it to be a very, very difficult match for us and difficult in a different way from the Olympics because Japan have shifted from playing five at the back to four at the back, and I certainly think they are committing more numbers going forward and not just in transition, so we have to be extremely disciplined when we're without the ball and when we're with it. We have to make the impact in the way that we know best."

[Feb 26, 2025 at 9:38 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Yohannes, Macario start

Hayes is going with an almost identical lineup from the USWNT's 2-0 win over Colombia on Thursday, but picks Dunn over Nighswonger for this one. This will be a fascinating test for the likes of Yohannes and Sentnor, two of the group's rising talents who are tasked with making a difference in their first must-win game as senior internationals. Here's a look at the U.S. team to face Japan.

USWNT starting XI: Campbell, McKeown, Sentnor, Heaps (Capt.), Yohannes, Sonnett, Coffey, Dunn, Macario, Ryan, Fox

Substitutes: McGlynn; Sams, Albert, Nighswonger, Biyendolo, Thompson, Shaw, Davidson, Sears, Thompson, Hutton, Cooper

[Feb 26, 2025 at 9:09 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Hello and welcome!

Checking in from Snapdragon Stadium, where the first consequential game of the new four year cycle will arguably take place for the USWNT. An inexperienced group will get a chance to cut their teeth against a very talented Japan, perhaps positioning the USWNT as the slight underdogs. A draw favors the visitors, making today a must-win for the U.S. if they are to win a sixth successive SheBelieves Cup title.

The stakes are in somewhat of a contrast with the reality, though -- win, lose or draw, this is far from the end of the road for a youth-focused version of the U.S., with today's game serving as more of a stepping stone than anything else.

Stick around for pregame coverage and live updates once the game begins.