At the SheBelieves Cup in San Diego on Wednesday, Japan defeated the United States 2-1, ending the Americans’ five-game winning streak at the yearly competition and handing manager Emma Hayes her first loss since taking over the USWNT. For first-time champions Japan, who lost 1-0 to the United States in the 2024 Olympic quarterfinals while Hayes guided the squad to the gold medal in Paris, the outcome will feel like a form of retaliation. When U.S. goalkeeper Jane Campbell collided with one of her defenders in front of goal in the second minute, Yuka Momiki caught the ball and sent it into an open net to give Japan the lead.The U.S. regrouped under heavy pressure from Japan and quickly tied the game when Ally Sentnor — who scored her first-ever goal for the Americans on Thursday against Colombia — picked up a through ball from Catarina Macario and calmly curled a shot past Ayaka Yamashita to make it 1-1 just before the 15-minute mark.
Japan scored early in the second half, just as they had in the first. Japan had a fantastic free kick that Campbell blocked, but her save went straight to Toko Koga, who scored the rebound to give her team their second goal of the match. After defeating Australia and Colombia in its opening two tournament games, Japan easily won to go three-for-three, as the USWNT was unable to rally despite multiple second half substitutions. With two victories and one defeat, the USWNT concluded the competition. Before the defeat to Japan, Hayes had coached 17 games, winning 15 and drawing two since taking over as USA manager started in June 2024.
