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A narrow victory like the U.S. women\u2019s national team\u2019s 1-0 win over Canada on Wednesday can often leave players wanting more.\u00a0<\/p>\n But for head coach Emma Hayes, it was the best place for the team to be following its second match of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI love winning football matches like this, still on a knife edge at one-nil,\u201d Hayes said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite facing its longtime rival, the U.S.\u2019s primary foe in Columbus, Ohio, was more so itself than Canada, as several rushed passes led to missed chances. Otherwise, the USWNT dominated over two-thirds of possession and outshot Canada threefold with 18 attempts to six. By the time Canada earned its second corner, the U.S. already had 10.<\/p>\n The USWNT has held its opponents scoreless since October. But for Hayes, Wednesday\u2019s win wasn\u2019t all about the scoreline.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou always want more goals, but sometimes not,\u201d Hayes said. \u201cSometimes, I think it\u2019s a good place to be in, where you\u2019re winning one-nil. How do you manage this part of the game, when maybe the second goal doesn\u2019t come?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The victory brings the U.S. to 55 wins over Canada in 67 meetings. Both teams previously met in a July friendly that the U.S. won 3-0. Yet despite the larger lead, the July match may not have benefited the USWNT as much as Wednesday\u2019s did \u2014 at least in Hayes\u2019 eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a much tougher test than July,\u201d Hayes said. \u201cI thought July was just comfortable everywhere, surprisingly so.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, Canada was riding a wave of newfound momentum. The team had dominated Colombia 4-1 in the first match of the tournament, snapping its five-month scoreless and five-game winless streak.\u00a0But Canada was scoreless yet again against the U.S. And post-match, Hayes wasn\u2019t the only one paying attention to her squad\u2019s discipline.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHow we can have more composure in those moments becomes really important,\u201d Canada head coach Casey Stoney said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Patience certainly paid off for Ally Sentnor, whom Hayes said was \u201cmenacing\u201d all evening. The forward generated offensive momentum early in the game, but still, like several of her teammates, didn\u2019t manage to seal the deal in the final third. She ended the first half with a shot from the side that went just past the post.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n But Sentnor was far from finished. She broke through on her fourth shot of the night, scoring off a corner from Rose Lavelle in the 55th minute to break the stalemate. It marked Sentnor\u2019s seventh international goal and third goal for the USWNT this year in four appearances.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI actually grew up playing the nine,\u201d Sentnor told TNT postgame. \u201cSo it almost feels like I\u2019m back at home and my club team.\u201d<\/p>\n Another crucial piece throughout the night for the U.S. was the left side, held down by sisters Alyssa and Gisele Thompson.\u00a0\u00a0Along with drawing the corner that led to Sentnor\u2019s goal, Alyssa Thompson herself notched several close attempts, including the team\u2019s first shot on target just before the end of first half.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n And Gisele Thompson, coming off 90 minutes of playtime against the USWNT\u2019s Sunday win over Argentina, was all over the pitch again the entire game Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s having to live a little bit in the shadow of her sister, but her time will come,\u201d Hayes said of the younger Gisele Thompson. \u201cAnd I think her time is coming.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Veteran presences from Rose Lavelle to Emily Sonnett also anchored the U.S.\u2019s performance. Even Lindsey Heaps, who scored the team\u2019s first goal against Argentina on Sunday, took the armband when subbing on for Claire Hutton in the last 20 minutes of the match.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTheir maturity is developing because of players like Rose, ensuring that they feel the high challenge of the environment, but most importantly, the high support of the veteran leadership,\u201d Hayes said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Hayes has emphasized emotional discipline throughout the camp, particularly after the physical Argentina match that sparked high tension. Wednesday\u2019s win saw a welcome change on that front. To Hayes, the U.S.\u2019s ability to hold its lead was \u201cindicative of maturity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Having won both of its matches so far, the U.S. looks to clinch the tournament title Saturday in New Jersey. Its final opponent, Colombia, is coming off its own 1-0 win over Argentina but also lost 4-2 to Canada in its opening match.\u00a0<\/p>\n Regardless, Hayes won\u2019t be forgetting the USWNT\u2019s Wednesday\u2019s performance anytime soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was one of my favorite performances because they\u2019re growing up,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMar 4, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; United States forward Alyssa Thompson (21) takes a shot on goal during the second half against Canada at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n
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