USWNT vs. South Korea: 2024 Friendly Top Storylines and Predictions

It is a new day for the United States women's national team following the retirements of Kelley O'Hara, Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe and the introduction of new head coach, Emma Hayes.

The team may be missing familiar faces, women who guided the side to World Cup and Olympic victories, but a new generation of stars are ready to break out and establish themselves as the future of the country's international efforts.

Who are they and what storylines should fans keep an eye on as the United States looks to send a message loudly and clearly on the world's stage that it remains one of the best, most dangerous teams in women's soccer?

Find out with this preview.

Date, Time, Viewing Info

When: Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.

Streaming: Max, Peacock

TV: truTV, Universo

Storyline to Watch: New Head Coach Sets Tone for USWNT

The women's national team kicked off a new era a week ago with Hayes' first victory as head coach, a 4-0 win over South Korea. The victory was one-sided and served as a showcase for the Americans, but Hayes has not been shy about keeping her team humble.

"There's lots of work to do. There's lots of holes in our play, no question, but it was a good start," she told reporters in her postgame press conference.

She continued, "I've trained them quite hard this week, and I think with the altitude, the heat and the training, I thought there was a little lethargy, but I thought the team stuck at it."

Hayes understands the power of compliments, too, and did not hesitate to deal them out when necessary, including to the returning Mallory Swanson.

"She's a player I always admired so to get the opportunity to coach her, see firsthand the quality she possesses, but she's a connector. She's really magnetic, as a human being, too, in the way she operates in the team. She can multitask, she can do what she's doing on the pitch," she said.

Swanson missed considerable time last year with a torn left patella tendon but announced her return to the international stage with a two-goal performance that established her as one of the focal points of the United States' offensive attack.

Hayes also spoke highly of Sophia Smith, who showed out in the victory over South Korea, specifically what the future holds for the 23-year-old forward.

"Soph, she stretched the pitch out really well, thought she linked well with Mal. There's another level, in my opinion, yet … She really wants to do well for this team but with the right amount of coaching and time, I think we can add a lot to her."

Tuesday's game will represent the final opportunity for Hayes to examine the roster and evaluate the players on it. Expect all to get a look as the new head coach makes her final determinations on exactly which players will represent the country in Paris at the Olympics.

Veteran Alex Morgan will see action Tuesday after she missed the first match against South Korea due to hip tightness. Hayes expects a "nice and fresh" Morgan, who is still a leader on the team despite the coach's shift in focus to Swanson, Smith and Trinity Rodman as a trio around whom to build this national team.

Prediction

Look for Hayes to rotate players and lineups as she gets a feel for her team.

Morgan will get playing time and look to impress, as will Rose Lavelle, who is returning from her own injury. Lavelle set up one of Swanson's two goals a week ago, showing no signs of long-term effect from the lower leg injury, and should see even more playing time, which will put 19-year-old forward Jaedyn Shaw in an interesting position.

The midfielder from San Diego Wave FC leads the team in goals (5 in 2024) but saw herself relegated to substitute status in the first South Korea game amid Lavelle's return to the pitch and an injury of her own.

How Hayes utilizes Shaw and the rest of her team remains to be seen but, even if things do not go as smoothly as she might like, the coach should lead her side to another impressive victory.

Hayes said the team is ready to put their World Cup disappointment from 2023 behind them, and it continues Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota with another inspiring win.

USWNT beats South Korea, 2-0