"it's okay to be disappointed," U.S. women's national team head coach Emma Hayes said shortly after notching her first loss since taking over last June, a 2-1 defeat to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup finale on Wednesday.

USWNT coach Emma Hayes played down the significance of the team's first loss since she took charge last year, when going down 2-1 to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday.

The USWNT's five-year reign as SheBelieves Cup champions ended on Wednesday, but there are reasons to be optimistic for the team's future

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The Americans fell behind 2-1 in the 50th minute and were unable to forge a comeback and suffered their first loss since last February.

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,

The USWNT didn't win its sixth straight SheBelieves Cup, but for Emma Hayes, that's not what this year is about.

Despite a 2-1 loss to Japan, Emma Hayes remains optimistic about the USWNT's future, highlighting squad progress and promising development toward the World Cup.

The first defeat for Emma Hayes since taking the USWNT job was a disappointing one, snapping its run of five straight SheBelieves Cup titles, but the experience will help as this team builds toward the next World Cup.

Toko Koga scored early in the second half to help Japan hand the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes in a ... Times of San Diego is devoted to producing timely, comprehensive ...