Given the USWNT's relative dominance since Hayes took over and the fact that the United States had won the SheBelieves Cup five years in a row, there was plenty of surprise among

Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday in the SheBelieves Cup title game.

Japan scored early in the second half to hand the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes in the SheBelieves Cup title game.

SAN DIEGO — Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night

Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title

Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title game.

Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title

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

Wednesday night of the SheBelieves Cup of 2025 did not belong to Emma Hayes’ USWNT. Tear-filled eyes, shoulders down, and defeat filled the air in the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego when the Japanese soccer team crushed the USWNT with a 2-1 final score.

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Former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes lost her first match as manager of the United States as Japan won the SheBelieves Cup. The US were bidding for a record-extending sixth successive title in the annual round-robin invitational tournament.

If the SheBelieves Cup was an opportunity to get a gage on Emma Hayes' rebuild, Sunday's win showed that the USWNT are right on track.