USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has lauded Alyssa Thompson as “one of the best players in the NWSL this year” as the Angel City FC forward and her sister Gisele prepare to take on China
As head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Emma Hayes has a plethora of immensely talented players at her disposal, not least the Thompson sisters.
Angel City FC forward Alyssa, 20, and City defender Gisele, 19, are two of U.S. Soccer’s brightest young stars, having already made 20 international appearances between them. Both called up for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies against China and Jamaica, Hayes recently gave an insight into what the Thompsons are like behind the scenes, and exactly what it is that makes them so special.
“They made me laugh a fair bit. They’re inseparable. You couldn’t go into an elevator or a dinner hall or anywhere without them two being side by side,” Hayes told Ion.
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“But beyond their determination and their drive to be the very best, I love the way they reflect on what they need, and then they work at trying to put that in place.
“They don’t feel that at any point they’ve made it, and they keep looking for that little extra yard, whatever it is, to keep improving to get there. And, they’re very different players, but I think they have the qualities that the team are looking for.
“And I think Alyssa’s been easily one of the best players in the NWSL this year. And Gisele, she just never gives up.
“She’s always putting herself in strong positions on that right-hand side. But I’m bringing her in as a wide player because I want to see her attacking qualities, particularly against low blocks. So I’m getting a chance to do that this camp.”
Alyssa has enjoyed an excellent start to the NWSL season, scoring five goals and providing a further two assists in nine games for City, who currently sit seventh in the league table on 14 points after 10 games.
As such, she is already well on track for her most prolific goal-scoring season to date, and could well challenge for the golden boot given that she is currently only two goals behind leading scorer Esther Gonzalez with seven in 10 games.
Gisele, too, has played a pivotal role in City’s season thus far, appearing in every game under interim head coach Sam Laity, having made just 16 appearances in all competitions last season.
However, Alyssa and Gisele may not end up being the only Thompsons representing the USWNT in a few years’ time. Younger sister Zoe, who plays for Tudela FC, was one of 60 players recently called up to the USWNT’s Under-14s Talent ID Program.
But while the Thompsons may yet end up with three representatives in the USWNT, for the time being, Alyssa and Gisele’s primary focus will be on maximizing their opportunities to continue to impress Hayes, with one eye on reaching the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup roster, starting with Saturday’s friendly against China in Minnesota.
