This week, we reflect on the implications of Emma Hayes leaving Chelsea at the end of the 2023-24 WSL and UEFA WCL seasons to take over as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team for a record seven figure annual contract.

We also look at the recently named head coaches for the U-15, U-17 and U-20 U.S. WNTs. We examine some news from the NWSL expansion sides for 2024 and 2026, including some initial signings. We also discuss the surprising news that South Africa is withdrawing from the bidding for the 2027 WWC Finals hosting race.

U.S. WNT Hires Chelsea Head Coach Emma Hayes, who will not start officially until next May

With the news last month that U.S. Soccer had hired Chelsea women's head coach Emma Hayes as U.S. WNT head coach, beginning in May after her duties with the Blues—including Women's Champions League play—are completed This is an historic and important signing as she is widely recognized as one of the best women's coach in the world and has also been linked with men's sides in England. In addition, she will receive more than U.S. $1 million more a year than her predecessor Vlatko Andonovski, with a contract paying her annually around $1.4 million to $1.6 million a year, plus with bonuses her total annual compensation package could approach $2 million, roughly equivalent to U.S. men's national team coach Greg Berhalter salary.

Andonovski was on a contract earning $446,495 including $50,000 in bonuses from April 2021 to March 2022. Berhalter made $1.6 million from April 2021 to March 2022, including $300,000 in bonuses.

This contact will likely drive more financial equality on the coaching side in other countries in the future. In England, very successful WNT head coach Sarina Wiegman's earns around $500,000 annually, while Gareth Southgate reportedly is paid $6 million annually on the men's side, though it has been surmised that part of the reason is that the FA has needed to pay in that range to keep him from leaving.

Reportedly, U.S. Soccer was rebuffed by Hayes initially but was successful with the massive pay packet offer and allowing her to finish the season at Chelsea, which will save them paying the London giants a compensation fee. Hayes will not have to initially live in Chicago—where U.S. Soccer's headquarters are, though the Federation has recently announced plans to move to Atlanta over the next few years.

Hayes lived in Illinois while coaching the Chicago Red Stars in UWS in 2009 and 2010. Having a national team coach in waiting for six months will cause some flexibility and current interim coach Twila Kilgore, a former Andonovski assistant, will remain the interim coach until May. Hayes has endorsed Kilgore, who is expected to be part of her staff moving ahead. A downside is that Hayes will have an extremely short lead time ahead of next summer's Olympic Games Finals in Paris. Right now, she will miss three international windows between December and the end of May, including the 2024 CONCACAF Gold Cup in February and March and only have two camps.

Hayes told the press about staying in her position at Chelsea through the end of the 2023-24 season that: "I'm here until the end. I haven't died, I haven't gone anywhere. I'm here, doing this job. My full focus and attention is on what I do for Chelsea."

Hayes could be tied up with Chelsea as late as May 25 if they make the UEFA Champions League final; with her first international window with the Americans just two days later, on May 27.

Hayes' American assistant Denise Reddy at Chelsea, born in New Jersey, is likely to leave Chelsea with her boss. The former United States Under-20 coach quit her job as assistant at the Red Stars in 2010 when Hayes was fired—unfairly I thought at the time. Reddy played at Rutgers University in New Jersey and then with Umea and Malmo (now Rosengard) in Sweden. She has coached in Sweden and in the U.S., including in 2018 and part of 2019 as the head coach of Sky Blue FC; she joined Chelsea in August of 2020. She has a UEFA Pro license.

Hayes has always been interested in managing Spain's national team, which is currently under an interim head coach, but she has not had an official conversation with Spain's federation.

Hayes, who has won six WSL titles in England, will become the 10th full-time coach of the U.S. U.S. Soccer President and former WWC winning player and NWSL title winning head coach Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement: "She has tremendous energy and an insatiable will to win. Her experience in the USA, her understanding of our soccer landscape and her appreciation of what it means to coach this team makes her a natural fit for this role and we could not be more pleased to have her leading our women's national team forward."

About the U.S. job, Emma Hayes said in a statement "This is a huge honor to be given the opportunity to coach the most incredible team in world football history. The feelings and connection I have for this team and for this country run deep. I've dreamed about coaching the USA for a long time so to get this opportunity is a dream come true. I know there is work to do to achieve our goals of winning consistently at the highest levels. To get there, it will require dedication, devotion and collaboration from the players, staff and everyone at the U.S. Soccer Federation."

Hayes then answered some intriguing questions for U.S. Soccer's website:

What attracted you to this job, and why now after a long spell at Chelsea?

"First of all, this is a huge honor to be given the opportunity to coach the most incredible team in world football history. No one ever knows what the right time is in life for anything, but it's the feeling I have for this team and for a country that I have a great connection with and a history with. I've dreamed about doing this job from my days as a coach in my early twenties. You can't turn the U.S. Women's National Team down."

Coaching on the club level and coaching internationally is quite different, especially in the time you get with players. How do you view that transition to coaching international soccer?

"I'm accustomed to coaching on average about 44 games a year in domestic and European competition, so the preparation required to do that and the turnaround timings to do that I think have prepared me properly for this job because pulling the team together, especially off the pitch, to be able to maximize the minimal opportunities we get with the player, has to be so spot on. That everything we train is done with specificity and clarity is so, so important because to win the biggest things we have to make the most of those moments. There will be intense periods in camp, I have no doubt about that. But it will be a fair and open competition for everybody to compete for a place in the team and I'm just looking forward to meeting the players and putting them in a position so that ultimately, we will get to competition where everybody feels they're in their best place possible to perform."

You got your start coaching in the United States more than 20 years ago. Can you tell us about that experience and how it informed your development into the coach you are today?

"I've got so many fond memories of turning up in Long Island with a backpack and a thousand dollars and working for clubs across the whole of Long Island and Westchester and New York City. I've experienced everything from intramural soccer, recreational Sunday soccer, to the collegiate game, to USL [W League], to the pro game, to state ODP [Olympic Development Program], regionals. I've been a part of the entire soccer community when I worked there for 10 years and I totally understand the importance of the grassroots game and how lucky the U.S. are to have such a deep and rich pool of players to select from, and it's going to be my job to make sure I build upon the work that's already been done, and most importantly, keep inspiring young girls to dream about playing on the best team in the world."

You are very much about coaching the person as well as the player. Can you speak to that a bit?

"They're human beings and I value that. I value them as people. I look forward to meeting them. I look forward to building relationships with them and find out what's important to them, what matters, what motivates them, what inspires them, and from there teaching them to understand the importance that if you want to be the best, if you want to be the absolute best, your devotion and dedication to that has to be better than anything you've ever done before because the very best, whomever they are, or whatever they do, it's not luck. It's not something that's just handed to you. It's something that you have to work so incredibly hard for, and in order to get the best out of people, something I work hard to try and do, I have to know what makes them tick to do that. Once I know what makes them tick, then it's my job to make sure I bring out their best behaviors to hold them accountable to the things that they want themselves because playing on the team is really simple for me. Everybody's goal is the same. Everyone wants to win, but what you do to make that happen, how you do that, that's for me to make sure that I pay attention to, I'm mindful of, and that I drive the standards in an environment that has already got a high bar. If we want to be there, we got a lot of work to do."

You are coming from the Women's Super League, one of the best leagues in the world. What are your thoughts on the NWSL, its growth and its importance to the U.S. Women's National Team?

"I come from the professional game, and I've spent the vast majority of my career doing that, so I understand the challenges that come with that, and it's important they're our partners. We have to work together to raise the standards for our players to make sure we put them in the best possible positions for both club and country and my goal is to work with the NWSL, to work with the coaches and to communicate about the things that really matter, to listen to make sure that we can recognize the growing demands for both of us. Hopefully the NWSL can continue to push and aspire to be the biggest and the best league in the world. At the same time, our players are going to get better exposures with us at the national team but also with their clubs. Working together for me is the only option if the team is going to progress to become a winning team, and I look forward to those relationships, knowing especially as a former club coach how important those relationships are between national team and club teams."

Other U.S. National Team Head Coach Hires

Carrie Kveton has been hired as the new U.S. under-19 women's national team head coach. She was an assistant with OL Reign in 2020) and the Washington Spirit (in 2021 when they won the league title) in the NWSL and worked with U.S. age-group teams. She left her native Denmark this summer to join U.S. Soccer from FC Nordsjaelland, where she worked in its women's youth program. She also spent seven years—including five-and-a-half seasons as head coach/co-head coach--at Danish women's league power Fortuna Hjorring. Kveton holds a UEFA Pro Coaching License.

Kveton said: "I'm grateful for this opportunity with U.S. Soccer, it's an honor and a privilege to wear the crest and all it stands for. The USA has an incredible amount of talent and to support these young women in reaching their highest potential on the pitch is a major responsibility. I look forward to helping further their development as they look forward to future successes on the National Team."

Kveton previously worked with U.S Soccer, serving as head coach of the U-23 WYNT for its February friendlies against France at Clairefontaine, and leading the April U-19 WYNT training camp in North Carolina. She's also served as an assistant with the U-18 and U-19 WYNTs and has scouted European competition for the senior USWNT.

In May, former professional player and U-15 WNT head coach Katie Schoepfer was appointed as head coach of the U.S. U-17 WNT while Ciara Crinion was named to replace her as U.S. U-15 WNT head coach. Schoepfer led the U-15's for a year and a half and won the 2022 CONCACAF Girl's U-15 regional title. Prior to joining U.S. Soccer, she spent six years as an assistant in the college game with Boston University and College of the Holy Cross, winning two conference championships with the BU Terriers. Schoepfer also served as a U-20 WYNT assistant coach during the team's 2021-22 cycle and holds a U.S. Soccer "A" Coaching License. Prior to joining U.S. Soccer, she spent six years as an assistant in the college game with Boston University and College of the Holy Cross, winning two conference championships with the BU Terriers.

As a player, Schoepfer was in the U.S. Youth National Team player pools from the U-17 to U-23 levels and started all four years for Penn State University, twice earning All-American honors. In her pro career, the forward made 100 appearances with the Boston Breakers across Women's Professional Soccer and the NWSL, the third-most games in club history. The Connecticut native was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2019.

Crinion comes to U.S. Soccer after more than 10 years coaching in the NCAA and holds a U.S. Soccer "A" Coaching License as well as a Talent Scout License. She was head coach at Seton Hall from 2019-22 and launched her college coaching career with eight years as an assistant at Hartford, helping lead the Hawks to five regular season conference championships. She has also worked as an assistant coach with the U-20 WYNT. As a player, she was a part of the Ireland U-17 and U-19 Women's National Teams and spent four years playing at Central Connecticut State, twice earning all-conference honors.

NWSL Expansion Teams News

Utah Royals

Utah Royals will have a team-specific training site at Zions Bank Real Academy in suburban Herriman, scheduled to be ready for the 2024 regular season The academy will undergo expansion and remodeling to create the Royals' 12,260-square-foot facility. It will continue to be a training home for Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs [USL Championship] and the two RSL Academy boys' teams, according to a team announcement. The site is expected to be completed by the start of the National Women's Soccer League's 2024 regular season,

The Royals will pick first in the first round of the entry draft and second in the expansion draft while. Bay FC will also be entering the league next season and will pick first in the expansion draft. The 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, presented by Ally, is set to be held on Friday, Dec. 15

The Royals head coach and former U.S. international Amy Rodriguez has begun to put together her roster, acquiring Kaleigh Riehl from San Diego in exchange for not selecting a player from the Wave in the expansion draft and $60,000 in allocation money. Riehl (27) played in 19 of 22 regular season matches in 2023. Riehl started with Sky Blue FC in 2020 and then was selected by Louisville at the end of her rookie season in the 2021 expansion draft, appearing in 21 matches for Racing in the 2021 season. She won a NCAA College Cup title with Penn State in 2015. She played for the U.S. U-18, U-20 and U-23 sides during her career, and started six games for the U.S. at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea, where the U.S. finished fourth.

The Royals also signed Free Agent forward and Utah native Michele Vasconcelos, who played at BYU along with another signing in midfielder Mikayla Cluff, from the Orlando Pride. Vasconcelos was selected 11th overall in the NWSL Draft by Chicago in 2017, and has played 47 games in the NWSL over the last six seasons for Chicago, Kansas City and Portland, including one game during the NWSL Fall 2020 series for the earlier edition of the Utah Royals. She also went on loan from Kansas City to Seville of Spain in 2021-22, where she scored twice in 22 games.

She said: "I grew up in Sandy [Utah], in the shadow of the Royals/RSL stadium. Now coming back for the second time around, it really feels too good to be true, now I really have the chance to live out my dream… My family has been super-excited for this move—I have two nephews already playing in the RSL Academy right now, actually—so we will all be out in Herriman together every day at those amazing facilities. Across the NWSL, the resources for the players are getting better every year, but to see what we already have at our disposal and now taking it to another level?

"The perception moving forward for what the new ownership is willing to provide has everyone full of awe; actions speak louder than words but as long as we keep going in this direction, we will keep setting the standard… Simply put, I love Utah… I am so passionate about Utah, so excited to elevate this Royals FC project together, I can't wait to see all the fans and partnering every day with the Club and the community to grow and connect. Insanely happy to be home."

Bay FC

Bay FC has selected well-respected for WPS coach Albertin Montoya to lead the team in their inaugural season of 2024. Montoya is a longtime Bay Area youth club coach and director who also guided FC Gold Pride to the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer championship. He was born in Cuba but has lived in the Bay Area since the age of six.

After college (North Carolina State, Santa Clara) and pro ball (Raleigh Flyers, San Jose Clash), Montoya returned to MVLA, where he and his wife Erin (née Martinez), who starred at Sant Clara and played professionally in the WUSA, helped it become among the nation's premier girls' clubs.

Montoya coached Women's Premier Soccer League's California Storm (1999-2006). Montoya became U.S. U-17 women's national team coach after it had failed to qualify for the 2010 U-17 World Cup. He coached the USA at the 2012 U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan (falling at the group stage) after guiding it to the CONCACAF Championship title. Montoya returned to pro coaching as interim head coach of the NWSL's Washington Spirit for the final stretch of the 2022 NWSL season.

Alex Loera became Bay FC's historic first signing. She played locally at Santa Clara University, winning the NCAA Division I College Cup title in 2020 and was acquired from KC Current in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money and protection for Bay FC in the 2024 expansion draft. She played 30 games for the Current across two seasons.

Boston Set for 2026

The city of Boston is back in the NWSL after the Boston Breakers folded after the 2017 season--the only team whose name covered all 11 previous seasons of women's pro soccer in the U.S.: WUSA (2001-03), WPS (2009-11) and the NWSL (2013-17), plus the semipro WPSL Elite in 2012.

Boston Unity Soccer Partners (BUSC) is a 15 member all-female core ownership group whose controlling manager is Jennifer Epstein, the founder of Juno Equity and a minority owner of the NBA's Boston Celtics. The managing board also includes Stephanie Connaughton (strategic marketer and brand builder), Ami Danoff (Women's Foundation of Boston Co-Founder/CFO) and Anna Palmer (Flybridge Capital General Partner). BUSC plans to collaborate with the City of Boston to renovate the 78-year-old White Stadium. The 10,000-seat venue is located in Franklin Park and is currently run and used by Boston Public School athletics for events including American football games, track meets and summer camps.

BUSC paid $53 million as an expansion fee, the same as Bay FC and plans to spend another $50 million on White Stadium's refurbishment, operational costs and a separate training facility. Bay City's investment is reportedly $125 million, including their expansion fee. Angel City FC and the San Diego Wave joined the NWSL for the 2022 season, paid expansion fees of $2 million-$5 million. After exercising their option on a team to replace the former Utah Royals, who folded after the 2020 season, the Royals owners paid in a similar range.

South Africa pulls out of 2027 WWC Bidding

On November 27, South Africa withdrew from the bidding to host the 2027 WWC Finals. The bidders are now Netherlands, Belgium and Germany in a joint bid, Brazil and the U.S. and Mexico in a two-team joint bid. South Africa had the stadium and training center logistics from the 2010 men's World Cup but revenue was expected to be low, a problem with Brazil's bid as well.

With the U.S. spending a reportedly record annual salary to new head coach Emma Hayes of between $1.6 million and $2 million (see above), it shows they are serious about bidding and revenue-wise, this would be the best bet for FIFA in maximizing income to continue to help the growth of the women's game. We do hope to see an African WWC Finals in the future but it will not now be in 2027, thought they could bid again for 2031.