PARIS — Within minutes of winning the Olympic gold medal on Saturday, several members of the U.S. women's national team had the same thought:
We want more.
U.S. women's national team captain Lindsey Horan said she and forward Sophia Smith literally talked about what success at this tournament could mean for the team's future as they looked to climb onto the medal podium after beating Brazil in the final at the Parc des Princes.
The next World Cup will take place in Brazil in 2027.
“We thought, 'Imagine what we can do now in the next two and a half years,'” Horan said. “We're here knowing we have so much more to offer… My goodness, where the team is right now and the potential it has for 2027 is so exciting.”
New U.S. coach Emma Hayes, who came on board after the Americans' disappointing exit in the round of 16 at last summer's Women's World Cup, had a similar idea.
Despite only being in charge since June 1, Hayes sees this Olympic triumph — when the U.S. never trailed in any of its six matches — as an indicator that World Cup success is within reach.
“We have a gold medal tonight, but that doesn't mean it's over,” Hayes said. “We're just getting started.”
He added: “We are very excited about our potential and looking forward to the things we can do together.”
A World Cup comeback would be a fitting follow-up to this title, as the United States earned its first gold medal since 2012.
With a new USWNT core in development, anchored by Naomi Girma on the back line and an attacking trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Smith, it's not hard to think big when it comes to what the group could accomplish.
“She's been here, what? Two months?” Horan said of Hayes. “The confidence in this group, the will — every player is coachable, every player is committed. It's not easy. It's not easy for Emma, it's not easy for us. I think this journey has been incredible. But there's so much confidence in each one of us, and I saw it in every game.”
Girma, whom Hayes called “the best defender in the world” earlier in the tournament, smiled broadly when asked if this experience felt like a new beginning.
“I think the transitions and the energy of the group give that feeling,” she said. “And I think coming into this tournament and doing as well as we did is obviously great, but we know it's still a process and we still have a lot to do. I think that's what makes it even more exciting.”
