USWNT`s youngest member, 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes, recently returned with the squad to the location where she made her national team debut and netted her first goal nearly twelve months ago.
Yohannes was in the starting lineup for the friendly against China at Allianz Field in Minnesota. The U.S. team defeated their opponents 3-0, with goals coming from Catarina Macario, Sam Coffey, and Lindsey Heaps. Throughout the match, Yohannes served as a key option for progressing the ball and was vital in maintaining possession for the team.
She finished second on the team in total recoveries with seven during the victory. Both Coffey and Yohannes effectively dictated the tempo in the midfield, preventing China from executing aggressive pressing tactics. This performance represents another significant step forward for the young defensive midfielder.
Head coach Emma Hayes recently completed her first year in the role. Yohannes` trajectory alongside Hayes could be seen as either perfectly timed or simply fortunate coincidence, but either way, the talented teenager is clearly just beginning her journey.
Following the game, Coach Hayes spoke to the media, stating, “I thought Sam [Coffey] was superb. I thought Lily [Yohannes] grew into the game. Their roles as what we call low support players when the ball goes wide were executed well. I thought they connected really well with the wide players, and their movements to receive the ball in deeper positions were very good. Overall, I think the team chemistry and cohesion have significantly improved in this camp.”
Yohannes is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting up-and-coming talents in women`s football. She has consistently shown elite playmaking ability and a level of maturity well beyond her age for both the USWNT and Dutch club Ajax. This technically gifted midfielder has become a consistent presence in USWNT rosters throughout 2025, indicating her importance in the team`s preparations for the 2027-28 international cycle.
Speaking during pre-match availability, Hayes emphasized, “I keep reminding everyone, she`s only 17. She has just a couple of years of professional experience. I believe the next two years will be crucial for her development. Being at Ajax has provided an incredible development path. In my opinion, it has significantly advanced her understanding of positional play, making her stand out beyond her age.”
While not yet a guaranteed starter, Yohannes has already captured attention in Europe with her vision, composure, and tactical intelligence. At just 16, she became the youngest player ever to start a UEFA Women`s Champions League group stage game. She is also the eighth-youngest player all-time to debut for the USWNT and the third youngest to score for the senior national team.
Much of the discussion surrounding Yohannes last year involved her potential eligibility to represent either the United States or the Netherlands. Lily was born in Virginia but relocated with her family to Europe in 2017. It was there she progressed through the Ajax academies before signing a full professional contract with the first team in 2023.
She received her initial call-up to the USWNT during Emma Hayes` first official matches as head coach in June 2024. By the following November, the teenage midfielder publicly declared her commitment to the U.S. national team.
In a social media post last year, Yohannes stated, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to both the United States and Dutch Football Federations for their constant support and guidance as I made this important decision about my international future. Their dedication and encouragement have been incredibly valuable, and I thank both Federations from my heart.”
She continued, “After careful thought, I have chosen to represent my home country, the United States. The U.S. is where I was born, my native land, and where my extended family lives. These deep ties inspired me to honor my heritage and proudly commit to U.S. Soccer. I am enthusiastic and determined to keep working hard to earn my spot on the U.S. Women`s National Team.”
Since the beginning of 2025, Yohannes has been included in every senior national team roster, participating in January camps, the SheBelieves Cup, and now the first summer friendlies. She currently has six USWNT appearances and one goal, scored on her debut. However, Hayes` strategy with Yohannes is centered on patience, ensuring the young player`s development continues steadily at the international level, even as her profile rises.
Hayes observed, “She has developed physically over the past year, and tactically, especially in possession. When she plays for her club, they often face teams that sit back, so she`s refined that aspect of her game. Playing against opponents like Brazil and Japan with us were extremely high-level matches that will greatly benefit her future. But, as I constantly repeat, she still has significant development ahead. I expect her performances to fluctuate, showing moments of brilliance and moments where she learns. That`s typical for a 17-year-old.”
She added, “She possesses incredible maturity and is highly coachable. I know she will become a vital part of our program. However, I am committed to nurturing her development, and we must be patient given her young age and limited international, high-level experience.”
As Yohannes accumulates diverse experiences in both the UWCL and with the USWNT, she is actively absorbing knowledge from her environments. She attributes a positive impact to all her USWNT teammates, singling out captain Lindsey Heaps and forward Catarina Macario as particular influences.
Yohannes shared, “Everyone has been incredibly helpful and made integrating into the team much easier. From Lindsey [Heaps] to Cat [Macario] – I could name so many players. All the experienced players have been here for a long time, so they understand what it`s like for someone new joining. Now that I`ve been in camp for a bit, I feel my comfort level has increased, and I`m focused on continuing my development.”
Her exceptional maturity is what truly distinguishes her. Despite her age, she plays with the composure of a seasoned professional, rarely appearing rushed in possession and consistently making intelligent decisions. This quality has earned her trust at both the club and international levels. Yohannes` game is characterized by her excellent passing range and her ability to control the rhythm of play. She is comfortable in both deeper defensive midfield and more advanced roles, and is particularly skilled at breaking down defenses with precise through balls and maintaining possession under pressure.
During Ajax`s 2023-24 UEFA Women`s Champions League campaign, she demonstrated her fearlessness against top European competition. She has a natural talent for finding pockets of space and effectively linking the defense and attack. Her assist in Ajax`s victory against Roma, initiated by her forcing a turnover and creating an attacking sequence, highlighted her capability to unlock defenses with a single pass.
Heaps commented, “Performing at the club level with Ajax and playing in the Champions League is one thing, but transitioning to international football is always a different environment, a step up. However, I believe she has integrated seamlessly. I think everyone has seen how special she can be. She`s perhaps a different type of footballer than we`re accustomed to, displaying many unique qualities. So, I`m very proud of her achievements. But, she`s still just 17, so there`s so much more to come.”
Team vice-captain Naomi Girma has rejoined the national team this year and is familiar with rapid rises in profile. Shortly after being drafted by San Diego in the 2022 NWSL Draft, her exceptional performances as a centerback quickly earned her Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year awards. Her consistent high level of play also secured her a spot on the 2023 USWNT World Cup squad.
The comparison holds some similarity in that the next World Cup is still two years away. During this period, Yohannes` role and impact could certainly grow significantly. It`s not unreasonable to think she could make that World Cup roster as a 20-year-old if her development trajectory continues.
Girma stated, “I think she has improved considerably over the last year. She joined as a young player but appeared as though she had been part of the team for a while. You could see she possesses a natural calmness and confidence on the ball. That`s a very valuable quality for a midfielder.”
She added, “She`s simply level-headed. And I feel that despite her rapid ascent, she remains grounded and true to herself. It`s truly encouraging to see a player like her performing so well and truly cementing her place in the squad.”
