Emma Hayes named the Best FIFA Women's Coach of 2024, Naomi Girma, Lindsey Horan and Alyssa Naeher named to the Best FIFA 11

WHAT HAPPENED

Four members of the U.S. Women's National Team earned Best FIFA honors, announced Tuesday. Emma Hayes was named the Best FIFA Women's Coach of the Year for 2024, and Lindsey Horan, Naomi Girma and Alyssa Naeher were named to the Best FIFA Women's 11.

Hayes led the USWNT to a 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal, in just her 10th match and has been undefeated since, going unbeaten in 15 games to start her tenure with the U.S.. Captain Horan along with anchor of the backline Girma and goalkeeper Naeher were integral to the success of the U.S. side this past year. Naeher earned Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper in her final year representing the USWNT.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

This is Hayes' second world coaching award this year. In October she was named Ballon d'Or Women's Coach of the Year. Girma's recognition comes after an incredible year with the USWNT, where she played all 600 minutes of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the only U.S. player to do so. She was part of the squad that only allowed 12 goals on the year, and just two during the Olympics.

Horan picks up the honor after finishing the year with five goals and three assists. She has also had a wildly successful season with Olympique Lyon, scoring 12 goals across 13 games. Naeher, after announcing her retirement earlier this year, rounds out her final season with the USWNT earning 18 starts and going 13-1-3. She allowed just nine goals with a goals against average of 0.47.

WHAT HAYES SAID

“It’s been an amazing year on many levels," she said, "but my overriding emotion is gratitude. I want to thank everyone who has been on this journey with us, especially the players, coaches and staff from Chelsea and the USWNT. In the middle of 2023, I never thought I would be sitting here as part of a gold medal-winning team, but I’ve loved working with the players and I’m very excited about 2025 and executing our WNT strategy. It’s going to be an exciting time for the players as we continue to build on what we accomplished in 2024.”

WHAT'S NEXT

The USWNT will return to game in the new year for the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.