'New Identity. New History. New Heights.' - USWNT coach Emma Hayes explains meaning behind new team slogan

Out with the old and in with the new. That's the approach Emma Hayes is taking, as the new coach of the U.S. Women's National team is embracing a New Era for the squad.

On Monday, Hayes and members of the USWNT joined their former teammate Sam Mewis for a U.S. Soccer send-off in New York. Hayes hasn’t wasted any time making an impact – she's a coach with a long history of winning, including 12 years and seven titles with Chelsea Women – and knows how to get a team behind her. For Hayes, returning to NYC is a full circle moment.

In 2002, Hayes punched a one-way ticket to New York and started coaching semi-pro for the Long Island Lady Riders - and then collegiately for the Iona Gaels. She went on to spend seven years in the big city, with big dreams, a high soccer IQ, and sponge mentality.

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“This is my town, I love this place!” Hayes said to Mewis about NYC. The two went back and forth swapping NYC stories, and Mewis eventually pivoted to asking about the new slogan that Hayes has introduced her squad to.

Last November, Hayes visited some of the USWNT players in Florida to present the new team slogan: ‘New Identity. New History. New Heights.’ She explained the phrase:

New Identity

“I think that’s something that we’ve been shaping internally.”

New History

“I think when it comes to creating new history, I want to be in a position with this team where we’re talking about this team. We have to forge our own path.”

New Heights

"Who wants to f**king do the same thing over and over again? Let's start creating our own narrative."

That narrative will start to take shape in two weeks at the Summer Games in Paris. The USWNT started training in New Jersey Tuesday, the first session ahead of their first friendly against Mexico on July 13.

“Everyone expects us to win, everybody wants us to win," Hayes said, "but I’m very methodical about things, pragmatic about it, and building it the right way.”