Lindsey Horan on the rise, Rose Lavelle on the bench: USWNT's winners and losers from pre-Olympic friendlies

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Ryan Tolmich and Celia Balf

Winners & LosersUSASummer OlympicsSophia SmithLindsey HoranJaedyn ShawRose LavelleWomen's footballFEATURES

As the real games draw nearer, USWNT boss Emma Hayes will have gained valuable insights from the average send-off.

Playtime officially came to an end as the final whistle blew on Monday night. The period for making adjustments and trying new strategies is now in the past. The Olympics have now become a reality, and the U.S. women’s national team is resolutely advancing towards them.

Well, maybe not marching. It could be argued that they're limping a bit after two tough games: a cagey 1-0 win over Mexico and a frustrating 0-0 draw with Costa Rica. In an ideal world, these would be games where the USWNT would love to build confidence by running up the score. Not this time.

However, new coach Emma Hayes gained valuable insight and information. She made some adjustments while ensuring that the team adapts to her management style. Although the upcoming tournament is approaching, the USWNT is still a team that is evolving. The era of Hayes has only recently begun.

There are evident issues that need to be resolved. The current concern is whether these issues can be resolved within the upcoming weeks. Despite being an imperfect team, the USWNT is immensely skilled. Will they be able to strive for gold?

In a matter of weeks, the truth will be revealed, but these farewell matches clearly demonstrate that there is an extensive amount of work remaining. Time is running out, however, as France beckons and the USWNT’s arrival is imminent.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the USWNT's friendlies…

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