"[They] gave us a really tough time,"
"I'm really proud of our team and the way that we came back after goals are scored on us, and really just came together as a collective. But we've loved being here and it's been a great honor to play at U23 level."
"I really feel there's like a lost generation that didn't get a lot of opportunities because they went from U20s ... and if they didn't make the seniors, there weren't a lot of opportunities there,"
"And I actually learned the other day that in the U.S. there are less U23s playing domestically and internationally in terms of experience than a lot of top nations."
Emma Hayes prioritized rebuilding the U.S. women's under-23 setup, calling the cohort "a lost generation" and citing limited U23 experience domestically and internationally. Hayes emphasized creating more opportunities between U20s and the senior team to prevent talent gaps. A mainly NWSL-based U23 side beat England U23s 4-2, with goals from Emeri Adames, Maddie Dahlien, Sarah Weber and Ally Sentnor. Sentnor has used U23 minutes to develop confidence and match sharpness. The U23 focus aims to expand senior-team options and strengthen depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Read at ESPN.com
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