Emma Hayes said the United States’ 2-1 win over Japan showcased the progress they have made over the last 12 months, as they extended their winning streak to 10 games.

Goals from Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Heaps helped the USA into a 2-0 lead by the 48th minute at PayPal Park, in the first of three games against Japan in the space of six days.

Riko Ueki got Japan back into the contest just after the hour mark and they threatened to score an equaliser, but Hayes’ team held on.

They have won every game they have played since a 2-1 defeat to Portugal back in October, and Hayes believes their ability to see the result out demonstrates how far they have come.

“I think 12 months ago, we might have drawn this game,” Hayes said. “I think the progress is in staying in the game and not conceding a second goal.

“Where we’ve come from the last time that we played them in the SheBelieves Cup [a 2-1 defeat last year]… We’ve come a very long way.

“So full credit to this team, credit to the staff, it’s about the way that we want to control the game, where we want to control the game and the chances that we want to create.”

It was a memorable game for several members of the USA team, not least Lavelle, who made her 100th career start for her country.

She is the 31st USA player to reach that mark and is tied with Abby Wambach as the 14th fastest player to achieve that mark, as they both did so on their 119th caps.

A fun day in San Jose

USWNT x The @homedepot pic.twitter.com/5r3SkDBmOX

— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 11, 2026

Meanwhile, sisters Alyssa and Gisele Thompson played together, with the former starting on the left flank and the latter supporting her from full-back.

It was the fourth time they had started together for the USA, now the outright most by any pair of sisters, passing Kristie and Sam Mewis outright (three).

Hayes added: “How nice is that, you’ve got your sister playing in front of you? They’re going to die for each other on the field.”

The USA and Japan face off again in Seattle on Tuesday, before their friendly series concludes in Colorado on Friday.