SAN DIEGO (Feb. 26, 2025) -- A run of five straight titles in the SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, ended Wednesday night for the U.S. Women’s National Team, which fell to Japan, 2-1, in the tournament finale at Snapdragon Stadium.
With three victories in as many SheBelieves matches, the Nadeshiko lifted the trophy for the first time in their fifth appearance at the prestigious invitational, while handing the Americans their first defeat in 18 games under coach Emma Hayes. The USA, which had claimed seven of the nine previous SheBelieves championships, finished the four-team, round-robin tournament in second place with two wins and a loss.
Earlier Wednesday, Colombia (1W-2L-0D) clinched third in its first SheBelieves appearance with a 2-1 win over fellow debutant Australia (0W-3L-0D).
After starting 22 of her 23 available players across this month's first two SheBelieves matches, Hayes on Wednesday selected 10 of the 11 women who kicked off the tournament-opening win over Colombia. The exception was veteran left back Crystal Dunn, who started the second game against Australia and returned to the lineup before a crowd of 17,188 in San Diego.
Dunn joined defenders Tara McKeown, Emily Sonnett and Emily Fox in front of goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who earned her 10th cap. Sam Coffey, Lily Yohannes and captain Lindsay Heaps anchored the U.S. midfield while Ally Sentnor, Yazmeen Ryan and striker Catarina Macario, a San Diego native, comprised the front three.
Needing all three points to claim first place after Japan entered the match with superior goal difference, the USA found itself in a hole after just 93 seconds. Japan’s Yuka Momiki lifted the eighth-ranked visitors into the lead, shielding the ball from Campbell and Sonnett – who collided on the play - before clipping a shot into the empty American net. The U.S. now had to score at least twice.
The resilient hosts recovered quickly, however, and Dunn fed Heaps for a 12th-minute header that was saved by Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita. The Americans were coming, and less than two minutes later, Sentnor -- who certainly made a case during the SheBelieves Cup for further call-ups -- leveled the score.
Macario’s devastating midfield turn sent the Japanese into disarray, and she played a pass through to Sentnor as the rising Utah Royals star raced into the penalty area. Sentnor took one touch and then rifled a shot inside the right post. It was the 21-year-old Sentnor’s second goal of the tournament and her second in her five USWNT appearances. U.S. Soccer’s reigning Young Female Player of the Year also had an assist in the Feb. 23 win over Australia.
Momentum seemed to be with the top-ranked Americans, but Japan weathered that post-goal storm and came close to retaking the lead when Hikaru Kitagawa snuck behind the U.S. defense in the 26th. She barely missed from an acute angle. Japan’s speed on and off the ball, along with its quality in tight spaces, led to a significant first-half possession and shot advantage. When the USA did take control, it often tried to play through the savvy 17-year-old Yohannes, who looked to spread the field and change the tempo. Macario also was an occasional target.
The U.S. had the last good chance near the end of the half as Ryan stole a stoppage-time pass and marauded through midfield before finding Macario for a bid that rolled wide of the left post.
Hayes made two changes after intermission, sending left back Jenna Nighswonger and forward Jaedyn Shaw on for Dunn and Sentnor. But once again, Japan started a half on the front foot. Following a foul by Ryan and a brilliant diving save from Campbell on the ensuing 50th-minute free kick, Japanese substitute Toko Koga put the trophy back within Japan’s reach with a short-range goal from Campbell’s rebound.
The USA was again faced with having to score twice. Korbin Albert, Lynn Biyendolo and Alyssa Thompson entered in the 58th, then Tierna Davidson joined them 10 minutes later as the hosts committed more resources to the attack. But the refreshed lineup couldn’t unlock the Japanese, who were able to play a bit more cautiously and manage their lead. Shaw and Davidson tested Manchester City’s Yamashita from distance and Thompson caused trouble with a couple dribbling runs, but the Nadeshiko defended desperately and remained firm. With its late push, the USA narrowed Japan’s overall advantage in shots to 10-9 and put five on target to the visitors’ four.
The USA fell to defeat for the first time in 23 games dating back to a Concacaf W Gold Cup loss to Mexico on Feb. 26, 2024 -- exactly one year earlier. Wednesday’s match was also just the second time in 42 tries that Japan beaten the USA. The Americans now lead the all-time series 32W-2L-8D with the only other outright defeat coming at the Algarve Cup back in March 2012.
The USWNT will return to action in early April with a pair of high-profile friendlies against Brazil, which will be preparing for this summer’s Copa América Femenina. The first rematch of last year’s Olympic final will take place April 5 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, followed by a second engagement on April 8 at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
JPN -- Yuka Momiki (Yui Hasegawa), 2nd minute: Hasegawa carved out a bit of space following a Japanese throw-in and slipped a pass toward Momiki, who was at the corner of the six-yard box. Momiki shielded the ball from U.S. goalkeeper Jane Campbell and center back Emily Sonnett and as the two Americans collided, Momiki was able to turn and chip the ball into the empty net. USA 0, JPN 1
USA -- Ally Sentnor (Catarina Macario), 14th minute: U.S. midfielder Lily Yohannes eased across the midfield stripe and fed Macario, whose brilliant turn on Japan’s Saori Takarada set the play in motion. Macario sent a ball into the penalty area, where Sentnor had run behind her marker. The 21-year-old took one touch and ripped a right-footed shot inside the right post. USA 1, JPN 1
JPN -- Toko Koga, 50th minute: A well-hit, 25-yard free kick from Japan’s Yui Hasegawa forced a leaping save from the USA’s Jane Campbell, but the U.S. ‘keeper couldn’t turn it away from danger, and Kogo raced in, beat Emily Fox to the rebound and slotted her shot home from close range. USA 1, JPN 2 FINAL
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- 2024 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year Ally Sentnor leveled the score at one apiece in the 14th minute with what was both her second goal of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup and the second goal of her international career. Tonight was Sentnor’s second start for the USWNT and her fifth appearance overall.
- Catarina Macario got the assist on Sentnor’s 14th minute goal, the fourth of her USWNT career. Macario got the start tonight in her hometown of San Diego, Calif. marking the first time she has played for the USWNT in the city to which she emigrated from Brazil at the age of 12. It was her 21st international appearance overall.
- Lindsey Heaps returned to the lineup to captain the USA for the 36th time after sitting out the Feb. 23 match vs. Australia. Tonight marked Heaps’ 163rd career cap. She is 21st on the all-time caps list, chasing Carla Overbeck, who has 170.
- Tonight’s lineup featured 10 changes from the starting XI that faced Australia on Feb. 23 but just one change from the starting XI that opened the tournament against Colombia on Feb. 20, that being Crystal Dunn at left back instead of Jenna Nighswonger.
- Tonight’s match marked the second time Hayes has made 10 changes to a starting XI from game-to-game, with the last occurring from 10/27/2024 vs. Iceland to the match on 10/30/2024 vs. Argentina.
- The 2-1 scoreline was the USWNT’s first defeat in 18 matches played under Emma Hayes since her debut as head coach last June. Her overall record stands at 15-1-2.
- 2025 Shebelieves cup MATCH REPORT -
Match: United States Women’s National Team vs. Japan Women’s National Team
Date: February 26, 2025
Competition: 2025 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium; San Diego, Calif.
Attendance: 17,188
Kickoff: 7:37 p.m. local (10:37 p.m. ET)
Weather: 60 degrees, clear
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| JPN |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| JPN – Yuka Momiki (Yui Hasegawa) | 2nd minute |
| USA – Ally Sentnor (Catarina Macario) | 14 |
| JPN – Toko Koga | 50 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Jane Campbell; 23-Emily Fox, 14-Emily Sonnett, 4-Tara McKeown (12-Tierna Davidson, 68), 19-Crystal Dunn (5-Jenna Nighswonger, 46); 17-Sam Coffey, 10-Lindsey Heaps (Capt.), 11-Lily Yohannes (3-Korbin Albert, 58); 22-Yazmeen Ryan (7-Alyssa Thompson, 58), 20-Catarina Macario (6-Lynn Biyendolo, 58), 9-Ally Sentnor (8-Jaedyn Shaw, 46)
Substitutions Not Used:2-Emily Sams, 13-Emma Sears, 15-Gisele Thompson, 16-Claire Hutton, 18-Mandy McGlynn, 21-Michelle Cooper
Head coach: Emma Hayes
JPN: 1-Ayaka Yamashita; 22-Yuka Momiki (8-Manaka Matsukubo, 58), 21-Miyabi Moriya (18-Honoka Hayashi, 84), 2-Saori Takarada, 13-Hikaru Kitagawa (6-Toko Koga, 46); 14-Yui Hasegawa, 4-Saki Kumagai (Capt.), 10-Fuka Nagano (7-Hinata Miyazawa, 46); 15-Aoba Fujino (19-Remina Chiba, 57), 11-Mina Tanaka, 17-Maika Hamano (5-Hana Takahashi, 75)
Substitutions Not Used: 3-Moeka Minami, 9-Riko Ueki, 12-Chika Hirao, 16-Momoko Tanikawa, 20-Narumi Miura, 23-Akane Okuma
Head coach: Nils Nielsen
Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 9 / 10
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 2 / 1
Fouls: 4 / 8
Offside: 3 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
None
Officials:
Referee: Carly Shaw-MacLaren (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Gabrielle Lemieux (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Snedden (CAN)
4th Official: Alex Billeter (USA)
2025 SheBelieves Cup Final Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|
| Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 9 |
| USA | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 |
| Colombia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 |
| Australia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0 |
