Teaming Up with Becky Sauerbrunn: Emma Hayes

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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SPEAKER_2 (0:43)

You're listening to the MIB Media Network, and this is The Women's Game.

Becky Sauerbrunn (0:48)

Was there like a defining moment in a game or a training session where something just clicked and you were like, oh, wow, I'm a coach now?

Emma Hayes (0:55)

I still don't think I'm going to be a coach. Sometimes I still say this isn't what I'm going to end up being. I know that sounds pretty bonkers.

Becky Sauerbrunn (1:10)

Hi everyone, welcome to Teaming Up with Becky Sauerbrunn, brought to you by The Women's Game. I'm Becky, and this is a show where we meet people in and around the game of soccer, the leaders, the thinkers, the doers, and connect with who they are by talking about what they love and what they nerd out on. I am so excited to be back on your pod feeds after what felt like such a long break. Since we've last teamed up, I've become a mom to my beautiful boy Ronan, and wow, parenting is wild. I've been deep in the baby bubble since October. I've learned so much, slept so little, and have never been happier. But there's something missing. That one thing that can get me to emerge from this baby bubble, and that's the nerd squad, I missed y'all. I am so glad to be back in the world of The Women's Game. We've got some cool people to talk to this season, so let's get to it. Today on the pod, we're talking to the woman at the helm of the US Women's National Team, a coaching giant, and most recently, my fellow cowgirl at heart, Emma Hayes. As part of my broadcasting gig covering The Women's National Team games, we get to go to their training the day before a game. The broadcasting team sits in on the pre-training presser with Emma where journalists and other media outlets ask her questions that can vary from player performance to local attractions to world politics. She fields each question thoughtfully and often with humor and always somehow manages to bring the answer back to the team. And then during training, she's so in her element, interacting with players, running the session, stopping play to make a coaching point. There's a saying, do you wear the clothes or do the clothes wear you? And with Emma, she wears coaching as if it's a second skin. I wanted to know if that comfort came easily or was it hard won? I'm thrilled to have been given a chance to ask her these questions and learn more about our journey. Here's my conversation with the highly esteemed Emma Hayes.

It is a big day for women's soccer fans on Teaming Up. We have the leader of the US Women's National Team, Emma Hayes. Emma, welcome to the show.

Emma Hayes (2:59)

Thank you for having me.

Becky Sauerbrunn (3:00)

Yeah, of course. We recently got to spend some time together at the She Believes Cup, where the US won its 8th She Believes Cup title. And looking back on the window, there were some really great storylines from the tournament. The return of some key players, your first roster with no uncapped players, the defense not allowing a goal, which was my personal favorite. But I think it was the cowboy hat that actually really stole the show. Did the hat feel just so right on your head? I feel like a personality trait got unlocked when I put it on.

Emma Hayes (3:26)

Listen, ever since I've taken this job, I don't know what happened to me. I've been reborn in so many ways.

I've shedded that really conservative English cloak. And I've now developed this sort of, I don't know, I'm mirroring the players a little bit, in terms of making a little bit of an effort. But that cowboy hat, that was my all-time favorite. I've never worn a cowboy hat in my life. I've always wanted one. And I never wanted to take it off. I was blinded. Denise wouldn't let me wear it during the game. And she's right. I had to do my job, but I really wanted to.