Lilly Yohannes: The 17-Year-Old USWNT Playmaker
In only her second year playing on the U.S. Women’s National Team, 17-year-old Lilly Yohannes is making a name for herself. Thursday, February 20th was the kick-off of the SheBelieves Cup, with the United States playing against Colombia. This was the first game that Yohannes was on the field as a starter, and she took this chance to show everyone what she’s made of. The young midfielder kickstarted the U.S. to their win with an assist that has everyone talking.
Yohannes made her debut for the U.S. Women’s National Team at just 16 years old, a rare achievement in international soccer. Her exceptional talent and intelligence on the field caught the attention of U.S. Soccer scouts early on. Her ability to perform at such a high level so young marked her as a standout player and earned her a spot among the best in the world. Lilly scored her first goal with the USWNT in her debut game against South Korea.
In her most recent game. The U.S. faced Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup. The start of the game was a rocky start for both teams. With a 0-0 score at halftime, the minutes were counting down. It was going to be a very close game if no one scored soon. With the ball at her feet and eyes scoping out the field, Yohannes spotted a gap in the Colombian defense. Launching the ball across the field into an open corner where Yazmeen Ryan was waiting. With a quick pass to Catarina Macario, the ball was in the goal in the blink of an eye. This is the kind of playmaking the USWNT had been missing. They have been waiting for a game-changer like Lilly Yohannes. After that first goal, the team found their groove. The U.S. ended up winning the game with a final score of 2-0.
With a start like this to her second USWNT season, this young star has made it clear she won't be going anywhere, and she has a lot more to show the soccer world. Yohannes is definitely a player to keep an eye on this season and for the many years of performance, she has left in her. Yohannes has proven she has the play-making abilities to change the course of a game, and she will be a major threat to international opponents. The USWNT will take on Australia in their second game of the SheBelieves Cup on February 23rd. Eyes will be on Yohannes to see what else she has in store for the competition.
