Hayes defends lack of USWNT rotation, says Davidson and Shaw could be fit for Olympic quarterfinal

PARIS — USWNT head coach Emma Hayes is waiting until the last possible moment to determine if center-back Tierna Davidson and forward Jaedyn Shaw will be available for Saturday’s Olympic Games quarterfinal against Japan.

“There’s not a big turnaround. I’m going to leave it for as long as possible,” Hayes said on Friday ahead of the team’s training session. “I’ve got another 24 hours, so the injury update is touch and go, but I’m gonna give it the maximum amount of time to see if either one of them are available.”

Hayes said the team will be prepared as if neither is available for selection, and treat it as a bonus if either or both are. “With this turnaround, we just have to wait, unfortunately,” she concluded.

Davidson missed the USWNT’s group-stage finale against Australia after suffering a knee-to-knee collision in the match against Germany. Ahead of that match, Hayes said swelling was the issue, and that remains the case on Friday.

“She’s recovering really really well,” she replied after being asked about the swelling in Davidson’s knee. “It’s just, is there going to be enough time?”

Shaw, meanwhile, has not played yet at the Games due to a leg injury. Alternate Croix Bethune has been taking her spot on the 18-player roster, making her Olympic debut against Australia on Wednesday.

Davidson and Shaw remain in their own individual training and not fully participating with the rest of the team yet.

Shaw, 19, has seven goals in 16 U.S. appearances (Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Hayes also addressed that the team will be down to 17 players after midfielder Sam Coffey picked up a second yellow against the Matildas, forcing her to miss the quarterfinal against Japan — and defending her choice to keep her starting XI together rather than opt for rotation. She said she wasn’t thinking about the things that she couldn’t control. “I mean, Trin’s (Trinity Rodman) is on a yellow, do you want me to sit her out (tomorrow)?” Hayes said. “You can’t. You got to play football. If you look at last year’s World Cup, the two teams in the final made the least amount of changes in their squad.”

Hayes had stressed this same approach following the win against Australia, saying she was still prioritizing building chemistry. She echoed that Friday afternoon.

“Minimal changes gives you the better chance to build the creativity, so I will not change anything I’m doing, even if Trin’s on a yellow card. We can’t play football like that. We just have to be prepared and deal with whatever comes with it.”

The USWNT will kick off the day of quarterfinals on Saturday, leading off the four matches with their showdown against Japan at Parc des Princes at 3 p.m. local, 9 a.m. ET.

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(Top photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)