ussoccer.com: What part of watching the USWNT at the 2024 Olympics did you find most inspiring?
YM: “Going into the tournament a lot of people doubted the U.S. team, but right away from the group stage, they established themselves as one of the favorites to win the tournament. Watching them on the field, they are just so fast and fearless, and seeing them win the gold medal was just so inspiring. It was a great example of what our team can accomplish in this tournament if we are mentally and physically tough and locked in for every minute of every game.”
ussoccer.com: What qualities do you think are most important for a player wanting to compete at the international level?
YM: “A few things, but first, you always must believe in yourself and bring that confidence to the field. As a soccer player, you can’t control a lot of things, so you just have to focus on controlling what you can. When you are confident, you can play freely and just showcase who you are, which is so important at this level because everyone is here for a reason. And of course, you have to always have a positive mindset. As I said earlier, not getting invited to camps was frustrating, but just showing up to training ready to improve and get 1% better every day is so important.”
ussoccer.com: What experiences from playing in a U-20 WWC do you hope will serve you best as you continue to grow as a person and a player?
YM: “Seeing that the U-20 World Cup has been the start of a lot of big players’ careers, I just hope that I can do the same for myself and that we all can really showcase what we can do as a team. Playing with the best players in the country and against all the best players from around the world is a unique experience and something I can carry with me for the rest of my life.”
