“Don’t write me off” – Fearing Olympic exclusion, Lynn Williams confronted Emma Hayes after she was excluded from the USWNT’s preseason training camp

Imagine you’re a soccer player. You work hard for years, but you still doubt whether Emma Hayes will pick you for the Paris Olympic team. You think that what you’ve worked so hard for is slowly slipping out of your control. That’s probably what went through Lynn Williams’ mind when the time came for the national team call-up. She had sustained an injury and was unable to attend the USWNT national training camp before the Olympics.

“We all know the list is going to be announced and I’m thinking, ‘Crap. I’m probably not going. I’m not even in that camp.'” Williams mentioned in the podcast “The Women’s Game”.

Typically, players who attend this camp are selected for the national team before a major tournament. These camps focused on tactical fine-tuning, match reviews and other fitness monitoring prior to the event. Despite Lynn Williams earning 70 caps for the USWNT, her place was in jeopardy.

Without any official introduction, she asked Emma Hayes to consider her for the Olympics with all her experience. She mentioned: “I just leaned out the window and called Emma and said, ‘Look, I know you haven’t seen me. I know you’re probably judging people right now because this is after camp. I didn’t want to bother them when they’re at camp and make it seem like it was all about me.'” Approach the trainer to understand her point of view.

Since the player represented the nation several times, Williams confidently quoted: “You didn’t see me there and you can’t see me now because I’m still hurt. But don’t write me off, because I will be ready for the Olympics.“

Emma Hayes dramatically chooses Lynn Williams!

The Gotham FC soccer player from New Jersey/New York mentioned that Hayes would watch her film and take a call. But the call-up seemed surprising. She never thought she would be called up to the national team after her injury. But Hayes, in her own way, had interesting plans for Williams.

On the day of the national team call-up, Williams was considering whether to plan a trip during the week-long break. With no hope of being selected, she and her fiancé were meeting her friend’s baby. At that point, she received a call from her friend asking for call-up information. Williams recalled that the players who did not make the team during the World Cup had received calls before.

She thought to herself: “Will I be called?”

Later, she received a call from an unknown number and the phone number at the top said “US Soccer.” Drum roll…

Emma Hayes called her to tell her she made the team. Lynn Williams booked a ticket to Paris to compete in the Olympics. After waiting anxiously for weeks, she finally got the invitation. So she changed her plans and was able to mentally prepare for the Olympics. And you know what?

The player scored a goal and came on as a substitute in the final, where she gave her manager the performance she needed.

Lynn Williams is a surprise addition to this year’s USWNT team and looks to continue building the momentum. Do you think she deserves a call-up to the national team?