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The United States Women’s National Team is enjoying a reign as the current gold medalists following the summer’s Olympic Games, a tenure atop the mountain that could extend until the 2027 World Cup. With a few years of program building, Emma Hayes has the opportunity to slowly add new talents with a patient process, testing for chemistry and future production. Emma Sears is one potential long-term addition, with the new call-up enjoying a strong debut professional season in the National Women’s Soccer League. The 23-year-old Racing Louisville forward adapted seamlessly to the next level and enjoyed a breakout initial international camp that included her standout performance against Iceland.
Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Sears lived in England and California before settling with her family in Ohio. She competed at the club level with Ohio Premier, selected as an ECNL All-American and the Ohio Valley Conference U-19 Player of the Year. The forward also played with Dublin Jerome High School and twice earned All-Ohio honors as well as being named Ohio Capital Conference Player of the Year.
Sears then matriculated to The Ohio State University, playing in 17 matches as a freshman and contributing one assist. After improving her fitness and adding “power in her legs” through strength training, her sophomore campaign during the COVID spring season involved 13 starts, seven goals, and three assists, earning her Second Team All-Big Ten honors. The following fall included another six goals and two assists, followed by nine and five as a senior. Utilizing her additional fifth year of eligibility, she added three goals and four assists in a playmaker role, being named First Team All-Conference.
Her continued improvement during college was “a product of hard work,” with a total focus on maximizing her potential on and off of the field. “There’s a lot of forwards that just want to go forward and do their thing,” expressed Ohio State head coach Lori Walker-Hock. “But with Emma’s fitness and her commitment to her strength and her nutrition and all the other pieces, she’s able to not just attack but do the work defensively and that makes her a very dangerous and effective player.”
Sears was selected by Racing Louisville FC in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft with the 28th overall pick. After “showing up on Day No. 1 ready to compete,” the club signed her to a one-year contract with an option for an additional season. Head coach Bev Yanez praised her “ability and professionalism” along with “an eagerness to learn, willingness to put in the work, and incredible glimpses of her game.”
Entering with “a chip on her shoulder,” Sears hit the ground running in the professional ranks, scoring her first goal in an April 5-1 victory over the Utah Royals and emerging as “one of the league’s most dangerous attackers on the dribble.” Recognizing her potential and talent, Racing Louisville quickly extended her contract through the 2026 season, noting her “instant impact” and commitment to “growth.” She has featured in 27 matches across all competitions, contributing six goals and two assists with Louisville in a tight battle for one of the final playoff spots.
“There was something about just seeing her in person in the environment that I’m like, ‘Dang,’” said Yanez. “I think she’s shown her ability through her physique as well as how she doesn’t run, she glides. And on top of that, she’s very technically good. So I think a lot of her attributes scream so much ability in this league. She’s also very coachable. When opportunities open up and opportunities present themselves, their jobs as players is to take advantage of them. And I think she’s done a good job of taking advantage of her opportunity that has presented itself.”
Sears received her first international call-up at any level to the USWNT for the recent gold medal victory tour that included matches against Iceland and Argentina, an invitation that was described as “a shock.” She made her senior debut in the second friendly against the European opponent, enjoying a fantastic 35-minute performance with a goal and an assist in the 3-1 comeback victory. Praised as “the hero of the night,” her ability to read the chaos and play a smart touch to Lynn Williams tied proceedings, while pouncing on a loose ball in the box led to her slamming home the insurance tally in stoppage time. Her second cap came in the 3-0 win over Argentina, playing the full match.
“I saw when [Sears] came in, she had a big smile on her face, she looked really relaxed to me,” Hayes shared with The Athletic after the second Iceland friendly. “What I liked about her was her intention. She’d turn, she’d face up, she’d go forward, she’d play forward. Her first touch on the ball, she got us into the corner and got something out of it. And I liked her intention of positivity. As I said, I think she’s had a brilliant campaign in the NWSL. I can see, already, her professional habits in everything she does.”
Standing at five-foot-nine, Sears is a versatile, proactive, and pacey attacking option who can line up at striker, winger, and in a playmaking role. Coaches praise her as someone who “can do what she wants with the ball” and is “super threatening to get in behind [opponents],” picking out the corner of the net from tight angles. She puts in excellent work on the defensive side of the game and carries possession forward, beating several opponents off of the dribble in every match. Her speed and creativity are particularly dangerous in transition, with some of her best work being done with charging at backpedaling players.
In the midst of a strong rookie season, Sears received her introduction to the USWNT after spending her entire youth career outside of the programp. She should continue to grow and develop over the coming years, with increased production necessitating inclusion in further camps. There is time for her to improve with the next major tournament not occurring for another three years, but new talents appear all the time, spots are limited, and chances must be seized upon when presented.