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Associate Head Coach Maya Hayes Named USWNT U-18 National Team Assistant Coach
5/28/2026 2:06:00 PM | Soccer
Hayes will be traveling to Eastern Europe from June 1-10 to coach the U-18 US National Team at the 2026 Bulgarian Nations Cup
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota soccer associate head coach Maya Hayes has been named an assistant coach of the United States Under-18 Women's National Team, it was announced on Thursday.
Hayes will get her start with the U-18 side as she'll assist in leading the roster in matches against the U-19 Ukraine and U-20 Benin national teams in the 2026 Bulgarian Nations Cup.
Since her arrival in Dinkytown in 2020, Hayes has helped coach 13 Gophers to earn All-Big Ten honors. Notably, in 2024, she helped guide forward Khyah Harper to one of the most successful seasons a Gopher forward has had to date. Harper finished 2024 with 40 points and 17 goals, naming her a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American. Harper was selected as Big Ten Forward of the Year, and a semifinalist for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy, Minnesota's first-ever semifinalist. Harper now competes for Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and was rostered when they won the 2025 NWSL Championship and Concacaf W Champions Cup.
Hayes will get her start with the U-18 side as she'll assist in leading the roster in matches against the U-19 Ukraine and U-20 Benin national teams in the 2026 Bulgarian Nations Cup.
Since her arrival in Dinkytown in 2020, Hayes has helped coach 13 Gophers to earn All-Big Ten honors. Notably, in 2024, she helped guide forward Khyah Harper to one of the most successful seasons a Gopher forward has had to date. Harper finished 2024 with 40 points and 17 goals, naming her a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American. Harper was selected as Big Ten Forward of the Year, and a semifinalist for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy, Minnesota's first-ever semifinalist. Harper now competes for Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and was rostered when they won the 2025 NWSL Championship and Concacaf W Champions Cup.
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