18-year-old Lily Yohannes earned her 11th and final U.S. women’s national team cap of 2025 on Monday night, showing once again her long-term potential with the squad.

Yohannes assisted once and played 75 minutes as Emma Hayes’ squad earned a 2-0 victory over Italy at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The talented young midfielder set up Catarina Macario for her eighth USWNT goal this year, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage after 20 minutes.

Jaedyn Shaw would pad the USWNT’s lead before halftime, giving them a two-goal advantage that they wouldn’t let slip away.

Yohannes has quickly become a key figure in the USWNT squad since debuting for the squad in 2024. She was part of the USWNT’s SheBelieves Cup-winning squad last year before also growing her talents at club level with both Ajax and Lyon.

Hayes has worked with plenty of top talents during her lengthy career as Chelsea’s manager but had plenty of praise for Yohannes’ improvement in her time as USWNT head coach.

“She’s doing this at 18,” Hayes said postmatch on Monday. “I think what I’ve learned in all of this is that you can’t put a ceiling on anyone. So, we won’t do that. But she’s 18. All of the things that she has that are super strengths for her; we want to keep developing them, but at the same time, we’ve got to upskill her in the things that are to be required for the top level.”

Yohannes scored 11 goals in her 51 appearances for Dutch giants Ajax before making the jump to French side Lyon last July. She’s made a positive impression with Lyon, scoring on her club debut against Marseille, and tallying one additional time in seven overall appearances for the club.

Teaming up with fellow USWNT players Lindsey Heaps and Korbin Shrader has certainly helped Yohannes get comfortable in France while continued chemistry in multiple international camps this year has also benefitted the thriving midfielder.

Although Yohannes is playing some of her best soccer right now, Hayes expects the teenager to continue improving going forward.

“I still think there’s room to grow,” Hayes added. “She’s a willing student and she will watch tape all the time and I think that’s what will keep accelerating her learning is her commitment. She needs to add to be a truly world-class player. Right now she’s a world-class prospect and that there is a distinction because that bar is really high if we want to become the best team in the world.”

Yohannes will now head back to Lyon for the resumption of the league schedule this weekend.