Jill Ellis probably could have won 10 World Cups instead of two, and there would always have been fans—and even many of her own players—who would have continued to say the U.S. succeeded despite its coach, not because of her.
And let’s be honest: Ellis’s questionable lineup choices, in-game substitutions and lack of communication with players were often topics that came up when you had an offline conversation with some of the U.S. players, those who worked with her on a daily basis. In recent months, there were even whispers that some U.S. veterans might choose to retire early if Ellis stayed on after the World Cup.