The United States Women’s National Team hosted the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, claiming a first-place finish with tight victories over Japan and Canada. Coming on the heels of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the competition provided further opportunity for chemistry building but also the addition of a few new talents to the squad.
Eva Gaetino earned her first senior international call-up and received the opportunity to incorporate into the group. The 21-year-old defender recently entered the professional ranks following a sterling collegiate career and has become a lineup fixture for Paris Saint-Germain. Born in Chesapeake, Virginia and raised in Michigan, Gaetino began playing organized soccer at the age of two after her mother claimed that she and her then-four-year-old brother were twins. She competed with Michigan Hawks in the Elite Clubs National League, claimed the 2017 national championship, and was named 2019 Midwest Player of the Year and to the Midwest Top-11 three times.
In addition to being selected to the Olympic Development Program, Top Drawer Soccer rated her as a top-150 recruit in the nation. The teenager was also a top track-and-field performer for her high school’s team. Gaetino matriculated to the University of Notre Dame and started in all 13 matches during the COVID-shortened freshman season. As a sophomore, she started in all 22 fixtures and was named First Team All-Region by the United Soccer Coaches while also registering an assist in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Her standout junior year involved 23 starts and a run to the Elite Eight while only allowing 16 goals, performances that earned All-ACC First Team, ACC Defender of the Year, MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist consideration, and a mix of All-American citations. After competing in the summer with the Cleveland Ambassadors of the WPSL, she closed out her Fighting Irish career with 18 appearances as a senior, contributing four goals and three assists, and once again being named the conference’s Defender of the Year and a First Team All-American.
Eschewing a potential fifth year of collegiate eligibility and withdrawing from the National Women’s Soccer League Draft, Gaetino signed with Paris Saint-Germain following a one-week trial and a slight delay due to the visa application. Since moving to France, she has featured in ten matches for Les Parisiennes (The Parisians), picking up several starts and one “sumptuous” assist. Her first professional goal came in her Champions League debut, “prodding in the close-range opener” to help clinch a 5-1 aggregate victory over Swedish side BK Häcken in the quarterfinal round. The club is almost assured of finishing the season in second place behind Lyon but has the opportunity to claim silverware with the Coupe de France.
There are the traditional struggles of adapting to the professional game and moving abroad (such as learning a new language), but the defender has already enmeshed herself as a key part of the squad. Playing with the United States program at the international level, Gaetino received her first invitation to the U-23 team in 2023, featuring in a friendly against France and the Thorns Preseason Tournament.
Her initial senior call-up came during the recently concluded SheBelieves Cup. Despite failing to appear in either match, interim manager Twila Kilgore praised her as “right where [she is] supposed to be” and having “gotten a lot out of this.” Cited as “the anchor of a stout backline” but also capable of lining up on the side, Gaetino stands 5’11” and wins a fantastic number of headers while also taking an active role in the build-up with accurate passing at all distances and forward progression through dribbling.
She is “aggressive in stepping up to make interceptions,” “regularly springs dangerous counter-attacks” from a deep position, and quickly going to ground for sliding challenges. Coaches praise her mentality with a drive to be “the best player she can be” and “taking on difficult challenges” as a “fierce competitor.” As expected from someone possessing her height, athleticism, and body control, the set-piece takers seek her out on corners and free kicks.
Her time in college provided the opportunity to grow as a leader both on and off of the field. “The responsibility falls onto me for organizing the back line, organizing the midfield, organizing the press, goal kicks, [and] other set pieces,” said Gaetino. “A specific lesson I learned is recognizing that everyone has a battle. Everyone is facing challenges. Everyone is facing adversity. Demanding 100% of people’s 100% all the time is not realistic…. People respond differently to different types of communication. Communicate in a way with people that they will actually listen and take in. Finding ways to do that on the field in high-stress situations, I feel like is something that is a huge part of my leadership.”
In what is becoming a year of firsts for Gaetino, the defender earned a senior international camp invitation shortly after signing a professional deal and becoming a starter for PSG. She is in a challenging spot, reaching the USWNT with mere months remaining before the summer’s Olympic Games. The restrictive and limited roster size of 18 might keep her out of the competition, but her future appears to be bright, as physical centre-backs with strong distribution and the ability to make an impact in the final third are a welcome addition to any program.
