Lindsey Heaps has adapted seamlessly to her role at OL Lyonnes in France's top women's league and the Champions League. The 31-year-old USWNT midfielder emphasizes high standards and competitive training under new coach Jonatan Giráldez. Her performances highlight why elite American players might thrive in select European clubs.
Lindsey Heaps, a 31-year-old midfielder for the United States women's national team, has found a fitting role at OL Lyonnes in France. Playing more as a facilitator than the versatile leader she often is with the USWNT, Heaps demonstrated her value in a recent Champions League match against Spain's Atlético Madrid. She completed 42 of 44 passes, maintaining a 90% completion rate in Champions League games this season, and recorded eight defensive recoveries. Teammates like midfielder Melchie Dumornay and wingers Tabitha Chawinga and Kadidiatou Diani handled much of the creative work around her.
OL Lyonnes remains a powerhouse in European women's soccer. The club has won 18 French league titles over the last 19 years and secured eight Champions League trophies between 2011 and 2022. Owned by American businesswoman Michelle Kang since 2023, who also controls the NWSL's Washington Spirit and England's London City Lionesses, OL is dominating the current season. It clinched an unbeaten group stage in the Champions League, earning a bye to the round of 16, and leads the French league convincingly. Heaps already holds three league winners' medals and one from the European Cup, with potential for more this year.
The arrival of coach Jonatan Giráldez from the Washington Spirit has brought a new culture of competitiveness. "It's unbelievable, I think this year especially," Heaps told The Inquirer. "New coach, new culture a bit, standards, competitiveness. The training is unbelievable in everything that we're doing... But we take each game at a time, and we just keep rolling."
Heaps praised Giráldez highly: "Honestly, I think I speak for everyone on the team: he is such a quality coach. You just learn so much... He wants us to win so badly, and he wants us to do so well as players, and he cares about us." Giráldez reciprocated, calling her "a very, very important player" whose understanding of game situations extends beyond tactics.
At OL, Heaps mentors younger Americans, including 22-year-old Korbin Shrader and 18-year-old Lily Yohannes. Though Yohannes saw limited Champions League action so far, Heaps urged patience: "We all need to remember that she's 18 years old... her ceiling is so, so high... I believe the best midfielder in the world soon to come."
Heaps' success raises questions about other USWNT stars, like Trinity Rodman, considering moves abroad. While few European clubs match OL's level, Heaps advised Rodman to prioritize her best interests, including salary considerations. Former USWNT player Tobin Heath suggested Rodman stay in the NWSL to amplify her impact there.
