It was another defeat for Wales, but this one feels different.

As many of the three thousand-plus fans exited Cardiff Arms Park after the USA claimed a 26-24 victory, I assume we did so with a sense of optimism rather than the doom and gloom that often surrounds Welsh rugby.

What head coach Sean Lynn and his backroom staff have done to this group in just six weeks of pre-season is to be applauded.

Wales have been transformed from a side which whimpered out of a winless World Cup and Six Nations into a competitive 80-minute team and one the nation can truly get behind.

Speaking earlier this month, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) women's rugby director, Nadine Griffiths, said the WXV series would be the real "litmus test" and a "brilliant opportunity to test our progress".

She would have been delighted with the way they obliterated a powerful South Africa side before going toe-to-toe against a USA team ranked inside the world's top six.

Teary-eyed players were naturally disappointed to lose by two points, but it is a sign of the higher standards this group now holds themselves to, and a sign of things to come before they head out to Japan for two further Tests in October.

Wales hooker Kelsey Jones said the players were "disappointed and frustrated" with Saturday's result.

"We left loads out there. Credit to the USA, they were class, but I also think a lot of their success came from our mistakes," she said.

"The girls put in such a shift every week and they are absolutely class. We want to go out, we want to play rugby, that's the most exciting part. We're playing a brand of rugby that we haven't seen from a Wales team in a while.

"It's now about the little fixes, and we've got a big few weeks leading into Japan. Hopefully you've seen that change in the performances."

Wales co-captain Kate Williams said the "overall feeling was just gutted".

"The Test match was there for the taking," she added. "But when we're making that many errors in the championship minutes at the end of the game, we're never going to come out on top.

"We're in these Test matches and we believe that we can win these Test matches. It's going to come right from us. We're going to learn and the next time this happens, it's not going to end like this."

Lynn said "you can see the squad that is building", pointing to his inspirational co-captains Alex Callender and Williams, the discovery of Amy Williams on the wing and Keira Bevan's ability to play at 10.

Young forwards Branwen Metcalfe and Bryonie King have also displayed their Test pedigree, while mainstays such as Georgia Evans, Lisa Neumann and Sisilia Tuipulotu are playing with renewed confidence.

"It's a stable coaching team that we've got now, Gareth Harris coming in as S&C [strength and conditioning]; we've just got to believe in the process," said Lynn.

"I definitely know that we're a lot more competitive and we're being more clinical when we are in those 22 areas."

The reaction of former Wales internationals has also been positive in defeat.

Speaking on BBC One, Philippa Tuttiett said: "Wales were on a run of nine international defeats.

"The turnaround that they have done to beat South Africa and push the sixth-ranked team in the world to the end is incredible.

"It was a tough innings, but still a really proud performance."

Dyddgu Morgan-Hywel said: "We did see the momentum from the South Africa win.

"I was a little worried, but Wales put another performance in. Yes, they're disappointed, but there was only two points in it."

Former captain Siwan Lillicrap said: "I was stood up in commentary and I felt gutted and proud all at the same time.

"I was gutted because they stayed in the fight and could have won it, and proud of the fight they had.

"There were errors; Test match rugby isn't always going to be perfect, but you've got to remember USA are sixth in the world.

"They had an outstanding performance last week, but you learn when you win and you learn when you lose.

"We're still seeing really good stuff and growth from what we've seen previously."

Wales will have a well-earned week off now before returning to camp to prepare for their mini tour of Japan.

They will play two Tests against the Sakura Fifteen; the first in Tokyo on 24 October and the second in Kumagaya City on 31 October.

Wales have won both of their two previous meetings against Japan, who are ranked one place below them in 12th.

But with the humidity and travel to contend with, Wales will have to keep showing signs of progress if they are to continue their upward trajectory - and not only meet the standards they now demand of themselves, but also what we too have come to expect.