Today the USWNT April camp roster dropped! This is who will be taking on Brazil in the 2024 Olympic final rematches at SoFi Stadium and PayPal Park on April 5 and 8, respectively.

GK: Jane Campbell, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Mandy McGlynn

Defenders: Alana Cook, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Tara McKeown, Avery Patterson, Emily Sams, Emily Sonnett

Midfielders: Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsay Heaps, Claire Hutton, Jaedyn Shaw, Lily Yohannes

Forwards: Michelle Cooper, Ashley Hatch, Catarina Macario, Trinity Rodman, Yazmeen Ryan, Alyssa Thompson, Ally Sentnor

Practice players: Mia Fishel (F), Angelina Anderson (GK)

Interesting roster. Head coach Emma Hayes said after the She Believes Cup in February that this camp would be focusing more on players that are more likely to truly be in the mix for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. I think there will still be opportunities for experimentation and bringing in new players, however, I think we’ll be seeing fewer new faces moving forward. Hayes wants more caps for players that might be in Brazil in a couple of years. That requires her to focus on the people on this roster, and if they pick up injuries, the newly reformed U23’s.

So let’s break down the roster a bit more.

It looks like Casey Murphy and Aubrey Kingsbury the seemingly now former USWNT #2 and #3 goalkeepers are out of the conversation. I’ll be really curious to see who gets minutes at this camp. I personally would love to see Phallon Tullis-Joyce play one of these games. She has been having a great season across the pond with Manchester United, and I was a big fan of hers while she was still with the Reign.

I guess during this camp we aren’t calling in outside backs? Jenna Nighswonger has been left off this roster. Likely so she can continue to integrate with her new club, Arsenal. Perhaps they’re considering putting Emily Sams or Sonnett in other positions? I guess we’ll see. It’ll be good to see some other centerback combinations in the absence of Naomi Girma. Alana Cook makes her first roster since 2023. Nice shout for her as I feel like she’s made a huge difference in solidifying the Kansas City Current’s backline. I was bummed to see Gisele Thompson left off this roster, but her time will obviously come eventually.

The midfield is still the part of the roster I have the most questions about. Homphobia and transphobia aside, I’m still not really convinced by Korbin Albert. It feels like she benefits quite a bit from having been on those early 2024 rosters. At a time where a lot of people are in and out and learning the new “USWNT way,” it probably pays to have someone who’s been there since the beginning of that process. Of course she has moments where she shines, but I just feel like we have other midfielders that are more dynamic and interesting. Hal Hershfelt just picked up an ankle injury so she’s not featured here, but I was hoping she would have been included. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait and see if Hayes is still looking at her as she wasn’t called into the February games. This midfield still feels a bit gridlocked by our captain Lindsay Heaps needing to be on the pitch at all times. I’m hoping that we see some new combinations of players against Brazil and that Jaedyn Shaw gets some time to play centrally in attacking midfield.

Trinity Rodman, the solo active espresso right now, returns to the USWNT. Hopefully she’ll be on some limitations as she continues to come back from her back injury, but nonetheless, it’s nice to see her back for the US. She’ll be in camp with her fellow club forward Ashley Hatch who hasn’t been called into camp in a while, but was in the training camp in January. I’ll be curious how Hayes sees Hatch fitting in with these forwards. Macario is playing consistently for Chelsea and looking good. I’m happy she’s getting more minutes with the USWNT. Cooper, Sentnor, and Thompson are all flying out the gates for club in the NWSL and made positive impacts in their last camps. Between Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears, I’m glad to see Ryan. I feel like she’s ready for this next level, while Sears maybe needs a bit more time.

Of course there are notable absences. Lynn Biyendolo, Rose Lavelle, Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt, and Naomi Girma are all out with injuries. Mallory Swanson is out for personal reasons. Sophia Wilson is on maternity leave. Nighswonger is not on this roster. So this Olympic gold medal rematch is a pretty different group of players. However, I’m looking forward to these newer players to the pool getting more and more caps and minutes at the international level and seeing what they can do against tough opposition.