It’s been a while since the USWNT has gotten together! Today US Soccer announced the rosters for this month’s upcoming friendlies against Portugal and New Zealand.
The senior roster is as follows:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 2) Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 4), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 3)
DEFENDERS (8): Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign FC; 2/0), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 67/1), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC; 2/0), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 8/0), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 6/1), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 5/0), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 110/2), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 38/4), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 167/38), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; 6/1), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 113/25), Sam Meza (Seattle Reign FC; 2/0), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 9/2), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC; 26/8), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 8/1)
FORWARDS (7): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 8/1), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG; 24/11), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 47/11), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash; 12/2), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville; 8/1), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current; 12/4), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 22/3)
I think that outside of giving Kennedy Wesley her first call up, there are essentially no surprises on this roster. For the most part, this roster seems like an indicator that a meteoric rise at the club level or injury are likely what will be necessary to break into this group for 2027 World Cup consideration. Tournament qualifying is next year, so it’s not unreasonable that Hayes is trying to narrow her focus.
With that in mind, it’s also not unreasonable to start hypothesizing what 2027’s depth chart will look like.
Goalkeepers | Forwards | Midfielders | Defenders | Bubble |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Phallon Tullis-Joyce Claudia Dickey Mandy McGlynn | Sophia Wilson Trinity Rodman Mallory Swanson Catarina Macario Alyssa Thompson Michelle Cooper | Sam Coffey Rose Lavelle Lindsay Heaps Jaedyn Shaw Lily Yohannes Claire Hutton | Naomi Girma Tierna Davidson Emily Sonnett Tara McKeown Emily Sams Emily Fox Avery Patterson Lilly Reale | Lynn Biyendolo Crystal Dunn Ally Sentnor Emma Sears Yazmeen Ryan Mia Fishel Croix Bethune Olivia Moultrie Sam Meza Korbin Shrader Kerry Abello |
Assuming all are healthy, this is who I think will be going to Brazil and who is on the bubble. Twenty-three players is tough. Veterans Lynn Biyendolo and Crystal Dunn are probably the two biggest question marks for me going into the tournament. Both of them have not gotten a lot of minutes lately so it’s hard to evaluate them, but I said assuming everyone is healthy. Even if they’re healthy, I’m not 100% sure. I feel like it’s more of a no-brainer to re-insert Tierna Davidson into the backline if her ACL recovery gets her back in time for the tournament. She will be 28 during the World Cup and be playing a less physically demanding position than either Biyendolo or Dunn who will be then 34 and 35, respectively. The two I could see being dropped for them, though, are Michelle Cooper and Lilly Reale, and I think it would be fair enough.
If this is anything close to accurate, it kind of just shows the thoughtfulness behind Hayes’ approach to taking over the USWNT. Many players across all three lines could play in multiple positions for the US. Many of the players that have been getting caps and minutes this year might not actually make it on the plane for 2027. However, they will likely find themselves in pole position for 2028 or 2031. Alternatively, if someone, unfortunately, suffers an injury before the tournament in Brazil, they could slot in as necessary.
Hayes has put in work since taking on the Head Coach role with the USWNT. She has created a robust system around the senior team that prepares a larger pool of players for international competition. The re-establishment of the U23 program gives bubble players a place to float between as they build up to the senior level. In the global game, teams like Japan and Spain have great youth level programs from which the senior team benefits greatly once they reach that age. Perhaps most importantly, the U23 program allows US players in the pool more opportunities to play together and build chemistry with each other over time before they walk onto the biggest stage.
Since the initial roster was released, Trinity Rodman suffered an MCL sprain in a CONCACAF W Champions Cup game and could be out for the USWNT camp next week. The Washington Spirit are anticipating a relatively short turn around and are taking it “day by day.” So that seems to be determined. Hopefully she can participate in camp in a safe way, but at the end of the day her health is most important. Rather miss a camp now than have a bigger problem down the line.
Either way, I’m looking forward to the band getting back together!
**Images from USWNT