U.S. national team head coach Emma Hayes is actively creating fresh chances for players. The manager has named a 24-player squad for the upcoming matches against China and Jamaica. The training camp is set to welcome new faces as the coaching staff continues to use the period leading up to the 2027 FIFA Women`s World Cup for evaluating the player pool.
The USWNT will commence their international window by playing China on May 31, followed by a game against Jamaica on June 3 to conclude the two-match series.
Several familiar names from the NWSL will have the opportunity to make their senior national team debut. Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello and Kansas City Current midfielder Lo`eau LaBonta have each received their first USWNT call-ups, marking them as the 22nd and 23rd players to earn a first call-up under Hayes` leadership.
“She is deserving of this call-up. She has been consistent in everything she`s done,” Hayes commented during a press conference on Tuesday. “She`s an outstanding player and someone who, as I said, deserves this opportunity, and now is the right time for it.”
Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey is back with the national team, potentially earning her first start in goal. She was part of the January camps, though no games were played during those events. Hayes has been clear about rotating players in the goalkeeper position, and Phallon Tullis-Joyce made her first start in goal just in the last camp.
“The data speaks for itself – Claudia Dickey is likely the best-performing goalkeeper in the NWSL this season. I`ve seen a marked improvement in her game this year,” Hayes stated. “I`ve spoken extensively with Laura Harvey [Seattle Reign head coach] about her, the areas Laura is pushing her on, and what we both hope to see. While she potentially could have joined the U23s as another developmental step, I felt her current form and the quality she`s shown indicate she is heading in the right direction, and I believe she is someone who, again, deserves to be in this position.”
LaBonta is a seasoned veteran of the NWSL. The 32-year-old also serves as an analyst for the CBS Sports Attacking Third podcast. Abello is coming off a standout 2024 season with Orlando, where her team secured both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship title. Currently, LaBonta`s Kansas City team sits atop the league standings, while Abello`s Pride are in third place.
Defender Naomi Girma returns to USWNT camp after recovering from a calf injury. The 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year had not yet appeared for the national team this year while managing the injury but is back after playing five games for Chelsea FC this season.
Forward Lynn Williams (note: original text had typo `Biyendolo`) also returns to the squad after missing the April friendlies against Brazil due to a lower leg injury. She has since regained fitness and is starting games for Seattle Reign FC. Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie is included on the roster for the first time in over a year; the 19-year-old`s last appearance with the team was during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Several players who featured in April against Brazil are back on the roster, including seven athletes who play club soccer in Europe. The NWSL remains the most represented league, with players called up from 10 of its 14 clubs.
Sisters Alyssa Thompson and Gisele Thompson are also included. The coaching staff is positioning the younger sibling, Gisele, among the forwards to evaluate her potential as a winger. Following the matches against China and Jamaica, the team is scheduled to play Ireland at the end of June.
USWNT May/June Roster
Listed by: club; caps/goals
Goalkeepers (3):
- Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 0)
- Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 3)
- Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 1)
Defenders (8):
- Kerry Abello (Orlando Pride; 0/0)
- Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 159/25)
- Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 66/1)
- Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG; 44/2)
- Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 5/0)
- Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 2/0)
- Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 3/0)
- Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 107/2)
Midfielders (6):
- Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 33/1)
- Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 165/37)
- Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; 2/0)
- Lo`eau LaBonta (Kansas City Current; 0/0)
- Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 5/2)
- Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 6/1)
Forwards (7):
- Lynn Williams (Seattle Reign FC; 78/22)
- Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 4/1)
- Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG; 23/10)
- Emma Sears (Racing Louisville; 4/1)
- Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 7/2)
- Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 17/1)
- Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 3/0)
Balancing Experience and Development
Hayes continues to utilize the period following the 2024 Olympics to expand the USWNT`s player pool. This addresses the evident need to recruit and prepare promising talents for the 2027 Women`s World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. The current state of the goalkeeper pool starkly highlights the lack of experience in that area – none of the keepers participating in this camp have accumulated more than three caps, and only one active player consistently involved over the last year has more than 10 caps.
“This is a challenge I`ve inherited, not created,” Hayes noted. “You had a goalkeeper in Alyssa Naeher who played significant minutes, and no one else did, so you cannot bypass this process. Unfortunately, it will require some time… What I want to avoid is developing a goalkeeper solely for 2027 only to find ourselves in the exact same situation again. My goal is to ensure that from 2027 to 2028 and through 2031, we establish the correct developmental pathways for goalkeepers, making the transition much more seamless than it is for me now.”
Hayes anticipates having a clearer picture of her top goalkeeper options by early July, with five matches scheduled between now and then. Her strategy for providing players with experience is multifaceted, including increased use of the U-23 team to offer opportunities. The youth team is set to travel to Germany for games during the upcoming international window. While the full U-23 roster announcement is pending, Hayes did mention that three prominent players – Jaedyn Shaw, Korbin Albert, and Mia Fishel (who recently recovered from an ACL injury) – would be making that trip.
“Yes, [Fishel] could have joined us and sat on the bench, but it is far more beneficial for her to go and play in Germany and gain experience,” Hayes explained. “This ensures these players are progressing towards competing at the level we expect them to reach by 2027. I believe the trip to Germany for her, Jaedyn, and Korbin will represent another valuable step in their development.”
Hayes` period of experimentation with the squad also coincides with a time when several key players who are typically expected in the squad are unavailable for various reasons. This list includes Trinity Rodman, who began consulting a doctor in London last month to address a longstanding back issue.
“She is doing very well. We communicate regularly. Supporting Trinity has certainly involved a multidisciplinary approach,” Hayes said. “Regarding her back issue, she wants to reach a state where it doesn`t keep recurring, so I believe these steps are appropriate for her. I have definitely observed significant progress this week, but unfortunately, like any injury, you cannot put a precise timeframe on it.”
