The United States women`s national team`s two friendly matches in April didn`t go exactly as hoped, but these 180 minutes were invaluable for the team`s future potential. Coach Emma Hayes and the team experienced a 2-1 defeat on Tuesday, conceding a goal late in added time. Over these two games, the coaching staff prioritized examining familiar tactics, and with a less experienced lineup in the second friendly, the high-pressure situations highlighted the team`s overall lack of experience.
These matches were part of a longer evaluation process by Hayes and her staff as they build towards the 2027 FIFA Women`s World Cup. Before Tuesday`s game, Hayes suggested the USWNT might travel to Brazil next year for enhanced team experiences leading up to the global tournament hosted by their country. After the match, the head coach emphasized that the focus for 2025 will be on player development and team building, rather than solely focusing on wins and losses.
`It was a very productive camp. We shouldn`t always judge progress by the final score,` Hayes stated. `If my only goal was immediate success, I definitely wouldn`t make so many changes. However, my decisions aren`t short-sighted; I`m prioritizing growth by expanding the player pool and assessing how these players perform in challenging matches.`
Forward Trinity Rodman rejoined the USWNT camp during April, representing one part of the `triple espresso` attack, the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning trio with Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson. With a longer preparation period for the World Cup and several players recovering from injuries, Hayes has made it clear that now is the time to explore and broaden the team`s player options.
With experienced gold medalists Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, and Rose Lavelle currently unavailable, numerous players have been rotating in and out of camps since the beginning of 2025, and this trend will continue. As each camp progresses, the question becomes: which less experienced players are seizing this opportunity?
Here are some players who, in my opinion, will make team selection challenging for the coaching staff after these April friendlies:
Stock Up
These are players who have shown significant improvement from the January camps through April. Their progress has resulted in increased playing time or starting positions and has positively impacted the games they`ve played. They are strong contenders for future camps and could even compete for starting roles.
Alyssa Thompson (forward): There’s no doubt, Thompson is moving into a position to challenge for a starting spot. Hayes believes the winger `has taken another step forward,` and she has been involved in every camp in 2025 so far. This is high praise for a player who is still at the beginning of her career.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce (goalkeeper): The goalkeeper made a significant statement in the opening match against Brazil. A clean sheet and six crucial saves against a technically skilled team have elevated her position in the goalkeeper pool as the team searches for a consistent starter.
Claire Hutton (midfielder): The Kansas City Current midfielder made an impressive start in the second match and won the ball that led to the only American goal in Tuesday`s game. Despite the 4-2-3-1 formation appearing to have two holding midfielders, the 19-year-old primarily played as a lone defensive midfielder in the No. 6 role, and she maintained composure throughout the game.
Stable
These are players who were part of the team before the January camps and have continued to receive call-ups and playing time throughout the 2025 matches. They are considered part of the current player pool that the coaching staff will likely keep in the squad for the rest of the year, assuming they remain healthy.
Catarina Macario (forward): The Chelsea FC player has returned from an ACL injury and was even initially named to the 2024 Olympic roster but withdrew due to knee soreness. She is now playing more consistently for both club and country, and she has scored in three of the four matches she has started this year.
Ally Sentnor (forward): Sentnor was once considered a developing player, but her outstanding rookie season with Utah Royals in 2024 and her performance with the U20 World Cup team earned her call-ups to the senior team before her `futures camp` debut in January. She has been included in camps as both an attacking midfielder and a forward option and is expected to receive more call-ups this year.
Stock Down
These are current players who have been called up, but their performances have raised more questions about their place in the player pool, rather than solidifying their position in the senior team setup.
Mandy McGlynn (goalkeeper): McGlynn has only started three times for the national team, but her two games in 2025 created more doubts than certainties. In both matches, goals were conceded late in the game, indicating that there are still significant lessons to be learned as the coaching staff continues to seek solutions at this position.
Jaedyn Shaw (midfielder): Hayes has emphasized that player evaluation over the next two years will be crucial preparation for building the World Cup roster. Some younger players might see their time with the senior team reduced and shifted to the relaunched U23 program. Shaw`s decreased playing time and slower start to this NWSL season could suggest that Hayes wants her to focus on regaining her confidence.
Tara McKeown (defender): McKeown has built a considerable amount of trust with the coaching staff in her short time with the USWNT. Brazil presented numerous challenges in attacking transitions, and McKeown experienced some mixed moments. Given the injuries in the defensive line, she is likely to remain part of future camps if her club performances remain consistent.
Undefined
Alana Cook (defender) and Ashley Hatch (forward): These two players were named to the April roster, marking their return to national team camps for the first time since 2023. Their limited playing time in the two-game series ultimately indicates their current standing in the player pool – roughly the same as before – on the fringes looking to break in.
