© Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The United States women’s national team cruised to a pair of 4-0 victories against the Republic of Ireland across two friendlies. Despite the unblemished score lines, these two matches do provide value as auditions for the USWNT’s provisional squad as it prepares for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Emma Hayes is on record stating she foresees having a core squad in place come the October international break.
There was no luck for the Irish, as the 25th-ranked team were simply over-matched and outplayed in both matches. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan kept the aggregate scoreline respectable. Carla Ward’s team contended with altitude, smothering humidity and key absences, including Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe and Megan Campbell.
Wednesday’s continental clash versus Canada in Washington D.C. may offer more telling lessons. However, there were a few notable notes from the two matches leading up to that eagerly anticipated midweek showdown.
Hayes lets the good times roll
Hayes has ripped up the rule book used by former U.S. managers and made the program her own. With Sam Meza and Izzy Rodriguez’s inclusions on Sunday, she has now granted first caps to 24 players across just 18 matches.
Emma Hayes has not only invigorated the USWNT program, but also its fan base. Much has been made of the U.S. men’s national team’s failure to capture the public imagination one year short of co-hosting a home continental World Cup. That is not the case for the women. An average of 20,695 fans have been in attendance at each of USWNT’s six home friendlies this year, including the 32,303 fans on hand at the first ever women’s soccer match at SoFi Stadium in April. There is an undeniable swagger — dare we say “aura” — about this team which Hayes has helped engender.
Perhaps Hayes has not so much resurrected the USWNT as much as reminded it who it’s always been.
Rose Lavelle gets her flowers
With a goal and assist to her name on Wednesday, Lavelle was nothing short of exceptional in her first national team match since the Olympic semifinal last August. Her lengthy absence was certainly felt. Prior to Sunday’s contest, Hayes hailed Lavelle as ‘world class,’ going on to say she was “probably the one player she was looking forward to working with.” Though she has had run-out’s at the number 10, it remains to be seen where Catarina Macario is deployed in future USWNT appearances. When fit, Lavelle offers a creative wiliness, technical skill, and attacking efficacy that is unique within the U.S. player pool.
The Queen City native was treated to a royal welcome as Hayes granted the home crowd’s wishes and Lavelle made a cameo appearance in the match’s closing minutes.
Field of left back options becomes clearer
Hayes has her pick of the litter at a plethora of positions. However, left back is not one of them. Crystal Dunn has made that spot her own the last two World Cup cycles, and will turn 34 during the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Hayes’ intentional expansion of the player pool has netted more options at left back.
On Wednesday, Gotham FC rookie Lilly Reale became the 21st recipient of a debut cap during the Hayes era. She met the moment with a mature, self-assured and impactful performance. Though she was hardly tested defensively, she sparked the attacking sequence that led to Alyssa Thompson’s sensational goal, and earned the assist.
Four days later, the Kansas City Current’s Izzy Rodriguez became the 23rd player to receive her first cap under Hayes. She marked the occasion with a well-taken goal and several threatening deliveries from set pieces. Though also had few defensive duties to perform, she naturally served as an active member of the transitional attack.
Avery Patterson, who also had a tremendous showing on Wednesday, has appeared for the USWNT at left back. However, Reale and Rodriguez appear to have an edge at the position given their natural left-footedness. Kerry Abello, the other left back called up for these matches, reportedly left the camp due to injury.
Jury is still out on goalkeeper No. 2
All signs point to Phallon Tullis-Joyce being Emma Hayes’ first choice goalkeeper. Who backs her up (and who backs up the back-up) in Brazil is less straightforward. Former U.S. options Jane Campbell, Aubrey Kingsbury and Casey Murphy appear to be permanently out of the picture, as Hayes opts for more youthful candidates.
Seattle Reign’s Claudia Dickey faced little attacking activity except for being forced into one sharp save off a chance which was later ruled outside. The Utah Royals stopper Mandy McGlynn earned the start in net on Sunday’s match, and faced zero shots on frame.
Wednesday’s match against Canada will likely be the most revealing of this three-match swing.
Center back partnership also still undecided
Who will win the job as Naomi Girma’s presumptive central defensive partner? It may be a fool’s errand evaluating a defense which faced such little attacking thrust. However, both games afforded opportunities to center backs Emily Sonnett, Tara McKeown and newcomer Jordyn Bugg to make their cases. Emily Sams, a traditional center back, has played as an outside back for the Orlando Pride this season, and made the start at right back on Sunday.
Both pairs of outside backs marauded and overlapped with their wide counterparts on Wednesday and Sunday. In their respective matches, Sonnett and McKeown also each had license to occasionally bomb forward and pop up in the attacking third. Sonnett and McKeown appear to be the front runners, with Bugg as a potential long-term option. The hopeful return of Tierna Davidson from April’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear will also be consequential.
Though Hayes will soon whittle down her squad, there is still time for Girma’s center back partner to emerge from the pack of contenders.
