Photo Credit: Bailey Holiver for Imagn Images
The United States women’s national team improved to 34 wins, 3 losses, and 5 draws all-time against Brazil in a 2024 Paris Olympics Gold Medal rematch at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Trinity Rodman and Lindsay Heaps led the way with two goals in a tight and physical match-up.
Trinity Rodman meets the moment in long-awaited return
The headline-grabbing performance. The pink braids. The social media-primed goal celebration. The dogged defensive work. The radiant charisma. Trinity Rodman is officially back in the spotlight after an eight-month layoff from the USWNT due to a nagging back injury. Rodman wasted no time in delighting the rapturous crowd of over 32,303 fans in her former Southern California stomping grounds as she tucked away a tidy goal in just the fifth minute of action. It was Rodman’s first goal for either club or country in over six months as she is still being carefully incorporated back into her Washington Spirit side. Before the game, Emma Hayes stated she “missed [her] as a person first and foremost” and praised the 22-year-old for bringing a sense of lightness and energy to the squad. It’s safe to say Rodman will see her name in lights once again.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce proves to be a safe pair of hands
During the match commentary, Julie Foudy likened the USWNT’s goalkeeping position to an open audition. Tullis-Joyce certainly merits a call back off based on her debut appearance. The Manchester United goalkeeper secured a clean sheet with six saves in a remarkably jitter-free performance. She appeared calm and composed, while also being appropriately reactive to a variety of shots from a vigorous Brazil side. Several candidates (including Jane Campbell, Mandy McGlynn, and Angelina Anderson) are in the running to fill the goalkeeping vacuum left by long-time servant Alyssa Naeher. Tullis-Joyce made a positive first impression.
Crystal Dunn looks far from done
Crystal Dunn earned her first National Team cap at left-back in March 2013 and has had the position on lock since. Dunn is a famously versatile player and former forward who has since been a mainstay on the U.S. backline. The 32-year-old started every match at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jenna Nighswonger is the only other player to have started at left-back in the Hayes era and was not called into this camp. Dunn had a tenacious defensive display Saturday afternoon and also combined harmoniously with Alyssa Thompson in the attack. Might Dunn make a run of four consecutive major international tournaments?
Who will seize this opportunity?
With just under 27 months until the kickoff of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Emma Hayes’ favored lineup and system are still under construction. She has the luxury of time. It is the inverse of her introduction to the job, in which she helped steer her side to an Olympic gold medal after just 10 matches. Several USWNT stalwarts are absent from these two friendlies due to either injury (Tierna Davidson), maternity leave (Sophia Wilson), or personal reasons (Mallory Swanson). Several players who were not involved in the 2024 Paris Olympics now find themselves with a chance to make a lasting impression on Hayes.
Alyssa Thompson continues to be in outstanding form for both club and country. She started in a slightly deeper role on Saturday and impacted the match as a playmaker with her zippy runs and quick combinations from the left flank. Thompson assisted Rodman’s goal with a terrific pass after an incisive run. Ally Sentnor also found herself in a deeper role as a number 10, perhaps due in part to her propensity for outside-the-box shots. Sentnor is still trying to find her feet as a starter for the Utah Royals and senior USWNT. Center-back Tara McKeown managed some nervy moments against Brazil’s pacey forwards with coolness. Teenage sensation Lilly Yohannes made a quick impact off the bench with her perfectly calibrated slipped balls and prophetic vision. She also craftily won her side a penalty kick. Second-half substitutes Michelle Cooper and Yazmeen Ryan looked bright and generated goal-scoring opportunities. Wing-back Avery Patterson earned her maiden cap in the 87th minute.
Hayes has promised experimentation, and we will certainly see further tinkering when these two teams reunite on Tuesday night in San Jose, Calif.
