Trinity Rodman makes USWNT return from injury for October friendlies

Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Forward Trinity Rodman will join the U.S. women’s national team for the first time since March for upcoming friendlies against Portugal and New Zealand.

As 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification draws ever closer, head coach Emma Hayes announced her 26-player roster for the October international window.

The U.S. will face Portugal on October 23, at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, and October 26, at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut. They will close the international window with a game against New Zealand on October 29, at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri — home of the Kansas City Current.

Washington Spirit forward and 2024 Olympic gold medalist, Rodman returns to the team for the first time since March after finally getting healthy from a long-term back injury. Rodman’s March call-up was her first since the Paris Olympics. Though injury has limited her play since the Olympics, Rodman has returned to spectacular form in the NWSL and the member of ‘Triple Espresso’ immediately elevates the U.S. attack.

San Diego Wave defender Kennedy Wesley earns her first senior national team call-up in her second year as a professional. The 24-year-old was a mainstay in the Stanford defense from 2019-23 and picked No. 12 overall in the 2024, and final, NWSL Draft. She only made 13 appearances in her rookie year but has played 20 matches and 1,568 minutes this season, anchoring a solid defensive team.

Wesley becomes the 28th player given their first USWNT call-up since Hayes took over as head coach over a year ago.

Six players on the roster are coming from Europe while the rest feature in the National Women’s Soccer League. Midfielders Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes both star for French side OL Lyonnes. The remaining four play in England’s Women’s Super League — goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce for Manchester United, defender Emily Fox for Arsenal and attackers Catarina Macario and Alyssa Thompson for Chelsea.

The European-based Americans were not called in during the last window as Hayes sought to let them rest, the exception being Thompson who only recently signed with Chelsea. All of the NWSL players called up, except for debutant Wesley and returning Rodman, were also called up during the last international window in June.

Aside from Heaps, the most capped players on this roster are fellow 2019 World Cup winners Emily Sonnett and Rose Lavelle. Fox and Rodman are the next most experienced. Sam Coffey, Jaedyn Shaw, Macario and Thompson all have over 20 caps.

The remaining 17 players each have fewer than 15 caps, 15 of those fewer than 10, as Hayes continues to give experience to young players she believes could be in the running for the 2027 World Cup and beyond.

USWNT October Friendlies Roster

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)