Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The U.S. women’s national team opened 2026 by defeating Paraguay 6-0 in an international friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., on Saturday. The first half was a tight affair, only differentiated by a single stoppage-time goal, but the second half featured a proper onslaught of U.S. scoring.
Starting an 11 with the fewest average caps of a starting lineup in 25 years (9.6 average entering the match), the U.S. struggled to break through in the first half, recording nearly double-digit attempts at goal without a score to show for it until the final minute of first-half stoppage time.
Portland Thorns forward Reilyn Turner finally opened the scoring, as a starter in her senior debut no less, when she was played in behind by Thorns teammate Olivia Moultrie. With the goalkeeper cheating off her post, well aware of Trinity Rodman lurking at the back, Turner finished near post to become the 25th player to score on her USWNT debut.
At halftime, Croix Bethune replaced Turner while Paraguay swapped out goalkeeper Cristina Recalde, replacing her with Patricia Lopez.
The second half kicked off with a bang compared to the first. In just the 47th minute, a well-executed interchange between Moultrie and Izzy Rodriguez led to an Ally Sentnor goal.
Five minutes later, after Bethune had a headed attempt brilliantly saved, the Washington Spirit midfielder forced an own goal, just barely missing out again on her first international goal. But Bethune was still heavily involved in the buildup and then put the pressure on the defender who eventually turned Moultrie’s pass into the back of the net for the own goal.
The floodgates were officially opened three minutes later when Trinity Rodman marked her personally historic game by making it 4-0. Rodman was serving as the team’s youngest captain since 2000, when Tara Rudd (nee McKeown) played her into an interior channel where she then cut it back onto her left foot and finished near post, then celebrated with a dance.
Barely one minute later, Sentnor scored her second of the afternoon. Gisele Thompson threaded her in behind the defense, and all alone, she finished with authority for her second international brace.
Then, leading 5-0, head coach Emma Hayes made five substitutions. Rodman, Rudd, Rodriguez, Lo’eau LaBonta and Kennedy Wesley made way for Hal Hershfelt, Emily Sams, Emma Sears, and debuts for Seattle Reign’s Sally Menti and Maddie Dahlien.
The debuts of Turner, Dahlien and Menti bring the total number of players who have debuted under Hayes to 30.
Sears added a sixth goal for the U.S. in the 72nd minute, assisted by Bethune.
The U.S. women’s national team will play next on Tuesday, January 27, at 7 p.m. PT at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif., against Chile.
