Lacking its top stars and reorganizing top spots, the USWNT returns to play this Saturday (31), against China, at the Allianz Field, in Minnesota. Focus now is on who can make a move in open positions and what the team will do without the presence of experienced players on the field.
Only pregnant Mallory Swanson and injured Trinity Rodman are absent, and this leaves an opening for Hayes to experiment with some new faces and solidify the foundation of the rotation. With no big-named stars in the mix, there also exists the availability for lesser-recognized players to have playing time and, maybe, have the coaching staff notice that they need to be in the mix for the duration, with the 2027 World Cup in Brazil beckoning in the background.
The group in transition
The team has an average of 30.7 national team caps. Naomi Girma, 24, one of the more veteran defenders, has 44 games, plus a 2024 Olympic gold medal, under her belt. Girma missed part of the season with an injury but came back to stabilize a team in which four of the players called up have five or fewer national team caps.
Still on the defensive side, but now in the goalkeeper's slot, since Alyssa Naeher retired from national team service in 2024, there have been a total of four goalkeeper calls in her place. Jane Campbell started in February, while in April friendlies were split between Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Mandy McGlynn. Tullis-Joyce posted a shutout, while McGlynn lost 2-1 to Brazil. Now entering the mix as well, also called up for the first time, is one of the top-performing goalkeepers in the NWSL this season, in the person of Claudia Dickey.
History benefits America in relation to China
The USA and China have met 60 times previously, the Americans' second most against a single opponent, only behind Canada. They most recently met in 2023 in December, winning 3-0 and 2-1. Previous contests between the two sides have also included the 1999 Women’s World Cup final, a USWNT win, and the final of the 1996 Olympics, where the American side also won gold. The Chinese team are reorganizing and are also keen on getting back among the biggest power in women's soccer.
With USWNT, it will be expected of it to dominate the match, test formations, and subject the rookies under the intense glare of the microscope. It doesn't make the game a foregone conclusion, though. All the players called up are aware these friendlies do have real meaning in the context of assessment.