U.S. Women`s National Team head coach Emma Hayes continues to create opportunities for new players. The coach has selected a 24-player squad for the upcoming matches against China and Jamaica. Several new faces are expected in the training camp as the coaching staff uses the lead-up to the 2027 FIFA Women`s World Cup to evaluate potential players.
The USWNT`s international window begins against China on May 31, followed by a match against Jamaica on June 3 to conclude the two-game series.
Familiar names from the NWSL will have a chance to make their senior national team debut. Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello and Kansas City Current midfielder Lo`eau LaBonta have each received their first USWNT call-ups. They are the 22nd and 23rd first-time call-ups under Hayes` tenure.
“She is deserving of the call-up. She`s been consistent in everything that she has done,” Hayes stated during a press conference on Tuesday. “She is a super player, and someone who, as I said, is deserving of this, and this is the right moment to do it.”
Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey is back with the national team and has a chance to make her first start in goal. She previously joined the squad for January camps, which did not include matches. Hayes has been clear about rotating the goalkeeping position, with Phallon Tullis-Joyce earning her first start in the most recent camp.
“The data doesn`t lie – Claudia Dickey is probably the best performing goalkeeper in the NWSL this season. I`ve observed a different standard in her play this year,” Hayes commented. “I discussed her extensively with [Seattle Reign head coach] Laura Harvey and the aspects she`s pushing her on, things we both want to see from her. While she could potentially have gone with the U23s as another step, I felt her current form and the quality she has displayed indicate she is progressing positively, and I believe she, again, merits this opportunity.”
LaBonta is a long-serving NWSL veteran. Abello is coming off an outstanding 2024 season with Orlando, who secured both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship. LaBonta`s Kansas City team currently sits in first place in the league standings, while Abello`s Pride are in third.
Defender Naomi Girma returns to the USWNT setup after recovering from a calf injury. The 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year had not yet featured for the national team this year due to managing the strain, but she is back after playing five games for Chelsea FC this season.
Forward Lynn Biyendolo is also back in the squad after missing the April friendlies against Brazil due to a lower leg injury. She has since regained fitness and is starting games for Seattle Reign FC. Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie rejoins the roster for the first time in over a year. The 19-year-old last played with the team during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Several players from the April roster against Brazil return, including seven athletes based at clubs in Europe. The NWSL remains the most represented league, with players from 10 of its 14 clubs featuring on the roster.
Sisters Alyssa Thompson and Gisele Thompson are included again. The coaching staff has positioned the younger sibling, Gisele, among the forwards to evaluate her potential as a winger. Following the matches against China and Jamaica, the team is scheduled to face Ireland at the end of June.
USWNT May/June Roster
Listed by: club; caps/goals
Goalkeepers (3):
- Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 0)
- Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 3)
- Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 1)
Defenders (8):
- Kerry Abello (Orlando Pride; 0/0)
- Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 159/25)
- Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 66/1)
- Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG; 44/2)
- Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 5/0)
- Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 2/0)
- Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 3/0)
- Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 107/2)
Midfielders (6):
- Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 33/1)
- Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 165/37)
- Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; 2/0)
- Lo`eau LaBonta (Kansas City Current; 0/0)
- Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 5/2)
- Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 6/1)
Forwards (7):
- Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC; 78/22)
- Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 4/1)
- Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG; 23/10)
- Emma Sears (Racing Louisville; 4/1)
- Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 7/2)
- Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 17/1)
- Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 3/0)
Building for the Future: Coaching Insights
Hayes continues to use the period following the 2024 Olympics to broaden the USWNT`s player pool. This is crucial for addressing the clear need to recruit and develop emerging talents for the 2027 Women`s World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. The current goalkeeper pool highlights this, as none of the players in this camp have more than three international appearances, and only one active player involved in the last year has more than 10 caps.
“I inherited that challenge,” Hayes noted. “I didn`t create that situation. You had a goalkeeper in Alyssa Naeher who played a significant amount of minutes, while no one else played much, so you cannot shortcut this process. Unfortunately, it will require some time… What I aim to avoid is developing a goalkeeper for `27 only to face the same situation again. I want to ensure that from `27 to `28 and through `31, we establish the correct development pathways for goalkeepers, making the transition much smoother than it is for me now.”
Hayes hopes to have a clearer understanding of her top goalkeepers by early July, with five matches scheduled between now and then. Her approach to providing players with experience is varied and includes increased use of the U-23 team for opportunities. The youth team will travel to Germany for matches during the upcoming international window. Hayes mentioned that three high-profile players – Jaedyn Shaw, Korbin Albert, and Mia Fishel (who recently returned from an ACL injury) – would be on that trip.
“Yes, [Fishel] could come in and sit on our bench, but it is far more beneficial for her to go and play in Germany to gain experience. This helps ensure these players are on track to compete at the level we need them to by 2027,” Hayes explained. “I believe the trip to Germany for her, along with Jaedyn and Korbin, will be another valuable step in their development.”
Hayes` period of experimentation has also coincided with several players from the 2024 Olympic gold-medal winning team being unavailable for various reasons. This includes Trinity Rodman, who began consulting a doctor in London last month regarding a persistent back issue.
“She is progressing very well. We communicate regularly. It has certainly involved a multidisciplinary approach to support Trin,” Hayes commented. “Regarding her back issue, she wants to reach a point where it doesn`t keep recurring, so I think these steps are appropriate for her. I have definitely observed considerable progress this week, but unfortunately, as with anything like this, you cannot set a precise timeframe.”
