Summer has arrived, and the U.S. Women`s National Team players are focused on proving they deserve a place in head coach Emma Hayes` future plans. The USWNT is scheduled for three friendly matches this summer, including two against Ireland and one against Canada. The team will kick off this series against Ireland on Thursday at DSG Park in Commerce City, Colorado. This match offers players a crucial opportunity to demonstrate their value to the squad.
Hayes announced a 25-player roster for these upcoming fixtures. The squad sees the return of players recovering from long-term injuries, such as Rose Lavelle and Croix Bethune. Several players based in Europe were omitted for rest, with vice-captain Naomi Girma being a notable exception who is back with the team. The roster also includes several uncapped players, a trend that has become common during Hayes` tenure, especially looking ahead to 2025.
The head coach has been clear that this year is primarily for player evaluation as she prepares for the 2027-28 cycle. She also indicated a timeframe for narrowing down the player pool before next year`s Concacaf W Championship, which serves as the qualification tournament for the FIFA Women`s World Cup in the region.
Here`s a look at the key storylines, how to watch the match, and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Thurs. June 26 | Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: DSG Park — Commerce City, Colorado
- TV: TBS | Live stream: Max
- Odds: USA -600; +525 Draw; Ireland +1100
Last meeting
The last encounters between these two teams were a pair of friendlies in 2023. The USWNT secured two narrow victories, winning 2-0 and then 1-0. Those matches were notable for Mallory Swanson sustaining a torn left patellar tendon, an injury that ruled her out of the 2023 FIFA Women`s World Cup. Lindsey Heaps, Emily Fox, and Alana Cook scored in those two games; none of those players are on the current roster.
What USWNT are saying
With several usual starters unavailable for this camp, Emma Hayes will rely on more experienced players to step into leadership roles. Naomi Girma has been a regular since 2022, while Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, and forward Lynn Williams are the most capped players in the current squad.
Lynn Williams has often been used as an impact substitute by the coaching staff in 2025, which might suggest her likely role as the team prepares for World Cup qualifiers. However, this is by no means a negative reflection; she has already scored three goals for the team this year. As one of the more seasoned players in a less experienced forward group, she has quickly become a key leader in the attack.
“You just wake up one day and you`re like, `Oh, I`m the veteran now.` And I feel like that`s happened to me,” Williams commented ahead of the matches. “With so many new players, there`s so much talent in the pool, and so much talent on this team right now, but there are things that I had to learn along the way from veterans as well, and so hopefully I can impart some wisdom and some experience on these younger players, and hopefully it sticks with them.”
“I think that anytime you can find yourself in a veteran seat, it means that you`ve been here for a while, and knowing that is an honor and exciting in itself. Anytime you put on the crest, it`s an honor. But knowing I have been here long enough to be considered that, is, I don`t know, like something you only dream of when you`re younger. So it`s an honor, but it`s like a huge responsibility, and I don`t take that lightly.”
What Ireland are saying
Ireland head coach Carla Ward is encouraging her squad to embrace the challenge of facing the world`s top-ranked team. For the `Girls in Green`, these matches are crucial preparation for the upcoming UEFA Nations League.
“The two games against USA are an opportunity for us to work together on a number of things – both on and off the pitch – as we build towards the UEFA Nations League playoff against Belgium in October,” Ward stated. “We will be coming up against the best team in women`s football, so we will have a plan for those games, but it`s also important that we make the most out of this camp as a whole.”
“When these games were first proposed to us, we knew that we would be without certain players, but that opens the door for others to step up,” she added. “We are building, camp by camp, so we are looking forward to getting together again and putting in some extra work that will stand to us moving forward.”
Predicted lineups
USWNT: Claudia Dickey; Avery Patterson, Emily Sonnett, Naomi Girma, Lily Reale; Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle, Croix Bethune, Michelle Cooper, Lynn Williams, Alyssa Thompson
Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki; Denise O`Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Marissa Sheva, Kyra Carusa; Abbie Larkin, Amber Barrett
Player to watch
Avery Patterson, USWNT: The outside back has been delivering impressive performances early in her national team career. Her decision-making is sharp, and she covers ground tirelessly. She provided an assist on one of Lynn Williams` goals in the previous window. This match offers her another chance to make a strong impression on the coaching staff and secure her place in the core group moving forward.
Courtney Brosnan, Ireland: The goalkeeper has been Ireland`s primary choice since 2020, having come through the youth programs. The Everton keeper is a skilled shot-stopper who doesn`t appear intimidated by pressure. A solid performance in goal could certainly frustrate the USWNT attack.
Prediction
Ireland is known for bringing a physical challenge when facing the USWNT. Both squads feature a mix of younger, less experienced players, which might lead to periods of adjustment during the game. However, the USWNT is expected to find a way to secure the win. Pick: USA 2, Ireland 0
