U.S. national team head coach Emma Hayes continues to open up new opportunities for players. Hayes has revealed a 24-player roster for the upcoming matches against China and Jamaica, and several fresh faces are anticipated in the training camp as the coaching staff evaluates the player pool with an eye towards the 2027 FIFA Women`s World Cup.
The USWNT is scheduled to begin their international window facing China on May 31, followed by a match against Jamaica on June 3 to conclude the two-game series.
Familiar names from the NWSL landscape will have the opportunity to potentially make their senior national team debut. Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello and Kansas City Current midfielder Lo`eau LaBonta have both received their first USWNT call-ups. They represent the 22nd and 23rd players to earn a debut call-up under Hayes.
“She`s deserving of the call-up. She`s been consistent in everything that she has done,” Hayes stated during a press conference on Tuesday. “She`s a super player and someone who, as I said, is deserving of that, and this is the right moment to do it.”
Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey is back with the national team and has a chance to earn her first starting appearance. She previously joined the squad for January camps, which did not include official matches. Hayes has been clear about rotating the goalkeeping position, and Phallon Tullis-Joyce recently made her first start in the previous camp.
“The data doesn`t lie — Claudia Dickey is probably the best-performing goalkeeper in the NWSL this season. I`ve seen a different level in her game this year,” Hayes commented. “I discussed her extensively with [Seattle Reign head coach] Laura Harvey regarding what she`s challenging her on, what we both want to see from her, and yes, perhaps she could have gone with the U23s, which would have been another step, but I felt her current form and demonstrated quality indicate she`s moving in the correct direction, and I believe she`s someone who, again, deserves to be in this position.”
LaBonta is a long-serving NWSL player at 32 years old. Abello is coming off a standout 2024 season with Orlando. LaBonta`s Kansas City team is currently leading the league standings, while Abello`s Pride team sits in third place.
Defender Naomi Girma returns to the USWNT camp after recovering from a calf injury. The 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year had not appeared for the national team this year while managing the strain, but she is back after playing five games for Chelsea FC this season.
Forward Lynn Williams also rejoins the squad after missing the April friendlies against Brazil due to a lower leg injury. She has regained fitness and is starting games for Seattle Reign FC. Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie is also back on the roster for the first time in over a year, having last played with the team during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup at age 19.
Several players who participated in the April matches against Brazil are returning to the roster, including seven athletes who play club soccer in Europe. The NWSL remains the most represented league, with players from 10 of its 14 clubs included in the squad.
Sisters Alyssa Thompson and Gisele Thompson are included again. The coaching staff has been utilizing the younger sibling, Gisele, in forward positions 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 Horan (OL Lyon, 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 Williams (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)
“We Have to Get That Balance Right”
Hayes continues to use the period following the 2024 Olympics to broaden the USWNT`s player pool. This strategy addresses the clear need to recruit and prepare emerging talents for the 2027 Women`s World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. The goalkeeper pool particularly highlights the U.S.`s lack of senior experience in this area; none of the keepers in this camp have more than three caps, and only one active player called up in the past year has more than 10 caps.
“I`ve inherited that challenge,” Hayes remarked. “I didn`t create that challenge. You`ve had a goalkeeper in Alyssa Naeher who played extensive minutes, and nobody else played significant minutes, so you cannot rush this process. Unfortunately, it will take some time… What I want to avoid is developing a goalkeeper for `27 only to be in the exact same situation again. I want to ensure that from `27 to `28 to `31, we have the correct development pathways for goalkeepers so the transition is much smoother than it is for me now.”
Hayes hopes to have a clearer understanding of her top goalkeeping options by early July, with five matches scheduled before then. Her method for providing players with experience is multifaceted and includes increased use of the U-23 team to offer opportunities. The U-23 squad is set to travel to Germany for games during the upcoming international window. Hayes mentioned that three high-profile players would make that trip: Jaedyn Shaw, Korbin Albert, and Mia Fishel, with the latter recently returning from an ACL injury.
“Yes, [Fishel] could have come in and sat on the bench for us, but it`s far better for her to go and play in Germany and gain those experiences so these players are progressing towards competing at the level we need them to be at for 2027,” Hayes explained. “I believe the trip to Germany for her, along with Jaedyn and Korbin, will be another important step in their development.”
Hayes` experimental phase has also coincided with a period where several members of the 2024 Olympics gold-medal winning team have been unavailable for various reasons. This list includes Trinity Rodman, who started consulting a doctor in London last month to address a persistent back issue.
“She`s doing exceptionally well. We communicate regularly. It has certainly been a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort to support Trin,” Hayes shared. “Regarding the issue in her back, she wants to reach a point where it doesn`t keep recurring, so I believe these are the correct steps for her. I have definitely seen significant progress this week, but unfortunately, like any injury, you cannot assign a specific timeframe to her return.”
