Two months after winning Olympic gold, Emma Hayes and the United States Women’s National Team will be back on the pitch this month for friendlies against Iceland and Argentina. If you thought that the USWNT’s gold-winning squad was set for the near future, think again: Hayes has opted to bring on several talented, uncapped players for the October window.
U.S. Soccer announced Hayes’ October roster on Thursday, and while there are several familiar faces, there are some news ones as well. Of the 26-person roster, 18 who played on the Olympic squad are returning to camp in October. However, six players on the roster are uncapped, with five of those six coming from NWSL squads.
Hayes has spent the past few weeks on a tour of NWSL squads, attending and observing several league games across the countries. Although Hayes has said that the USWNT January camp will be a “futures camp” designed to call up up-and-coming prospects (which U.S. Soccer confirmed in Thursday’s press release), she has opted to bring in some of that talent a little early.
Two of the uncapped players — Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams and Washington Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt — went to Paris with the team, but did not play. Another, PSG center back Eva Gaetino, was called up for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, but did not make the field either.
The other three uncapped players have been named to the roster for the first time, with NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Yazmeen Ryan, Bay FC defender Alyssa Malonson and Racing Louisville FC forward Emma Sears all getting their first chances at the senior international level. Ryan, a versatile 25-year-old midfielder who has had two stellar seasons with Gotham, has been a popular name among fans as someone who deserved a chance at a call-up.
This 26-person friendlies roster has much more room than the Olympic roster, which only allowed for 18 players. Additionally, some key injuries left some USWNT regulars off the roster: Defender Tierna Davidson is injured and defender Crystal Dunn was not selected due to “personal commitments,” per the press release. Meanwhile, Trinity Rodman is still dealing with a back injury, and midfielder Croix Bethune is still recovering from a torn meniscus.
Forward Alyssa Thompson, who was the youngest member of the USWNT squad at the 2023 World Cup but has not been on a U.S. roster since, is back in the lineup. Midfielder Ashley Sanchez has also returned to the USWNT lineup for the first time since 2023. Jaedyn Shaw, who was part of the Olympic squad but suffered an injury prior to the tournament, is also back on the roster.
The October window will include three games: Friendlies against Iceland on Oct. 24 in Austin and Oct. 27 in Nashville, and a matchup against Argentina on Oct. 30 in Louisville. USWNT great Kelley O’Hara, who is retiring this year, will be honored at the Oct. 27 game.
Here is the full USWNT roster for October:
Goalkeepers (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 8), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 19), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 112)
Defenders (9): Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 57/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 0/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 40/0), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit; 56/0), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current; 8/0), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 15/2), Emily Sams (Orland Pride; 0/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 99/2)
Midfielders (7): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 18/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 24/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 156/35), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 106/24), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 4/2), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 27/3)
Forwards (7): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 16/7), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 56/23), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 100/38), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 9/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 71/19)