Hayes' roster for three upcoming friendlies features the return of veteran Lavelle, 24 NWSL players, four first-timers, and Girma
Rose Lavelle back in USWNT squadJordyn Bugg among newcomersU.S. set to face Ireland and CanadaAFPWHAT HAPPENED?
Veteran Rose Lavelle, who recently made her first two appearances for Gotham FC in the NWSL after a long recovery from ankle surgery, now makes her return to the USWNT, headlining coach Emma Hayes' squad for upcoming friendlies against Ireland and Canada.
Lavelle is a World Cup and Olympic champion for the U.S. and has more than 100 caps, making her one of the senior players for this current squad. It's been six-plus months since Lavelle featured for the USWNT – and what could be more fitting for the midfielder than the fact she will also have the chance to play in her hometown of Cincinnati.
Hayes' squad for three upcoming friendlies will be without most of the team's European-based players, other than Chelsea's Naomi Girma, who was called into camp. Those on Euro clubs not on this roster include Catarina Macario, Lindsey Heaps, Emily Fox and Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
The roster features 24 NWSL players, and four earning their first senior national team call-ups. Jordyn Bugg, a center-back for Seattle Reign, was called in, as well as defenders Lilly Reale and Izzy Rodriguez and midfielder Sam Meza. Once again, "Triple Espresso" is not in the mix, with Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson both pregnant, and Trinity Rodman focusing on recovery from back problems.
Hayes said the focal point of three friendlies – two against Ireland, and one against Canada – is continued improvement on the path to the 2027 World Cup. With back-to-back wins in the last month – 3-0 over China and then 4-0 over Jamaica – Hayes improved her USWNT record to 18-2-2 since debuting with the team last June, reinforcing her status as one of the best managers in the game.
"When you play for the U.S. with his national team, you constantly have to strive to be better than you were the last performance," Hayes said Tuesday on ESPN's Futbol W. "So build on the last camp, build on the performance, build on some of the patterns of play and the rotations that we are developing.
"Continue to demand the excellent standards, both from a training perspective and in-game perspective. Continuing to improve our set pieces and all all-around game plan and make sure we're tough to beat – and also we're a team that are created chances and putting them away… I view every game as another opportunity for us to get closer to the best version of ourselves."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE SQUAD IN FULL
GOALKEEPERS (3): Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC; 0), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 0) MandyMcGlynn (Utah Royals; 3)
DEFENDERS (10): Kerry Abello (Orlando Pride; 1/0), Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign FC; 0/0), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG; 46/2), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC; 0/0), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 6/0), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 4/0), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current; 0/0), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 4/0), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 108/2), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit; 3/0), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 35/2), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; 3/0), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 110/24), Sam Meza (Seattle Reign FC; 0/0), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 7/2)
FORWARDS (6): Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC; 80/24), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 6/1), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash; 9/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville; 5/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 9/4), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 19/1)
ImagnTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Hayes has named one of her most inexperienced rosters, caps-wise. Since Hayes took over last year, she has given 27 players their first USWNT call-ups. This roster also features four teenagers, with Bugg the youngest at 18, along with 19-year-olds Olivia Moultrie, Claire Hutton and Gisele Thompson.
The roster is balanced with experience in the likes of Lynn Biyendolo, Emily Sonnett, Sam Coffey and Girma – the only European-based player Hayes called on for these friendlies.
Lavelle, who has 110 caps and 24 international goals, is back and healthy from ankle surgery – and will be in a USWNT jersey for the first time in nearly seven months. The last time Lavelle played for the USWNT was in the final match of the team's 2024 run against the Netherlands in The Hague.
Among the NWSL players is Orlando Pride's Kerry Abello, who has now earned her second call-up after debuting on June 3 vs. Jamaica. This USWNT roster represents Hayes' emphasis on the youth-to-senior national team pathway, with all of the first-time call-ups previously playing in the FIFA Youth World Cup.
AFPWHAT HAYES SAID
“We want to continue to improve our understanding of how we want to play and widen the player pool, and those are some of the key goals of this three-game window,” Hayes said. “On this roster, we have players with a varied amount of experience, and my priority is to deepen the exposures required for international soccer. These are three challenging matches and as always, we want to win, but also to make sure we are ready for the next steps.”