USWNT roster: Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mal Swanson take time off as Emma Hayes squad experiments continue

The U.S. women’s national team will close out the calendar year in Europe with two friendlies against England and the Netherlands. Head coach Emma Hayes has named a 24-player roster for the upcoming matches, with over 70,000 tickets already sold for the USWNT’s meeting against England at Wembley Stadium on Nov. 30. The national team will then head to Haag Stadium and face the Dutch on Dec. 3. 

See who made the roster: 

USWNT roster (club; caps/goals)

Goalkeepers (3): Mandy Haught (Utah Royals FC; 1), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 113)

Defenders (9): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 64/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 60/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 1/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 42/2), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit; 59/0), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 1/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 17/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 101/2)

Midfielders (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 20/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 26/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 159/36), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 108/24), Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 1/1)

Forwards (6): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 2/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 2/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 19/8), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/1), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 73/20)

No triple espresso

The roster features fifteen players who were part of the 2024 Olympic roster but will be without forwards Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith. The attacking line dubbed “triple espresso” was responsible for ten of the USWNT’s twelve Olympic goals. Smith and Swanson will begin their offseason rehabbing lingering injuries, while Rodman is set to play with her club team, Washington Spirit, in the NWSL Championship on Saturday, Nov. 23. 

“Let me be clear, not one of these players want to ever miss a game for playing for their country. So, I want to be really clear about that … I want to make sure these players are prepared for a long time to come. And when you’re in the back end of a season, and you’re playing a lot, your body’s tired, your mind’s tired, that’s where sometimes it can become risky,” Hayes told media on the choice to rest the attacking trio.

Their absences mean there will be even more opportunities to see rotations along different lines during the upcoming matches. Less-capped players will earn extra minutes, and young prospects will get to show their skills on offense. 

Another young roster with newer names

The youngest inclusion on the roster is Lily Yohannes and the 17-year-old currently plays for club with AFC Ajax. Yohannes, who made her debut in June, is one of multiple players to earn their first senior cap under Hayes, and seven players recently made their first-ever USWNT cap during a single international window. The midfielder had options ahead of her international career to represent the United States or the Netherlands.

“Getting the commitment from Lily Yohannes is massive for us, and one where I’m so grateful for everyone involved. From Lily, to her dad to, the federation. Everybody’s showing the importance of, you’ve got to get the plan right when someone like Lily is faced with such an interesting choice, but she’s been really clear with me. Had a really good chat with her this week,” Hayes said on Yohannes representing USWNT

“May was such an enjoyable [camp] for her that she’d been thinking about that ever since, and she really wants to progress now with her international career. She knows she has to work hard with the playing pool being as strong as it is, but I think she’s an exceptional talent, and I’m delighted that we can develop a very young Lily Yohannes over the next few years to prepare her for a future with the national team.”

For the winter series in Europe, Hayes intends to keep some of the same efforts of personnel rotations. Players will get tested out of their preferred positions, and evaluated in different duos and trios.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United) and Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals FC) are two additional players who may earn their first senior national team minutes.