"Head coach Emma Hayes had said prior to the recent October window that the group she called up would likely be the one she sees most ready to contribute on the road to World Cup qualifying. That young, inexperienced squad got battle-tested in a surprising 2-1 loss to Portugal on Oct. 23. Hayes learned plenty from that game, and the ensuing victories over Portugal (in a rematch) and New Zealand -- more than she would have in a comfortable victory for the USWNT."
"For this exercise, players with long-term injuries or absences would not make the squad. Nobody (including this writer) is betting against forwards Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson reclaiming their starting roles after maternity leave, for example, but to borrow a phrase from Hayes, you can only work with who is available right now. The timing of our latest exercise also adds an interesting, real-life wrinkle that Hayes could face in 18 months:"
A core group of players for the U.S. women’s national team ahead of the 2027 World Cup is taking shape. Emma Hayes called up a young, inexperienced squad that lost 2-1 to Portugal on Oct. 23 but then gained further lessons from wins over Portugal in a rematch and New Zealand. Long-term injuries and current absences would exclude some players from a roster selected today. The staff must weigh exceptional talent against availability when considering players such as Naomi Girma and Trinity Rodman. Heavy rotation and possible use of U-23 or U-20 eligibility complicate roster tiers and selections.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]