USWNT SheBelieves Cup roster features Catarina Macario’s return, while Naomi Girma and others are in recovery. Emma Hayes has announced a squad of 23 players for the U.S. women’s national team, with only 12 members from the Olympic gold medal-winning team of last summer.
Several prominent players will not participate in this camp. Trinity Rodman is still on the mend from a back injury, while Mallory Swanson is unavailable due to personal commitments. Sophia Smith is not yet fit for USWNT competition. Additionally, Rose Lavelle is recovering from ankle surgery, and Naomi Girma, who recently made headlines as the first women’s soccer player to be involved in a $1 million transfer from the San Diego Wave to Chelsea, is also sidelined due to a calf injury.
On a positive note, Catarina Macario is making her comeback. The Chelsea star has not played for the USWNT since June 1, 2024, due to knee issues that prevented her from participating in the Paris Olympics. Despite an initial selection for that roster, she had to withdraw. This season, Macario has played 13 matches for her club, starting five and contributing five goals and two assists. Interestingly, she made her return to the national team at last year’s SheBelieves Cup after a lengthy recovery.
The 10th annual SheBelieves Cup will be held in three cities: Houston (Feb. 20 vs. Colombia), Glendale, Arizona (Feb. 23 vs. Australia), and San Diego (Feb. 26 vs. Japan).
“This team is still evolving, and I am continually impressed by the commitment of our player pool to improve, both individually and collectively,” Hayes stated. “As many players are just beginning their club preseasons, we will exercise patience, yet we aim to make the most of our time together.”
“We will be up against three strong teams with distinct playing styles. This tournament will serve as an excellent opportunity to evaluate who can perform against top-tier competition, but to achieve this, we must provide them with chances. Our strategy has been carefully considered to balance development and winning, making each match exciting for the coaching staff, players, and fans alike.”
Following the Olympic gold victory, Hayes has focused on expanding the player pool. She has provided opportunities for younger talents, conducted a Futures Camp alongside the senior team’s January training camp, and expressed her goal of establishing a “core group” by the time this tournament arrives.
Despite the absence of several key players, notable young talents have made a strong impression on the coach. Players like 19-year-olds Claire Hutton and Gisele Thompson, along with 22-year-old Michelle Cooper, received their first senior call-ups after attending the Futures Camp in January. Thompson and her sister Alyssa being on the same roster marks a rare occurrence in program history. Tara McKeown, aged 25, also made her debut in the January camp, becoming the fourth uncapped player in this selection.
“I want to assess how they fit into the senior team setup to determine if they possess the qualities needed for the WNT or if they should return to the U-23s in April,” Hayes explained. “It’s vital for me to make this evaluation.”
Hayes highlighted players like Hutton, a “consistent performer in the NWSL” with the Kansas City Current, as someone who could have a promising future with the national team. She aims to gauge Hutton’s performance in relation to players like Sam Coffey. Similarly, she wants to see how Cooper, who “stood out in the Futures Camp,” compares to players like Yazmeen Ryan or Trinity Rodman, despite Rodman’s absence from this roster.
“This year is about building relationships and understanding what we need to do, particularly under pressure,” she noted.
Hayes has also included three training players who will not appear on game-day rosters but will train with the team throughout the tournament. These players — Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Angel City defender Savy King, and Bay FC midfielder Hannah Bebar — have yet to earn caps.
Hayes explained that the team is currently in “block three” of their preparation for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. While some selections may be scrutinized based on who is included or excluded, Hayes emphasized that there will be “ample experimentation with the players available” between now and the end of June.
“Whenever I have the chance to field what we consider our best team, we will certainly explore that option,” Hayes stated. “However, we are not in a World Cup situation today, and my responsibility is to prepare a team for that time. I must give these players the opportunity to show what they can do. If I only focused on preparing a group for a World Cup today, I wouldn’t take the risks I am willing to take during this phase.”
A significant storyline for the USWNT is identifying the next starting goalkeeper. With Alyssa Naeher retiring at the end of 2024, the permanent replacement remains uncertain. Hayes has called up only two goalkeepers for this camp: Jane Campbell and Mandy McGlynn, with Tullis-Joyce included in the training squad. Casey Murphy, who backed up Naeher at the Olympics and holds the most caps (20) among goalkeepers, was notably not called in.
Hayes reassured that this roster does not necessarily reflect who will ultimately take over the starting role in the upcoming World Cup. She expressed confidence in Campbell, who had been injured and unavailable for recent camps. Players like Murphy, Claudia Dickey, and Angelina Anderson, who were part of the January roster, remain integral to the team’s plans, according to Hayes.
“For the goalkeepers not included, they are all aware of what they need to work on and the key focus areas, but this situation remains fluid. I anticipate this will continue throughout this preparation block. With upcoming camps in April, May, and June, we have opportunities to evaluate, and I will not be rushed into making decisions,” she stated.
“By the end of this block, I hope we will have a clearer understanding of what each player can contribute to our objectives, allowing us to progress accordingly.”
USWNT SheBelieves Cup Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 8), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 1)
DEFENDERS (8): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 65/3), Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 155/25), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 62/1), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (Arsenal FC, ENG; 18/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 103/2), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 22/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 28/1), Lindsey Heaps (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 161/36), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (North Carolina Courage; 21/8), Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 2/1)
FORWARDS (7): Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC; 75/21), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 0/0), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG; 19/8), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash; 4/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 3/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 2/0), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 13/1)
