The United States Women’s National Team has reunited for the first time since their triumphant Olympic gold medal victory in Paris this past August. But amidst the celebrations, head coach Emma Hayes is already looking ahead to the future and the opportunity to evaluate new talent that could bolster the squad going forward.
A Celebratory Homecoming
For the 23 players who secured Olympic glory just over two months ago, this October camp serves as a special homecoming and chance to celebrate with their fans on home soil. Team captain Lindsey Horan emphasized the importance of this moment:
We want to celebrate with our fans. We haven’t been back together since the Olympics, so this is an incredible moment for us to be back on home soil and be able to celebrate.
– Lindsey Horan, USWNT Captain
The USWNT will have three opportunities to revel in their golden achievement with the fans, first with a pair of matches against Iceland on October 27th and 30th, followed by a clash with Argentina on November 2nd.
An Eye on the Future
While celebrating the present, Hayes is keenly focused on the road ahead to the 2027 World Cup. This camp marks the beginning of that journey, with six uncapped players earning call-ups, including three first-timers to the senior team:
- Forward Emma Sears
- Forward Yazmeen Ryan
- Defender Alyssa Malonson
Hayes was direct in explaining that these selections were rewards for outstanding NWSL form, and that she expects to hand out debuts during this window. Along with January, she views this as a critical evaluation period to expand the USWNT player pool.
There will be debuts over this block. This window, plus the January window, are the two big windows in the immediate to be able to assess what other players from outside the current playing pool are going to be candidates to be involved with what we’re going to be doing.
– Emma Hayes, USWNT Head Coach
Striking a Balance
Even with an eye on ushering in a new generation of talent, Hayes has a delicate balancing act to manage. The USWNT’s CBA stipulates that all available Olympic roster players be called in for a victory tour, somewhat limiting flexibility for wholescale changes.
The compact NWSL schedule also complicates matters, with several key players like Sophia Smith managing injury recovery ahead of a sprint to the playoffs. Smith, who has been battling an ankle issue since the Olympics, only returned to action for the final 29 minutes of the Portland Thorns’ recent match.
It’s been go, go, go for a while now for me, so I felt like I needed to address it before it got worse. But I’ve been feeling good. I’ve been doing a lot of work in Portland with our medical staff, who’s great.
– Sophia Smith on her injury recovery
With Portland currently battling for a playoff spot, Smith and other NWSL stars will have their minutes managed across these three USWNT matches. No player is likely to feature for more than two full games, a workload designed to keep them fresh for the regular season finale on November 4th.
Mapping Out the Future
The USWNT staff has already begun charting their course for the years ahead, having conducted a comprehensive review of the Olympic campaign to glean lessons for the next World Cup cycle.
That strategic vision will begin to take shape in January, with plans for a unique joint camp: the senior USWNT training alongside a group of up-and-coming futures players. It’s a approach designed to bridge the present and future of the USWNT.
But for now, as the crisp October air descends on Q2 Stadium in Austin, the focus is on celebrating this special team and their crowning achievement. Even as Emma Hayes charts a course for the future, she understands the importance of these moments and what this group has accomplished.
The next generation is on the horizon – but today belongs to the queens of the USWNT, the indomitable squad that overcame all challengers to stand atop the podium in Paris. This is their victory lap, and they’ve earned every second of it.
