While this camp features stars that made up the Olympic team, the U.S. coach will also look to younger players to break through
As fun as this summer was, the calendars have now turned to fall. And with fall comes fresh beginnings, particularly for the U.S. women's national team. It was mission accomplished with a gold-medal performance at the Summer Olympics, and it all gets going again this week, when Emma Hayes' squad takes on Iceland in a pair of friendlies.
They're the first games since the USWNT won gold, the first chance to turn the page. Hayes, in particular, has been vocal about the new challenges. She's looking forward to them.
"The Olympics form a great basis and they're a great foundation for us," Hayes said, "but it's not a future predictor for success."
Hayes has to adjust the player pool by introducing a new generation over the next three years. She has to figure out which veterans have staying power and which are transitional. She has to take this chance to build the team in her image after speeding through her first summer.
And that leads us back to this camp, the first glimpse into how Hayes will build this team toward the 2027 World Cup. The USWNT play Iceland Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Austin, Texas, and then again Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in Nashville. What to expect from the USWNT in these two games, with a third against Argentina to follow? GOAL takes a look.
Getty Images SportMeet the newcomers
There are plenty of familiar faces in this camp – 18 of them, to be precise, all returning from the Olympics. A few more have caps, too.
There are six uncapped players in the squad, though, and, based on Hayes pre-camp comments, there are some debuts coming.
Hal Hershfelt and Emily Sams are back with the team after serving as Olympic alternates this summer. Sams actually is the subject of a wild trivia fact: she won an Olympic gold medal before earning her first cap, having sat on the bench twice in France this past summer. Hershfelt, meanwhile, has been a breakout star after being drafted by the Washington Spirit earlier this year.
Eva Gaetino of PSG is back in camp, having been involved at the SheBelieves Cup despite not earning a cap. Louisville City rookie Emma Sears is in as a NWSL breakout star, despite going with the last pick in the second round of this year's draft. Alyssa Malonson earns her first call-up in her third NWSL season with Bay FC, while Yazmeen Ryan, also a four-year NWSL veteran, has arrived with four goals and four assists for Gotham FC.
What will Hayes make of the newcomers? How many minutes will each get, and how will that experience set them up for USWNT futures? While this camp obviously features the stars that made up the Olympic team, there are plenty of reasons to keep an eye on players that could break through.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMoultrie and Thompson's big chance
Olivia Moultrie and Alyssa Thompson aren't newcomers. Thompson already has a World Cup under her belt, while Moultrie has been a professional for four full seasons. Because of those facts, it's easy to forget that they're both still teenagers.
Both are immensely talented and both could be legitimate stars for this team in the years to come. The teens have had brief runs with this USWNT group, but, over the next three years, they'll slowly put their own stamp on things.
Thompson, of course, did a bit of that in the run up to the 2023 World Cup but, with the return of Mallory Swanson, was squeezed out of the attack. The Angel City star will have more chances, though. She's too talented not to.
Same for Moultrie, who has scored twice in her four USWNT appearances. The Portland Thorns starlet has gone from history-maker to legitimate pro, and soon will be a legitimate USWNT midfielder.
Because of their youth, this could take some time, especially considering the veterans they're up against in their respective positions. It will certainly be a process, one that will really begin under Hayes' tutelage this month.
AFPTwo shots of espresso, not three
This summer, the trio of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman captivated fans all over the world. It's a trio that has already gone down in USWNT lore and, after much debate, they gave themselves a nickname: Triple Espresso.
Due to a back injury sustained in the NWSL season, though, Rodman won't be involved this month, leaving her two attacking teammates as Double Espresso. Rodman will be missed, but they'll be just fine.
Smith and Swanson are, of course, world-class, and they have some great players around them eager to step into Rodman's spot.
Shaw is back and healthy. Lynn Williams has plenty of experience to bring to this group. We've already touched on Thompson, Sears and Ryan, all of whom will be eager for their opportunities to shine.
It would have been fun to see how Triple Espresso continued to evolve this window, but it wasn't to be. It's safe to say there will be plenty more shots down the line, though, as the U.S. looks to build around an elite attacking group.
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Getty ImagesShaw's ready to go
It was the only real disappointment of this summer's Olympic run. All spring, it seemed as if it would be the Summer of Shaw. Injuries precluded that. She got her medal in the end, but the young San Diego wave star didn't have the impact many had anticipated.
The 20-year-old attacker isn't going anywhere, though. In fact, she's probably going to get better.
Back in the team now after recently returning in the NWSL, it'll be interesting to see Shaw slots in this camp. She started just one of her three appearances under the new coach, but has played just 38 USWNT minutes since July. We still don't really have an idea of what Hayes will do with a healthy, fit and confident Shaw.
Does she start as a No. 10 behind? Can she take Rodman's spot out wide this camp and then go from there? When and where will she push for a starting spot?
With Rodman out, we won't get all of the answers this camp, but we may get a few.