The United States Women’s National Team released its 26-player roster for the upcoming October camp as the team gears up for World Cup qualifiers.

The USWNT will begin training on October 6 and will face Spain in a pair of friendlies on October 10 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., and on October 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.

The two games will serve as preparation for World Cup qualifiers in November, where the Americans will need to beat El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal to punch their ticket to Brazil.

A Familiar Face

Ashley Sanchez, perhaps the most anticipated call-up, will participate in her first international camp since January 2025. Her last cap was in October 2024 against Argentina.

Head coach Emma Hayes has worked on identifying a core group of players since she started the job, and the possibility of new players (or in this case, previous call-ups) entering the mix as the World Cup nears seemed unlikely. There was much speculation over whether Hayes would select Sanchez, who has been on a heater this NWSL season. 

The 27-year-old has scored 20 goals in 26 games for the North Carolina Courage, tying the all-time single-season scoring record in the NWSL and shattering the previous scoring record by an American (15). 

Club performance does not always translate to the international side, and Sanchez will have to prove that she can be consistent within a different type of competition to have a chance at cementing herself as a key player on the team.

“I'm happy to see her fulfilling her potential, and now it's about the step up to the senior level,” Hayes told reporters Tuesday. “She has to learn the ways in which this team plays and the identity of this team. She has to demonstrate all of those things, as well as being a great teammate, because those things are important to us.”

Boston Ties

Boston Legacy defender Lilly Reale will be headed to camp once more. She has made nine appearances for the U.S. and has been consistently named to the rosters.

Reale participated in the previous June camp when the U.S. played Brazil but did not play any minutes. 

Several players that Hayes has long relied upon, like Emily Sonnett and Naomi Girma, have recently sustained injuries. Load management will surely give other players the opportunity to showcase their skills.

"I have to think about the players that are available ... We have to develop a larger playing pool because ... we could be in situations that we're in, even this camp, where maybe we will be without two of our starting center backs," the coach said. "If I don't prepare players to be ready, then I won't be doing my job."

Reale herself is nursing an injury. She has had limited minutes for Boston Legacy FC after having pinky surgery, but whether that will impact her playing time with the national team remains to be seen.

Incoming Class

Midfielder Evelyn Shores and forwards Pietra Tordin and Trinity Byars received their first senior team call-ups.

Hayes has long touted the importance of youth development and how that will affect the future of the national team.

“You can't always park the development of the generation that will be there for tomorrow,” Hayes said. “So if I solely prioritize the World Cup, then I won't get the opportunity for players that could and will be impactful for this team in 2028 or 2031.”

All three players have made a name for themselves this year. Tordin has had a breakout sophomore season with the Portland Thorns, recording seven goals and nine assists. Shores has three goals and leads Angel City FC with seven assists. Byars has two assists so far and is San Diego Wave’s leading goal-scorer with 10 goals. 

“We still have to give opportunities for those that are performing,” said the head coach. “They're growing, and they have a chance of making the roster, and I want to make sure that the players understand that I do care about what happens on a league level.”

The Roster (Club; Caps/Goals) 

Goalkeepers:

Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 11)

Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC; 0

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 7)

Defenders:

 Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC; 70/3)

Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 78/1)

Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG; 54/3)

Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 14/1)

Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy FC; 9/0)

Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit; 12/0)

Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/0)

Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC; 7/1)

Midfielders:

Sam Coffey (Manchester City FC, ENG; 46/5)

Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit FC; 178/40)

Claire Hutton (Bay FC; 20/1)

Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 122/29)

Evelyn Shores (Angel City FC; 0/0)

Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars; 103/38)

Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 20/1)

Forwards:

Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave FC; 0/0)

Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 14/1)

Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 57/13)

Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 21/6)

Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 28/3)

Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0)

Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 32/4)

Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns FC; 63/25)