Which Uswnt Players Made Their Case Against Portugal And New Zealand

The kids are alright. That was nan overwhelming emotion arsenic nan U.S. women’s nationalist squad closed retired nan October world model pinch 2 wins and 1 defeat. In Emma Hayes’s short reign arsenic caput coach of nan USWNT, she has fixed 25 players their world debut complete nan past 19 months.

The USWNT kicked disconnected nan October model pinch nan worst imaginable start, throwing distant an early 1–0 lead and losing to Portugal 2–1. After making 8 changes to her starting XI successful nan rematch pinch Portugal, nan USWNT bounced backmost successful a large measurement to triumph 3–1. The model closed pinch a 6–0 thrashing of New Zealand, which was overmuch harder to evaluate.

Let’s look astatine who made their case, and what questions stay from these latest friendlies against Portugal and New Zealand.

Olivia Moultrie

The 20-year-old attacker has not been a changeless since making her elder nationalist squad debut successful 2023, but a career-best play successful nan NWSL pinch nan Portland Thorns has pushed her backmost into Hayes's plans. Moultrie grabbed her opportunity pinch some hands and scored a speedy brace successful nan 3–1 triumph complete Portugal.

Moultrie offers Hayes versatility successful nan midfield and guardant lines. She has nan distribution to play heavy and thief make passes that move nan play forward, mounting up chances for others. In a much precocious role, arsenic seen against Portugal, she possesses nan expertise to decorativeness chances and inhabit lethal spaces successful nan box. It’s a crowded field, but Moultrie is surely making herself known.

Jordyn Bugg

The 19-year-old halfway backmost is making nan astir of established defenders Tierna Davidson, Alana Cook and Naomi Girma, each being absent owed to injury. With poise good beyond her years, Bugg thrived, picking up 2 starts successful some of nan USWNT’s wins successful nan October window.

In nan 3–1 triumph complete Portugal, Bugg completed 68 of 69 passes, nan astir of immoderate subordinate connected nan pitch. She was calm and assured erstwhile building from nan back. Unlike nan much cavalier attack of Emily Sonnett, Bugg has a measurement of not committing excessively early to an opposing forward, which helps squash nan threat of 2nd balls.

With only 4 caps to her sanction and conscionable complete a twelvemonth successful nan books arsenic a professional, she still has plentifulness to learn. However, Hayes whitethorn want to support Bugg astir to create into nan domiciled alternatively than turning consecutive backmost to older players erstwhile they go disposable again.

Emma Sears

In nan 6–0 triumph complete New Zealand, nan Racing Louisville winger scored nan first USWNT chapeau instrumentality successful 1,299 days. Known for her blazing gait connected nan wings, Sears excelled successful nan October model erstwhile it came to drifting much centrally to get nan last touch successful a passing move and finishing from adjacent range.

Although Sears only had 1 commencement crossed nan October window’s 3 matches, she appeared disconnected nan chair successful nan different two. The 24-year-old was 1 of conscionable six players connected nan USWNT roster to look successful each 3 friendlies, which was an encouraging motion that Hayes knows really she wants nan winger to fresh into her lineups.

With Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson each missing, having a chemoreceptor for extremity will support you getting called up to camp.

What questions remain?

Mandy McGlynn

When it comes to nan goalkeepers, Hayes opted to play Phallon Tullis-Joyce successful nan first friendly, followed by Claudia Dickey successful nan 2nd and 3rd friendlies. That near Mandy McGlynn without immoderate minutes during nan October window.

It’s been one twelvemonth since McGlynn made her USWNT debut, and, successful that time, her nine shape pinch Utah Royals has dipped aft a very awesome 2024. McGlynn appears to beryllium nan 3rd goalkeeper action connected nan roster, which opens nan doorway for Hayes to research pinch different successful her place, potentially.

McGlynn has property connected her side, being conscionable 27 years old, which is comparatively young for a goalkeeper. While Tullis-Joyce’s shot-stopping remains nan champion successful nan group, location is simply a world successful which McGlynn tin support impressing pinch her feet erstwhile nan USWNT wants to play retired of nan back.

Ally Sentnor

The upside of versatile players is that they tin beryllium deployed successful galore roles; nan downside is simply a deficiency of clarity connected their champion position. Sentnor hasn’t seemed to person rather nailed down a preferred spot successful nan USWNT.

Despite often being utilized arsenic an inverted winger successful nan NWSL, Hayes has continued to push Sentnor arsenic a cardinal attacking guardant aliases arsenic a mendacious nine. Sentnor hasn’t shown a cutting separator successful beforehand of nan extremity aliases an expertise to nexus pinch teammates successful tight spaces.

The upside for Sentnor is her set-piece delivery—which earned an assistance for Sam Coffey’s extremity successful nan 3–1 triumph complete Portugal—does springiness her an other feather successful her headdress erstwhile it comes to Hayes evaluating her forwards.

Tara McKeown

After McKeown started successful nan 2–1 conclusion to Portugal, and nan USWNT conceded 2 set-piece goals from crosses into nan box, she was not seen again successful nan window. It wasn’t each her fault. The USWNT defense lacked strength and statement successful that first game.

Aerial balls into nan container look to beryllium a anemic spot for nan USWNT correct now, and McKeown will request to beryllium astatine her champion moving guardant to show that she tin beryllium nan solution to nan problem. McKeown tin beryllium instrumental, building retired of nan backmost pinch nan shot astatine her feet. However, nan aforesaid adventurous attack she has astatine nan nine level pinch nan Washington Spirit hasn't rather translated to nan USWNT.

Hayes hopes McKeown’s assurance and cohesion pinch her USWNT teammates will grow, allowing her to toggle shape into a cardinal shot passer from heavy astatine nan world level. With 9 caps for her country, each coming successful 2025, it is still very early successful nan 26-year-old’s USWNT career. The mobility is whether Hayes will let much clip to spell to younger defenders, specified arsenic Bugg, Kennedy Wesley, aliases possibly moreover Trinity Armstrong.

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