Mallory Swanson, Sophia Wilson and Trinity Rodman will share the pitch again for the US national team after the longest separation since their Olympic gold medal run. Coach Emma Hayes announced the trio's return to a full roster on Wednesday for two friendlies against Brazil scheduled for June 6 in Sao Paulo and June 9 in Fortaleza.
The reunion marks the first time all three forwards have appeared together on a USWNT squad since the 2024 Paris Olympics, a gap of 21 months. Injuries and pregnancy layoffs fractured what had become one of the program's most dangerous attacking combinations, with the trio combining for 10 of the team's 12 goals during the gold medal run.
Swanson was the most recently sidelined. She played her last national team match in October 2024 but returned to club action for the Chicago Stars last weekend in her second appearance back. Wilson, who announced her pregnancy last spring, made her comeback with the Portland Thorns in April and has already logged minutes in the USWNT's three recent friendlies against Japan. Rodman managed back issues and an MCL injury that kept her availability sporadic through early 2025, though she has appeared in all eight national team matches this year and captained the side in a January friendly against Paraguay.
Hayes emphasized the urgency of getting the trio back into rhythm together. "That front three haven't been together since the Olympic gold medal match. That's a long time, and we cannot waste a single minute. We absolutely have to put the very best players together with every opportunity that we have," Hayes said. "It's so important to get them into the environment to reconnect with their teammates, you cannot underestimate that."
The technical gap represents another challenge. Hayes noted that tactical developments within the broader team have moved forward during the extended absence of her three biggest scorers. "We've got to get them back up to speed," she added.
The Brazil matches serve a strategic purpose beyond roster building. The two nations will clash next summer during the World Cup, with Brazil hosting the tournament. The USWNT has made a tradition of playing preliminary matches in World Cup venues, and this trip allows the team to scout the environment and conditions while gathering data on a familiar opponent. The sides last played in Brazil during a friendly tournament in December 2014.
Hayes's full 26-player roster also brings back midfielder Croix Bethune, midfielder Riley Jackson, and center-back Tara Rudd, who were absent from the April camp. Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn returns after rehabbing a hand injury. She has made three national team appearances and helped Utah Royals claim first place in the NWSL standings.
Several high-profile absences dot the roster. Center-back Naomi Girma missed the end of Chelsea's season with a calf injury, while midfielder Sam Coffey underwent minor knee surgery following Manchester City's campaign. Midfielder Catarina Macario, who signed with San Diego Wave in March after leaving Chelsea, has not yet made an appearance for her new club due to a heel injury. Hayes deferred to the franchise for clarity on her availability.
Younger players have seized opportunities while the trio recovered. Forward Ally Sentnor of Kansas City Current leads the team with three goals this year at age 22. Emma Sears of Racing Louisville has two goals, while 21-year-old Alyssa Thompson of Chelsea has added one. Hayes acknowledged the progress in the attacking pool but stressed that the returning trio carry a different pedigree. "We have been able to develop the depth, but those three players, they've developed credit in the bank. We won a gold medal with these players. They are top, top players," Hayes said.
World Cup qualifying begins in November. The June camp gives Hayes a window to evaluate the bulk of players who might compete for spots on that roster, a stated priority heading into the matches.
Author James Rodriguez: "Getting those three back on the field together before November qualifying isn't just about nostalgia, it's about preserving the one proven winning formula the USWNT has right now."
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