playJeff KassoufOct 20, 2026, 03:19 AM ETCloseJeff Kassouf covers women’s soccer for ESPN, focusing on the USWNT and NWSL. In 2009, he founded The Equalizer, a women’s soccer news outlet, and he previously won a Sports Emmy at NBC Sports and Olympics.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsA pair of friendly matches against world No. 1 and reigning World Cup champions Spain is in the books for the U.S. women’s national team, and there is no better time to evaluate which players are ready for the 2027 World Cup.The results against Spain were a mixed bag of disconcerting and encouraging for the Americans. A relatively inexperienced group of U.S. players left the set of games with a 2-0 loss, in which they felt like they were the better team — and the data supported it — followed by a 2-2 draw, in which they were the inferior team but rallied late.Most importantly for U.S. head coach Emma Hayes, she had the ability to see which players are and are not ready to play against Spain, which is the best possible simulation of a World Cup knockout game. Hayes’s task until next summer is figuring out which players can stand up to such tests — especially if she continues to juggle major absences, as she did against Spain (who arguably had more important omissions of their own).If the World Cup started today, who would make the 26-player roster?
It’s time for the latest edition of ESPN’s USWNT Big Board.How the USWNT Big Board worksAs always, the purpose of this exercise is to name a World Cup roster if it had to be submitted to FIFA today. It is hypothetical but also realistic: As Hayes said again in recent weeks, she has not had all her best players available since taking the job nearly three years ago.If Hayes had to submit a roster for the World Cup today, she would be without Naomi Girma, her most reliable defender, and stalwart defensive midfielder Sam Coffey. Both players pulled out of training camp ahead of the Spain games due to injuries. Forward Catarina Macario has not played in nearly a year due to heel and knee injuries.
Reliable veteran defender Emily Sonnett and rising midfield star Olivia Moultrie are each sidelined with long-term knee injuries.None of those players appear healthy enough to make a World Cup roster if it were named today, unless Hayes was willing to gamble on Girma or Coffey being ready mid-tournament. The new 26-player rosters might allow for such a gamble, but for this exercise, we are sticking with players who are available for selection. (Neither Girma nor Coffey was for their respective club over the weekend.)Tier 1: Locks. Clear first-choice players who are contending for a starting role.Tier 2: In the squad. Not necessarily starters, but substitutes and players on the bench available to play in games.Tier 3: On the bubble.
Young or less experienced players who have received call-ups and shown promise, or veterans yet to really establish their international careers.Tier 4: Outside looking in. Players who were previously part of the picture but now appear to be out of favor, or young players who are less proven at the senior level but are on Hayes’ radar.Players are listed alphabetically in each grouping. Let’s get to it.GoalkeepersLocks: Claudia Dickey, Phallon Tullis-JoyceIn the squad: NoneOn the bubble: Jane Campbell, Mandy McGlynn, Jordan SilkowitzOutside looking in: Angelina Anderson, Teagan WyDickey and Tullis-Joyce continue to jockey for the No. 1 position in what is the least certain time for the goalkeeping position in the 40-year history of the USWNT.There was some uncertainty ahead of the 2019 World Cup, when Alyssa Naeher took over for the abruptly ostracized Hope Solo, but Naeher was the third string ‘keeper on the 2015 World Cup-winning team and was around the team for years. While she had few caps at the time she was thrust into the No. 1 role, she was the obvious and deserved successor who had proven herself in the NWSL.Neither Dickey and Tullis-Joyce have that history.
They each made their USWNT debuts in 2025 and have a combined 20 caps. Neither player was even an alternate for the 2024 Olympics.The pair split the games against Spain, and while each had their own struggles playing to feet against Spain’s pressure, Tullis-Joyce committed the most egregious error in the second match, giving the ball away easily in a turnover that directly led to La Roja’s second goal.Who will start is still anyone’s guess, but Hayes is clearly choosing between Dickey and Tullis-Joyce.Hayes has been vocal about her support of Silkowitz, but largely for the future. McGlynn is a worthy third goalkeeper but given how unlikely it is that a third goalkeeper plays, Hayes could lean toward the experience of Campbell for balance and leadership within the group.Casey Murphy was the backup at the 2024 Olympics but fell out of favor and was recently injured.FullbacksLocks: Emily FoxIn the squad: Avery Patterson, Gisele ThompsonOn the bubble: Lilly Reale, Evelyn ShoresOutside looking in: Savy King, Leah Klenke, Ayo Oke, Izzy Rodriguez, Ryan Williamsplay1:18USWNT rally for 2-2 draw with top ranked SpainFox is one of the best fullbacks in the world and has had the right side of this defense locked up as her position for years.Patterson likely earned her spot on the plane next summer based on her performance in that June victory in Brazil — but she struggled in the opening 45 minutes of the first game against Spain and got substituted at halftime.Thompson added a greater attacking presence in that game and the rematch three days later — but she was also part of the first wave in a series of simple breakdowns that led to Spain’s opening goal in the second match. Thompson is the best attacking option in the modern fullback role. (She has been playing as a winger and wide midfielder for Angel City lately.)Watching these two Spain games in person while wondering what will happen at fullback — and while U.S.
Soccer honored retired fullback and World Cup champion Crystal Dunn for her career — brought a flood of familiar questions. Dunn (and even Kelley O’Hara) begrudgingly and successfully played the position out of necessity as converted forwards.The U.S. is still searching for depth in this position a decade later. One curveball that Hayes has thrown recently late in matches is Michelle Cooper at fullback or wingback.Could Cooper be a serious part of this conversation? She laughed last week when ESPN asked her if she trains in the position at all, but the question might rattle around Hayes’ mind in the coming weeks.
Cooper has unmatched tenacity to test the theory.Center backsLocks: Tierna DavidsonIn the squad: Kennedy WesleyOn the bubble: Jordyn Bugg, Kate Del Fava, Tara Rudd, Emily SamsOutside looking in: Eva Gaetino, Sarah Gorden, Jayden Perry, Sam StaabA healthy Girma could be the difference between the USWNT winning the 2027 World Cup or not.Hayes said recently that the Americans would not have won the 2024 Olympics if they took an injury. Girma was a rock during that run, when Hayes famously called her “the best defender I’ve ever seen.”Girma’s absence in recent U.S. games has been glaring. That problem is compounded by the recent injury to Sonnett, who has been the do-it-all player for a decade and would have been filling in at that role.Davidson is the only certainty among healthy players in the position, and she requires an athletic, agile partner to balance out her cerebral game. Wesley is that player.Wesley is a ball-winner who can recover when the U.S. gets beat.
She can also play a line-breaking pass to spark the attack, as she does frequently for the San Diego Wave. Wesley is a centerback of the future for the U.S. women — and what a long-term pair she would make with Girma, if the latter can stay healthy.Sams’ omission from the most recent camps for games against Spain and Brazil doesn’t bode well for her despite a strong season with Angel City. Rudd remains a regular despite not seeing the field for the past seven U.S. gam
Leave a Reply