Summer has arrived, bringing high stakes for the U.S. Women`s National Team players eager to impress head coach Emma Hayes and secure their place in future squads. The USWNT is set to play a series of three friendlies, facing both Ireland and Canada. Their summer schedule begins against Ireland on Thursday at DSG Park in Commerce City, Colorado, offering players a crucial opportunity to showcase their abilities and contribution potential to the national team pool.
Hayes recently announced a 25-player roster for these upcoming fixtures. The squad sees the return of players recovering from significant injuries, such as Rose Lavelle and Croix Bethune, while several players based in Europe have been rested. A notable inclusion is vice captain Naomi Girma, alongside a number of uncapped players – a pattern frequently observed during Hayes` tenure, particularly looking towards 2025.
The head coach has been transparent about using this year primarily for player evaluation as she builds towards the 2027-28 cycle. She has also made clear her intention to narrow down the current expanded player pool before next year`s Concacaf W Championship, which serves as the qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women`s World Cup in the region.
Here`s a look at key storylines, how to watch the match, and more details:
How to Watch and Odds
- Date: Thurs. June 26 | Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: DSG Park — Commerce City, Colorado
- TV: TBS | Live stream: Max
- Odds: USA -600 ; +525 Draw; Ireland +1100
Last Meeting
The two teams last faced each other in a pair of friendly matches during 2023. The USWNT secured two narrow victories, winning 2-0 and then 1-0. These matches were notable for Mallory Swanson sustaining a left patellar tendon tear, an injury that unfortunately kept her out of the 2023 FIFA Women`s World Cup. Lindsey Heaps, Emily Fox, and Alana Cook were the goalscorers across these two games; none of these players are included in the current camp roster.
What the USWNT Says
With some regular starters absent from this camp, Hayes will look to more experienced players to take on leadership roles. Naomi Girma has been a consistent presence since 2022, but the players with the most caps in this squad are Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, and forward Lynn Williams (not Biyendolo, which appears to be a typo in the original).
Williams has frequently been utilized as an impact player off the bench in 2025, potentially indicating her expected role as the team prepares for World Cup qualifiers. This is not viewed as a negative; in fact, she has already netted three goals for the team this year. Within a relatively less experienced forward group, she has quickly become a vital leader in the attack.
“You just wake up one day and you`re like, `Oh, I`m the veteran now.` And I feel like that`s happened to me,” Williams commented ahead of the matches. “But yeah, definitely I think that with so many new players, so much talent is in the pool, and so much talent is on this team right now, but there are things that I had to learn along the way from veterans as well, and so hopefully I can impart some wisdom and some experience on these younger players, and hopefully it sticks with them.”
She added, “I think that anytime you can find yourself in a veteran seat, it means that you`ve been here for a while, and knowing that is an honor and exciting in itself. Anytime you put on the crest, it`s an honor. But knowing I have been here long enough to be considered that, is, I don`t know, like something you only dream of when you`re younger. So it`s an honor, but it`s like a huge responsibility, and I don`t take that lightly.”
What Ireland Says
Ireland head coach Carla Ward is encouraging her squad to embrace the challenge of facing the top-ranked team globally. The `Girls in Green` are looking towards the upcoming UEFA Nations League, and playing against the USWNT is seen as crucial preparation.
“The two games against USA are an opportunity for us to work together on a number of things – both on and off the pitch – as we build towards the UEFA Nations League playoff against Belgium in October,” Ward stated. “We will be coming up against the best team in women`s football, so we will have a plan for those games, but it`s also important that we make the most out of this camp as a whole.”
She continued, “When these games were first proposed to us, we knew that we would be without certain players, but that opens the door for others to step up. We are building, camp by camp, so we are looking forward to getting together again and putting in some extra work that will stand to us moving forward.”
Predicted Lineups
USWNT: Claudia Dickey; Avery Patterson, Emily Sonnett, Naomi Girma, Lily Reale; Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle, Croix Bethune, Michelle Cooper, Lynn Williams, Alyssa Thompson
Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki; Denise O`Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Marissa Sheva, Kyra Carusa; Abbie Larkin, Amber Barrett
Players to Watch
Avery Patterson, USWNT: This outside back has delivered promising performances in her limited appearances with the national team. She demonstrates intelligent decision-making and tireless work rate, even providing an assist on one of Lynn Williams` goals in the previous international window. She has another chance here to impress the coaching staff and solidify her place in the core group moving forward.
Courtney Brosnan, Ireland: Brosnan has been Ireland`s primary goalkeeper since 2020, following years in their youth setup. The Everton keeper is known for her effective shot-stopping and doesn`t shy away when under pressure. A strong performance in goal could certainly make things difficult for the USWNT attack.
Prediction
Ireland is known for bringing a physical challenge when playing the USWNT. Both squads feature a mix of younger, less experienced players, which might lead to moments of adjustment during the match. However, the USWNT is expected to find a way to secure the win.
Our Pick: USA 2, Ireland 0
Dominic Ashworth