EmailPrintOpen 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 WilliamsFox 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. games.Del Fava had a memorable 10-minute debut last week, where she set up the late equalizer against Spain. She is a late bloomer who has been steady and reliable in the NWSL. There's a chance she can turn that into something more.MidfieldersLocks: Lindsey Heaps, Claire Hutton, Rose Lavelle, Lily YohannesIn the squad: Jaedyn ShawOn the bubble: Croix Bethune, Jaelin Howell, Riley Jackson, Ally Sentnor, Pietra TordinOutside looking in: Kimmi Ascanio, Gia Corley, Kennedy Fuller, Hal Hershfelt, Lo'eau LaBonta, Sam Meza, Korbin Shrader, Linda UllmarkHayes continues to have trouble figuring out midfield balance. The days of a set starting XI are gone, she said after the most recent Spain game. I said as much in March about her "preferred" midfield: It depends on the opponent.Lavelle is the world-class, Ballon d'Or-nominated constant in the group. Everything must be built around her as the No. 10. She showed her class again in the two matches against Spain.Heaps and Yohannes were the two players behind Lavelle in the first Spain game, followed by a Heaps and Hutton combination in the rematch.Shaw being sent to the U23s during this window, rather than playing against Spain, was a bizarre move from the outside given her NWSL form for Gotham FC. The same could be said less emphatically about Sentnor. Hayes called it part of their "prescribed development," but there was a message sent there, implicitly or explicitly.Sentnor responded with a stunning game-winning goal this weekend to continue her strong run of form for Angel City. Shaw left U23 camp early with an unspecified injury, but she was available for Gotham over the weekend (and ultimately did not play). Since she's available, she's eligible for this exercise.The same goes for Bethune, who just returned from a hip injury this weekend for her first action in six weeks. She was having an MVP-level season until then and should remain an option for Hayes.Howell got back into the picture against Spain as a replacement for Coffey. It was Howell's first appearance since Dec. 1, 2025 -- which was her lone appearance since April 2022.ForwardsLocks: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, Alyssa Thompson, Sophia WilsonIn the squad: Michelle CooperOn the bubble: Trinity Byars, Ashley Sanchez, Emma SearsOutside looking in: Melanie Barcenas, Jameese Joseph, Kat Rader, Yazmeen RyanWe've grouped together center forwards and wingers, and the forward position is richly deep for the USWNT. But it's also one with a clear, drastic hierarchy: There are effectively the big-name locks and then everyone else.Wilson was the USWNT's best player over the course of the 180 minutes against Spain. She held up the ball, spun defenders, combined with teammates, and gave Spain all kinds of trouble as the hold-up No. 9. Rodman and Thompson remain the preferred starters alongside her.Swanson will continue to push to regain her starting role as the World Cup approaches. Swanson's quality is undeniable and she proved it again with her goal against Spain.Hayes has slowly reintroduced Swanson into the squad since her return from maternity leave in the spring, including recently in more of a central, second striker role while chasing a game.Sanchez made the most of her start in the second game against Spain, scoring against the World Cup champions in a goal that looked like some of the 20 she has scored for the North Carolina Courage this NWSL season: isolated one-on-one, guiding the ball into the narrow space of opportunity she is presented.Hayes praised Sanchez afterward, and the forward should have earned a repeat call-up for qualifying.Cooper brings the biggest spark of energy off the bench and has appeared in six of the past seven U.S. games, including starting in the physical 1-0 win over Brazil on June 9. Her versatility helps her case, too.Sears remains in the mix despite some streakiness and relative struggles this year for a dire Racing Louisville team. (She scored five goals in three games in August but hasn't found the net in her last eight games for Louisville and has not always started.)Hayes said she thinks Macario could be ready to join the team for its January training camp. That would add another layer of competition to this deep position.USWNT squad if the World Cup started todayGoalkeepers: Jane Campbell, Claudia Dickey, Phallon Tullis-JoyceDefenders: Jordyn Bugg, Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Avery Patterson, Lilly Reale, Tara Rudd, Gisele Thompson, Kennedy WesleyMidfielders: Lindsey Heaps, Jaelin Howell, Claire Hutton, Riley Jackson, Rose Lavelle, Ally Sentnor, Jaedyn Shaw, Lily YohannesForwards: Michelle Cooper, Trinity Rodman, Ashley Sanchez, Emma Sears, Mallory Swanson, Alyssa Thompson, Sophia WilsonWith a 26-player roster, the thinking is as follows:Campbell gets the nod as the third goalkeeper for her experience, including as an alternate at the 2024 Olympics. This is not a U.S. team oozing with experience, especially at the goalkeeper position. Her thankless job would be to make sure either Dickey or Tullis-Joyce gets pushed to their peak during the World Cup.With a 26-player roster, Hayes has some flexibility, and she is going to need to use some of those additional spots to give herself options defensively. Bugg is included both as a player for the future and someone who can help right now. There is a world where Bugg surges into a major role at center back in 2027.The surprise inclusion in midfield is Howell. With Coffey out injured, Hutton is the only other ball-winning defensive midfielder with bite. The rest of that midfield group can break lines and combine, but you can't go to a World Cup with only one true defensive midfielder (cue the flashbacks to 2023).Howell gets the nod as the like-for-like Coffey replacement, and Jackson benefits from development on a 26-player roster -- and could be used in a pinch.Shaw and Sentnor can give Lavelle some breaks as the No. 10 with a favorable group draw, and they are also equally capable forwards. Sanchez's form also demands inclusion in a forward group that otherwise feels set.Things change quickly, however. If Macario is back and healthy in time for the World Cup, she would certainly bump another player from this list. So would Girma, Coffey and Sonnett. Moultrie and Bethune might, too.We'll make those tough decisions on the next ESPN USWNT Big Board -- but this would be the list submitted to FIFA if today were the deadline.
