If you just looked at the latest us women's national soccer roster and didn't recognize half the names, don't panic. You aren't losing your mind. The squad Emma Hayes just called up for the January 2026 camp is, quite frankly, one of the most experimental groups we've seen in years.
It's young. It's almost entirely NWSL-based. And it is missing a massive chunk of the "Triple Espresso" magic that won gold in Paris.
Where are the stars?
Basically, life happened.
Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson? They’re out on maternity leave after welcoming baby girls. Lindsey Horan and the European contingent? They’re in the middle of their club seasons in France and England. Since the January friendlies against Paraguay and Chile fall outside the official FIFA window, clubs like Lyon and Chelsea aren't required to release their players.
Then you have the Gotham FC factor. Because Gotham is busy competing in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup in England, big names like Rose Lavelle, Jaedyn Shaw, and Emily Sonnett are completely unavailable.
It leaves the roster with an average age of just 24.1.
Honestly, the lack of "caps" (international appearances) is staggering. The average player in this camp has only 6.6 caps. If you take out Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune, that number drops to a measly five.
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The Trinity Rodman Return
The biggest headline is undoubtedly the return of Trinity Rodman.
She's been through the wringer with an MCL injury that sidelined her for most of 2025. In fact, she only played one match for the USWNT last year—though she did score the winner in that game against Brazil.
Interestingly, she shows up on the official us women's national soccer roster as "unattached."
That’s a fancy way of saying she’s currently a free agent. There’s been a whole saga with the NWSL nixing a multi-year deal with the Washington Spirit due to salary cap rules. While the lawyers fight that out, she’s back in a US jersey, easily the most experienced player in this specific camp with 47 caps and 11 goals.
Hayes admitted she isn't 100% sure where Rodman is at physically, but having her back is a massive boost for a frontline that is otherwise very raw.
Meet the New Faces
Emma Hayes is obsessed with "widening the pool." Since she took over, she’s handed out 27 first-time caps. This camp adds four more names to the "first call-up" list:
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- Maddie Dahlien (Forward, Seattle Reign): A speedster who was a standout in the U-20 World Cup.
- Reilyn Turner (Forward, Portland Thorns): Scored six goals last season and has been knocking on the door.
- Riley Jackson (Midfielder, NC Courage): A technical wizard from the "Futures" camp system.
- Sally Menti (Midfielder, Seattle Reign): Another youngster looking to bridge the gap from the U-23s.
These aren't just random picks. Eight players on this roster—including Jordyn Bugg and Gisele Thompson—actually came through the "Futures Camp" Hayes set up last year. It’s a pipeline.
The Midfield and Defense Mix
In the middle of the park, Claire Hutton is the one to watch. She’s only 19 but played every single minute of the friendlies against Italy last December. She already has her first international goal and looks like the future of the American No. 6 role.
Then you have Lo’eau LaBonta.
She’s 32. She’s the oldest player on the roster. She actually made history last year as the oldest player to ever debut for the USWNT. In a room full of 20-year-olds, "LaBonty" is the designated adult, bringing that Kansas City Current grit to a very green squad.
The defensive line is equally experimental. With Naomi Girma over in England with Chelsea, the door is open for Emily Sams and Izzy Rodriguez to prove they belong in the long-term conversation for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
The Full January 2026 Training Roster
Instead of a dry list, here is how the 26-player group breaks down by club and position for the matches in Carson and Santa Barbara.
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Goalkeepers The net is wide open. Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign) has the most experience here with six caps. She’s joined by Mandy McGlynn from the Utah Royals and Jordan Silkowitz from Bay FC. Silkowitz is currently uncapped, meaning we might see a debut in goal during the Chile match.
Defenders The Washington Spirit duo of Tara Rudd and Kate Wiesner will be looking to solidify their spots. They are joined by Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Izzy Rodriguez (KC Current), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC), and Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave).
Midfielders Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt represent the Washington Spirit contingent. Joining them are Claire Hutton and Lo’eau LaBonta from Kansas City, Riley Jackson from North Carolina, and the Seattle duo of Sally Menti and Sam Meza. Olivia Moultrie from Portland rounds out the group.
Forwards Aside from Rodman, the attack features Ally Sentnor (KC Current), who was the 2024 Young Female Player of the Year. We also have Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars), and the newcomers Maddie Dahlien and Reilyn Turner.
Why This Roster Matters for 2027
If you’re a casual fan, this might feel like a "B-team."
But for Emma Hayes, this is the "Discovery Phase." She’s looking for the one or two players who can provide depth when the 2027 World Cup qualifying starts later this year.
She’s already given 50 different players starts in her first 30 games. No other USWNT manager has cycled through talent this quickly. It’s a high-stakes audition. If a player like Ally Sentnor or Claire Hutton dominates against Paraguay, they practically lock in their spot for the SheBelieves Cup in March, where the "big names" will return to face Canada, Argentina, and Colombia.
What to watch for next:
- January 24: USA vs. Paraguay at Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA). Watch for how the young backline handles physical South American forwards.
- January 27: USA vs. Chile at Harder Stadium (Santa Barbara, CA). Expect heavy rotation here as Hayes tries to see all 26 players in game action.
- March 1-7: The SheBelieves Cup. This is where we’ll see the "A-team" return, and we'll find out which of these January standouts actually made the cut.
Pay close attention to the midfield transitions. Without Horan or Lavelle, the US has sometimes struggled to move the ball through the center. If Riley Jackson or Olivia Moultrie can dictate the tempo, the us women's national soccer roster might have just found its next generation of playmakers.