Emma Hayes looks to experience for trio of games against Japan
Old names and familiar faces return in latest USWNT squad
Since Emma Hayes arrived as US boss in 2024, she has experimented heavily with rosters, bringing in uncapped players into nearly every camp.
But as the November World Cup qualifiers come into focus, that phase appears to have concluded for now. Set to face Japan in three April friendlies, starting Saturday, the USWNT squad features zero uncapped players for the second straight window and just the second time under Hayes.
Japan enter this trio of fixtures coming off a dominant run to win the Asian Cup, in which they outscored opponents 29-1, including a 1-0 victory over host country Australia in the final. But just 12 days later, they parted ways with coach Nils Nielsen, declining to extend his expired contract, so Michihisa Kano will serve as Japan’s interim coach against the US.
“Playing the same country three times in a row, and especially a team that is as dedicated to their style as Japan, will be a massive test for our team,” Hayes said in her pre-match media, “and I’m looking forward to seeing how our team handles the numerous challenges these games will present.”
The USWNT has historically dominated Japan, with a 32-2-8 record. But the two sides have met in numerous consequential matches, including the 2011 and 2015 World Cup finals, which they split. Last year, Japan took home the 2025 SheBelieves Cup crown with a 2-1 victory over the USWNT, securing just its second outright win ever against them.
Japan have already qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, doing so with a 7-0 victory over the Philippines in the Asian Cup quarter-finals. They rank eighth in the Fifa’s world rankings, compared with the US who sit in second.
The games will take place on Saturday at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday 14 April at Lumen Field in Seattle, and 17 April at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
US Women’s National Team roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United)
DEFENDERS (9): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC; 67/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (Chelsea), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC), Emily Sams (Angel City), Emily Sonnett (Gotham), Gisele Thompson (Angel City), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Sam Coffey (Manchester City), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes), Claire Hutton (Bay), Rose Lavelle (Gotham), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes)
FORWARDS (7): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns)
Sophia Wilson and Tierna Davison return as Rudd’s excluded
Forward Sophia Wilson and centre back Tierna Davidson have both returned to national team camp after prolonged absences.
Wilson last featured for the USWNT in October 2024 before going on maternity leave, while Davidson previously featured last March and is coming back from an ACL injury.
The 25-year-old Wilson scored three goals during the USWNT’s 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal run, becoming a mainstay in the ‘Triple Espresso’ frontline that also includes Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson. While Hayes included both Wilson and Rodman on the April roster, Swanson remains on maternity leave after the birth of her first child in November 2025.
Wilson, who recorded 18 goal contributions in 20 games in the NWSL in 2024, has yet to find the back of the net for the Portland Thorns this season. However, she has built up her minutes across the first five matches of 2026. Last weekend, the 25-year-old played her first full 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw against the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, creating two chances and putting one shot on target.
San Diego Wave’s Catarina Macario has often played as a No 9 in Wilson’s absence, and Utah Royals’ Ally Sentnor assumed that spot during the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, while Macario dealt — and still deals with — a heel injury.
It’s difficult to predict which No 9 will start on the 2027 World Cup roster, with lots of time for the team landscape to change, but the April camp is an opportunity for Wilson to re-acclimate to the USWNT environment and rebuild on-field relationships with the squad.
Davidson, who started in the 2024 gold medal match, has been slowly building minutes since returning to Gotham’s lineup on 21 March. She has played 114 minutes in four appearances this season, reaching a season-high 43 minutes in a 2-1 defeat to the Kansas City Current on Saturday.
As Davidson re-integrates into the squad, Washington Spirit defender Tara Rudd’s exclusion from the roster - despite being a regular since receiving her first call-up in 2024 - was notable.
Rudd has seemingly been jumped, at least for now, by other defenders in a competitive group that includes Chelsea’s Naomi Girma, Gotham’s Emily Sonnett, Wave’s Kennedy Wesley, Angel City’s Emily Sams and Davidson.
“As our team continues to evolve, it will be great to welcome back Sophia and Tierna, who are not only great players but also contribute positively to our team environment,” Hayes said on the defensive decisions.
Campbell has chance to demonstrate form despite aging national team window
The Houston Dash appear much improved since finishing 10th in the NWSL last season, sitting fifth after four games so far this season.
A large part of their success has been the form of goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who ranks third in goals prevented among NWSL goalkeepers this season (FotMob).
When Hayes selected the roster, the Dash’s wild 4-3 victory over Racing Louisville had yet to occur, a blip on Campbell’s resume, even though two of Racing’s goals came from the spot. But Campbell’s body of work remains strong as the Dash started the season with clean sheet victories over the Wave and expansion-side Boston Legacy, contests in which Campbell made 11 saves.
Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Seattle Reign’s Claudia Dickey appear to be locks for Hayes squad at the goalkeeper position. But with Utah Royals’ Mandy McGlynn unavailable with a finger injury, Hayes has provided Campbell with a chance to prove her form, notably not selecting for a younger talent like Bay FC’s Jordan Silkowitz, whom she has turned to in the past.
“Last year, I think there were a lot of ups and downs,” Dash coach Fabrice Gautrat said after the Wave match. “For her to start the season the way she has, it’s huge and we need her. I’m most pleased with how much she’s grown and how she not only leads by example, but she’s really a bridge between staff and team.”
How formidable will Japan be with an interim manager?
The timing of Japan’s decision not to offer Nielsen a new contract is curious following the team’s victory at the Asian Cup last month. But according to Japan Today, his contract had expired and the national team director Norio Sasaki called him “lax,” saying Japan would not be able to win the World Cup under his charge.
It’s unlikely Japan will change much tactically under the interim coach Kano, but Nielsen’s departure could be a blow nonetheless for the visiting side during this window. Kano has served as the country’s U-20 coach, leading the team to a second-place finish at the 2024 U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Japan’s success, employing their quick, technical and tenacious style, is often driven by their talented midfield, which includes Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa. But after their triumph at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, they later suffered losses to Brazil, Spain and Norway during a six-game winless stretch.
An in-form Japan side could be filled with confidence after their Asian Cup victory, and they shape up to be a formidable foe for the USWNT.
“Japan is undoubtedly one of the top teams in the world,” Hayes said, “and they are performing at a very high level coming off their Asian Cup title, which was impressive to watch.”