Latest news with #KansasCityCurrent
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NWSL midseason review: League leaders, most improved and MVP frontrunners
The NWSL is officially on a summer break. Thirteen weeks into the season, every team has played every other team once, with the reverse fixtures taking place after the regular season restart on Aug. 1. Advertisement This setup provides an ideal balance to measure how individual teams and players compare. At the midway point, Kansas City Current are eight points clear at the top, ahead of Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave and Washington Spirit — three of those four teams were NWSL playoff semifinalists last year, with the Californians replacing Gotham FC. Before we look ahead to the international tournaments later this summer, 's women's soccer staff takes stock of where things stand in the league at the break… The team in the best form It's the least sexy and most obvious answer, but the Kansas City Current have been the team to beat since the season kicked off. When they're at their best, as they were against Gotham FC on June 7 (a 2-1 away win), they essentially eliminate any notion of this season's championship going to anybody else. Advertisement From Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena's league-high six shutouts to the amped-up defensive contributions of Kayla Sharples and recent USWNT call-up Izzy Rodriguez and the continued attacking supremacy of 2024 NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga alongside the revival of Bia Zaneratto, the Current have been superlative from top to bottom. Their biggest challengers heading into the second half of the season will be themselves and their ability to keep the momentum built up so far going over the break. The team that needs a rest Last season, Washington choreographed a midseason coaching change from interim boss Adrián González to Jonatan Giráldez. González had vaulted the Spirit into the top four places of the NWSL standings, largely taking cues from what Giráldez hoped to install upon arriving from his previous post at FC Barcelona last June at the end of the European season. Advertisement This year, they are hitting rewind as owner Michelle Kang appointed (or, perhaps, reassigned) Giráldez to helm another of her women's clubs, OL Lyonnes of France. González, who had dropped down to an assistant position, was once again given the job, ensuring some continuity through another midseason swap. With Giráldez returning to Europe, it's unclear how much his ideology will remain in González's plans. In some multi-club football groups, each team tries to keep a unified ideology. If that dogma isn't being embraced, perhaps we'll see what style González himself wants Washington to adopt without having to hand the keys over, like last year. Their season has also been riddled with injuries. Washington entered 2025 without vital defensive midfielder Andi Sullivan, while last year's star rookie tandem of Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune only recently returned to fitness. Ouleye Sarr was placed on the season-ending injury list with a back issue, while Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman are also currently absent, recovering from their respective ailments. For reasons of style, substance, and strengthening alike, the summer break could not come at a better time for Washington. The move of the summer (so far) The summer's only just begun, but the Spirit's signing of Italy international forward Sofia Cantore from Juventus, who were crowned Italian champions in April, has been the most tantalizing so far. Advertisement Though she isn't eligible to join the Spirit until July 1, Cantore will be the first from her country to play in the NWSL, which speaks both to the breadth of the league's international reach and the extent of the ambitions in the Italian women's game. The 25-year-old plays with tenacity and a sense of adventure, which makes for an exciting complement to the likes of Gift Monday or Hatch in Washington's attack. A new opportunity with intra-league loans It's rare to see the general manager of a team in crisis backing their decision-making to members of the media. It's especially rare for them to say they're wise due to their frugality. Advertisement 'We are the only team in the last 15 months who hasn't spent a dime on the transfer market,' Chicago Stars general manager Richard Feuz told The Equalizer last month, before later adding: 'If I want to have an economical balance, a positive economical balance, I need to trade more than spend.' Trade value is determined by the market of potential suitors. Chicago is one place (and one point) above the bottom of the table, with one win from the 13 games. With USWNT forward Mallory Swanson out for the season due to her pregnancy, the team may not want to part with its most promising players (Jameese Joseph or Ally Schlegel, for example) or supporting stars (Julia Grosso, Sam Staab and Ludmila, to name three). Lucky for Feuz, there's a new mechanism coming to NWSL this summer in the form of intra-league loans, which allow teams to send their players to others within the league temporarily for the first time. Advertisement At this point, Feuz will be hoping to figure out who can be in Chicago's core for the 2026 season and beyond. In the meantime, bringing in players on loan from other NWSL teams who need starting minutes could be a good way to raise the squad's level on the cheap without complicating his future planning around Swanson. Most radical style change Last year, the San Diego Wave followed up their 2023 NWSL Shield win by falling to 10th in the 14-team table. Alex Morgan's retirement and Jaedyn Shaw's departure indicated that this would be a new era of Wave soccer — one overseen by former Arsenal coach Jonas Eidevall. Under Eidevall, San Diego has kept more of the ball than in 2024, especially in the middle third of the field. This is allowing them to have greater control over each game, taking touches off the opponent's feet. It sets the tone for a truly patient game model, one that looks to keep opponents from setting the initiative while giving ample opportunity for San Diego's players to pick their moments to break the lull with something audacious. Advertisement It's working wonders. San Diego enters the break third in the standings, a point behind reigning champion Orlando and one above 2024 runners-up Washington. Forward Delphine Cascarino has set the tempo from her position at right wing, with three goals and five assists, while 13 different players have scored at least once in a very balanced squad. Even with Maria Sanchez off to Tigres of Mexico, San Diego is once again fun to watch and should still be in a playoff place at season's end. Early MVP frontrunners I still think it's too early to call anyone the definitive frontrunner, but Just Women's Sports' podcast host and writer Claire Watkins' thought that Chawinga has the best shot of being the NWSL's first back-to-back MVP looked better and better after the Current cruised through the first half of the year. If an injury doesn't keep her out of the mix for long when the NWSL returns, Chawinga's own teammate Debinha might have a legit shout at the award, too. For non-Kansas City contenders, San Diego's Cascarino has my attention. Advertisement Chawinga for a repeat I agree with Meg about it being still too early to call. While the NWSL will now enjoy a brief pause, several players are heading to major national-team competitions this summer, where anything can happen. If Debinha can avoid injury in the second half of the season, I can see her (finally) being named league MVP after earning MVP honors three times before in other forms (NWSL Championship MVP in 2019, and NWSL Challenge Cup MVP in 2021 and 2022). Her consistency as a player is what makes her great. I'm going with Esther Gonzalez in her current run of form (10 goals in 13 games for Gotham FC) Advertisement For all of San Diego's struggles in 2024, Cascarino was largely impactful after arriving in the summer from the team now known as OL Lyonne. She's changed many games with her on-ball ability and generous chance creation. Tack on helping the Wave vault back from the cellar to the league's upper level and she checks the boxes of an ideal MVP candidate. Midseason best XI created a combined best XI for the first half of the season, voting on the final placement. The formation and positioning are not exact, but the writers landed on a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three attacking players. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Advertisement Portland Thorns, Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, North Carolina Courage, OL Reign, Orlando Pride, Gotham FC, Kansas City Current, Washington Spirit, Angel City, Racing Louisville FC, San Diego Wave, Utah Royals FC, Bay FC, NWSL, UK Women's Football 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NWSL midseason review: League leaders, most improved and MVP frontrunners
The NWSL is officially on a summer break. Thirteen weeks into the season, every team has played every other team once, with the reverse fixtures taking place after the regular season restart on Aug. 1. This setup provides an ideal balance to measure how individual teams and players compare. At the midway point, Kansas City Current are eight points clear at the top, ahead of Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave and Washington Spirit — three of those four teams were NWSL playoff semifinalists last year, with the Californians replacing Gotham FC. Advertisement Before we look ahead to the international tournaments later this summer, The Athletic's women's soccer staff takes stock of where things stand in the league at the break… It's the least sexy and most obvious answer, but the Kansas City Current have been the team to beat since the season kicked off. When they're at their best, as they were against Gotham FC on June 7 (a 2-1 away win), they essentially eliminate any notion of this season's championship going to anybody else. From Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena's league-high six shutouts to the amped-up defensive contributions of Kayla Sharples and recent USWNT call-up Izzy Rodriguez and the continued attacking supremacy of 2024 NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga alongside the revival of Bia Zaneratto, the Current have been superlative from top to bottom. Their biggest challengers heading into the second half of the season will be themselves and their ability to keep the momentum built up so far going over the break. — Tamerra Griffin Last season, Washington choreographed a midseason coaching change from interim boss Adrián González to Jonatan Giráldez. González had vaulted the Spirit into the top four places of the NWSL standings, largely taking cues from what Giráldez hoped to install upon arriving from his previous post at FC Barcelona last June at the end of the European season. This year, they are hitting rewind as owner Michelle Kang appointed (or, perhaps, reassigned) Giráldez to helm another of her women's clubs, OL Lyonnes of France. González, who had dropped down to an assistant position, was once again given the job, ensuring some continuity through another midseason swap. With Giráldez returning to Europe, it's unclear how much his ideology will remain in González's plans. In some multi-club football groups, each team tries to keep a unified ideology. If that dogma isn't being embraced, perhaps we'll see what style González himself wants Washington to adopt without having to hand the keys over, like last year. Advertisement Their season has also been riddled with injuries. Washington entered 2025 without vital defensive midfielder Andi Sullivan, while last year's star rookie tandem of Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune only recently returned to fitness. Ouleye Sarr was placed on the season-ending injury list with a back issue, while Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman are also currently absent, recovering from their respective ailments. For reasons of style, substance, and strengthening alike, the summer break could not come at a better time for Washington. — Jeff Rueter The summer's only just begun, but the Spirit's signing of Italy international forward Sofia Cantore from Juventus, who were crowned Italian champions in April, has been the most tantalizing so far. Though she isn't eligible to join the Spirit until July 1, Cantore will be the first from her country to play in the NWSL, which speaks both to the breadth of the league's international reach and the extent of the ambitions in the Italian women's game. The 25-year-old plays with tenacity and a sense of adventure, which makes for an exciting complement to the likes of Gift Monday or Hatch in Washington's attack. — Griffin It's rare to see the general manager of a team in crisis backing their decision-making to members of the media. It's especially rare for them to say they're wise due to their frugality. 'We are the only team in the last 15 months who hasn't spent a dime on the transfer market,' Chicago Stars general manager Richard Feuz told The Equalizer last month, before later adding: 'If I want to have an economical balance, a positive economical balance, I need to trade more than spend.' Trade value is determined by the market of potential suitors. Chicago is one place (and one point) above the bottom of the table, with one win from the 13 games. With USWNT forward Mallory Swanson out for the season due to her pregnancy, the team may not want to part with its most promising players (Jameese Joseph or Ally Schlegel, for example) or supporting stars (Julia Grosso, Sam Staab and Ludmila, to name three). Lucky for Feuz, there's a new mechanism coming to NWSL this summer in the form of intra-league loans, which allow teams to send their players to others within the league temporarily for the first time. At this point, Feuz will be hoping to figure out who can be in Chicago's core for the 2026 season and beyond. In the meantime, bringing in players on loan from other NWSL teams who need starting minutes could be a good way to raise the squad's level on the cheap without complicating his future planning around Swanson. Advertisement — Rueter Last year, the San Diego Wave followed up their 2023 NWSL Shield win by falling to 10th in the 14-team table. Alex Morgan's retirement and Jaedyn Shaw's departure indicated that this would be a new era of Wave soccer — one overseen by former Arsenal coach Jonas Eidevall. Under Eidevall, San Diego has kept more of the ball than in 2024, especially in the middle third of the field. This is allowing them to have greater control over each game, taking touches off the opponent's feet. It sets the tone for a truly patient game model, one that looks to keep opponents from setting the initiative while giving ample opportunity for San Diego's players to pick their moments to break the lull with something audacious. It's working wonders. San Diego enters the break third in the standings, a point behind reigning champion Orlando and one above 2024 runners-up Washington. Forward Delphine Cascarino has set the tempo from her position at right wing, with three goals and five assists, while 13 different players have scored at least once in a very balanced squad. Even with Maria Sanchez off to Tigres of Mexico, San Diego is once again fun to watch and should still be in a playoff place at season's end. — Rueter I still think it's too early to call anyone the definitive frontrunner, but Just Women's Sports' podcast host and writer Claire Watkins' thought that Chawinga has the best shot of being the NWSL's first back-to-back MVP looked better and better after the Current cruised through the first half of the year. If an injury doesn't keep her out of the mix for long when the NWSL returns, Chawinga's own teammate Debinha might have a legit shout at the award, too. For non-Kansas City contenders, San Diego's Cascarino has my attention. — Meg Linehan Chawinga for a repeat — Griffin I agree with Meg about it being still too early to call. While the NWSL will now enjoy a brief pause, several players are heading to major national-team competitions this summer, where anything can happen. If Debinha can avoid injury in the second half of the season, I can see her (finally) being named league MVP after earning MVP honors three times before in other forms (NWSL Championship MVP in 2019, and NWSL Challenge Cup MVP in 2021 and 2022). Her consistency as a player is what makes her great. — Melanie Anzidei Advertisement I'm going with Esther Gonzalez in her current run of form (10 goals in 13 games for Gotham FC) — Asli Pelit For all of San Diego's struggles in 2024, Cascarino was largely impactful after arriving in the summer from the team now known as OL Lyonne. She's changed many games with her on-ball ability and generous chance creation. Tack on helping the Wave vault back from the cellar to the league's upper level and she checks the boxes of an ideal MVP candidate. — Rueter The Athletic created a combined best XI for the first half of the season, voting on the final placement. The formation and positioning are not exact, but the writers landed on a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three attacking players.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brittany Mahomes Shares Relatable Parenting Hack That Allows Her to ‘Tan While the Kids Play'
Brittany Mahomes is sharing her relatable parenting hack that allows her to "tan while the kids play" Revealing the large inflatable water slid,e which features a bouncy section and a paddling pool, the Kansas City Current co-owner notes that she can relax while the kids are occupied Brittany shares two daughters, Sterling Skye, 4, and Golden Raye, 5 months, and one son, Patrick 'Bronze', 2, with Kansas City Chiefs player Patrick MahomesBrittany Mahomes is getting real about parenting! The Kansas City Current co-owner, 29, shared an Instagram story on Sunday, June 22, showing her in a leopard print swimsuit and sunglasses, relaxing in the paddling pool section of a large inflatable slide. She panned the camera to show her 2-year-old son, Bronze, jumping up and down on the inflatable as 4-year-old Sterling can be heard shouting, 'Mommy, come on the slide with me.' Brittany then reveals the real reason she purchased the large inflatable for her garden. 'Did I get this [inflatable] so I can tan while the kids play? We'll never know,' she quips to the camera while shielding her eyes from the sun. Brittany and her Kansas City Chiefs quarterback husband, Patrick, also 29, share three children: Sterling Skye, 4, Bronze,2, and baby Golden, who was born in January. This isn't the first time the former Sports Illustrated model has shared parenting tips and tricks. Back in March, the star revealed her advice to other parents with 'more the one kiddo.' After the arrival of baby Golden in January, Brittany noted the importance of sharing one-on-one time with the older children in the family. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! On Friday, March 14, she shared a photo on her Instagram Stories of herself and her husband, Patrick, spending quality time with their eldest daughter, Sterling Skye, enjoying a word puzzle and doing some coloring. "Took our girl for some one on one time today 🥺🤍," Brittany wrote over the post. "If you have more than one kiddo, I advise to still make one on one time with each of them!" Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. And after keeping her face hidden for most of her first few months, earlier in June, Brittany and Patrick shared the first shots of baby Golden's face in some adorable snaps alongside her elder siblings. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Captioning her post, 'What truly matters,' Brittany shared a series of photos that featured the entire Mahomes crew in a joint post on Instagram. The June 12 snaps show the family of five posing together in front of a brown backdrop. Sweet little Golden is seen in a denim romper with a large bow on her head while her smiling siblings wear white outfits. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rose Lavelle return headlines USWNT roster for summer friendlies against Ireland, Canada
Rose Lavelle is back with the U.S. women's national team for the first time in six months, joining a national team roster of mostly domestic players for a trio of friendlies as head coach Emma Hayes makes good on her promise to give most of the team's European-based players a break this summer. Hayes announced her 25-player roster on Wednesday for three friendlies spanning June and July. The team will first travel to Commerce City, Colo., and then Cincinnati, Ohio, for a pair of matches against Ireland on June 26 and June 29, before heading to Washington, D.C., to face continental rival Canada at Audi Field on July 2. Advertisement Hayes continues to find ways to deepen the USWNT player pool, tapping a quartet of players who are being called into this national team environment for the first time. Six players on this roster have yet to be capped. Lavelle brings veteran leadership to the squad, returning to the international stage for the first time in 6 1/2 months after recovering from ankle surgery. The veteran midfielder recently returned to the pitch for Gotham, subbing on in the 74th minute in her team's 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current. The USWNT manager said 23 players will suit up for each of the three games. USWNT June and July friendlies roster GOALKEEPERS (3): Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC) Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals) Advertisement DEFENDERS (10): Kerry Abello (Orlando Pride), Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign FC), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC) MIDFIELDERS (6): Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Sam Meza (Seattle Reign FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC) FORWARDS (6): Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC) Lavelle's anticipated return Hayes recently teased Lavelle's return to the national team, alluding to the veteran midfielder's value as one of the most experienced players on her roster. 'She's had, as she calls it, a very lengthy layoff,' Hayes told ESPN last week, joking Lavelle was 'bored senseless' at home. 'We miss her experience, and very much looking forward to her coming back.' Advertisement The World Cup and Olympic champion has 110 caps under her belt, as well as 24 international goals, including in the 2019 Women's World Cup final. She last played for the USWNT in the last match of 2024 against the Netherlands. It's likely that Lavelle's return to the pitch will be measured, with a near guarantee she'll feature in Cincinnati. The 30-year-old is considered one of the most popular local athletes from the region in the last decade, and a product of Notre Dame High School. Lavelle is also one of only six players on this roster to have played in a world championship at the senior level, offering Hayes a chance to blend varying experience levels across these three upcoming friendlies. Other players with similar international experience include midfielder Bethune, forward Biyendolo, defender Sonnett, midfielder Coffey and defender Girma. Like Lavelle, fellow midfielder Bethune, the 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year, returns to the national team roster a long recovery from surgery. Bethune, who is returning from a knee injury, last played with the USWNT at the Olympics in France. A roster of mostly NWSL talent Hayes' decision to rest most of her European-based talent offers those players, including regular starters like Arsenal's Emily Fox and Lyon's Lindsey Heaps, a much-needed break as the USWNT looks ahead to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil and Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. Advertisement Many of these players haven't had significant time off in two years as they pushed through long seasons and various international competitions in that time. Chelsea's Girma, who made her return to the USWNT in the last FIFA window, is the only European-based player to be called into this upcoming window. Hayes is continuing to test the depth of USWNT's player pool during this window, the former Chelsea manager has stressed. 'We want to continue to improve our understanding of how we want to play and widen the player pool, and those are some of the key goals of this three-game window,' Hayes said in her announcement. 'On this roster, we have players with a varied amount of experience, and my priority is to deepen the exposures required for international soccer. These are three challenging matches and as always, we want to win, but also to make sure we are ready for the next steps.' Hayes' roster features four players earning their first call-ups in defenders Bugg, Reale and Rodriguez, and midfielder Meza. That brings the number of players receiving first-time callups under Hayes up to 27. Bugg, Reale and Rodriguez all played in the U-20 Women's World Cup, while Meza was on the U-17 WWC roster. Advertisement While this roster features 19 players with fewer than 10 caps, a handful of these players have become regular call-ups for Hayes in recent windows, especially as the team remains without some of its biggest stars up front, including the entirety of the Triple Espresso. (Hayes said last week she anticipates Trinity Rodman's return to the NWSL in July, while Sophia Wilson and Mal Swanson have announced their pregnancies.) That's not to say that Hayes is without strong attacking options, however. Utah's Ally Sentnor notched her first brace on June 3 against Jamaica in the most recent window and is a player Hayes has expressed extreme confidence in. She and the other five forwards on this roster (Biyendolo, Cooper, Ryan, Sears, Thompson) have a combined 19 goals in the NWSL so far this year. Houston's Ryan is also returning to the fold after being unavailable in the last FIFA window because of an injury. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, Women's World Cup 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Rose Lavelle return headlines USWNT roster for summer friendlies against Ireland, Canada
Rose Lavelle is back with the U.S. women's national team for the first time in six months, joining a national team roster of mostly domestic players for a trio of friendlies as head coach Emma Hayes makes good on her promise to give most of the team's European-based players a break this summer. Hayes announced her 25-player roster on Wednesday for three friendlies spanning June and July. The team will first travel to Commerce City, Colo., and then Cincinnati, Ohio, for a pair of matches against Ireland on June 26 and June 29, before heading to Washington, D.C., to face continental rival Canada at Audi Field on July 2. Advertisement Hayes continues to find ways to deepen the USWNT player pool, tapping a quartet of players who are being called into this national team environment for the first time. Six players on this roster have yet to be capped. Lavelle brings veteran leadership to the squad, returning to the international stage for the first time in 6 1/2 months after recovering from ankle surgery. The veteran midfielder recently returned to the pitch for Gotham, subbing on in the 74th minute in her team's 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current. The USWNT manager said 23 players will suit up for each of the three games. GOALKEEPERS (3): Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC), Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC) Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals) DEFENDERS (10): Kerry Abello (Orlando Pride), Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign FC), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC) MIDFIELDERS (6): Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Sam Meza (Seattle Reign FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC) FORWARDS (6): Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC) Hayes recently teased Lavelle's return to the national team, alluding to the veteran midfielder's value as one of the most experienced players on her roster. 'She's had, as she calls it, a very lengthy layoff,' Hayes told ESPN last week, joking Lavelle was 'bored senseless' at home. 'We miss her experience, and very much looking forward to her coming back.' The World Cup and Olympic champion has 110 caps under her belt, as well as 24 international goals, including in the 2019 Women's World Cup final. She last played for the USWNT in the last match of 2024 against the Netherlands. It's likely that Lavelle's return to the pitch will be measured, with a near guarantee she'll feature in Cincinnati. The 30-year-old is considered one of the most popular local athletes from the region in the last decade, and a product of Notre Dame High School. Lavelle is also one of only six players on this roster to have played in a world championship at the senior level, offering Hayes a chance to blend varying experience levels across these three upcoming friendlies. Other players with similar international experience include midfielder Bethune, forward Biyendolo, defender Sonnett, midfielder Coffey and defender Girma. Advertisement Like Lavelle, fellow midfielder Bethune, the 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year, returns to the national team roster a long recovery from surgery. Bethune, who is returning from a knee injury, last played with the USWNT at the Olympics in France. Hayes' decision to rest most of her European-based talent offers those players, including regular starters like Arsenal's Emily Fox and Lyon's Lindsey Heaps, a much-needed break as the USWNT looks ahead to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil and Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. Many of these players haven't had significant time off in two years as they pushed through long seasons and various international competitions in that time. Chelsea's Girma, who made her return to the USWNT in the last FIFA window, is the only European-based player to be called into this upcoming window. Hayes is continuing to test the depth of USWNT's player pool during this window, the former Chelsea manager has stressed. 'We want to continue to improve our understanding of how we want to play and widen the player pool, and those are some of the key goals of this three-game window,' Hayes said in her announcement. 'On this roster, we have players with a varied amount of experience, and my priority is to deepen the exposures required for international soccer. These are three challenging matches and as always, we want to win, but also to make sure we are ready for the next steps.' Hayes' roster features four players earning their first call-ups in defenders Bugg, Reale and Rodriguez, and midfielder Meza. That brings the number of players receiving first-time callups under Hayes up to 27. Bugg, Reale and Rodriguez all played in the U-20 Women's World Cup, while Meza was on the U-17 WWC roster. While this roster features 19 players with fewer than 10 caps, a handful of these players have become regular call-ups for Hayes in recent windows, especially as the team remains without some of its biggest stars up front, including the entirety of the Triple Espresso. (Hayes said last week she anticipates Trinity Rodman's return to the NWSL in July, while Sophia Wilson and Mal Swanson have announced their pregnancies.) Advertisement That's not to say that Hayes is without strong attacking options, however. Utah's Ally Sentnor notched her first brace on June 3 against Jamaica in the most recent window and is a player Hayes has expressed extreme confidence in. She and the other five forwards on this roster (Biyendolo, Cooper, Ryan, Sears, Thompson) have a combined 19 goals in the NWSL so far this year. Houston's Ryan is also returning to the fold after being unavailable in the last FIFA window because of an injury.
