The US women's soccer team kicked off its October training camp on Tuesday at the Arthur M. Blank National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia — the squad's first sessions at the facility since it opened in May. With 17 outdoor pitches and purpose-built infrastructure, the center gives USWNT players a permanent home base after decades without one.
"The fields are what I'm probably the most excited about," USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps told reporters.
"US Soccer is just making a big push to make things incredible for us. I appreciate everything they did to put this together, and we're just excited to be here for the first time."
US Women's Soccer Boss Emma Hayes Issues Multiple 1st Senior Team Call-Ups
The fields weren't the only thing new when it came to camp.
Head coach Emma Hayes named a 26-player roster for this month's training session, highlighted by three first-time call-ups in Angel City FC defender Evelyn Shores, forward Trinity Byars, and Portland Thorns forward Pietra Tordin. Utah Royals defender Kate Del Fava also joined the group after an injury ruled out center back Naomi Girma.
While USWNT mainstays like Jaedyn Shaw and Ally Sentnor dropped down to U-23 play this cycle, the new facilities mean that Hayes can keep a close eye on her younger players.
"This is what we wanted from day one – a situation where we've got two elite groups, side by side, all competing to be on the senior squad," she said of both groups training for their respective matches at the same time. While the senior USWNT looks to take on reigning World Cup champions Spain, the U-23 squad face the Dominican Republic.
Where to Watch USWNT vs Spain Friendlies
That first match against FIFA's top-ranked team is set for October 10th at Audi Field in Washington, DC. A second USWNT vs Spain matchup follows on October 13th at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Fans can catch both on TBS, TNT, and HBO Max.
