In this week's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins dives into the individuals who put together standout performances for the USWNT in the team's recent pair of friendlies, from a big update in the goalkeeping race to the squad's multi-layered midfield project.
Watkins also breaks down the missed opportunities amid the USWNT's 3-0 win over China PR and 4-0 victory against Jamaica, as the year of head coach Emma Hayes's great roster experiment crosses the six-month mark.
Diving straight into the players who impressed, Watkins first calls out US captain Lindsey Heaps, applauding her performances while also noting that she "[wishes] maybe [Heaps] was used more situationally than kind of all the time."
"Heaps has so much to give this team, but it is probably against teams like this where they're sitting back a little bit more," explains Watkins. "I don't love her against a press. I don't love her against a super athletic, physical midfield, but in these games, she really shines."
Shifting to the ongoing search to crown retired goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher's replacement, Watkins dubs Manchester United net-minder Phallon Tullis-Joyce — who started both USWNT friendlies — the overall frontrunner.
"Tullis-Joyce honestly reminds me a lot of Alyssa Naeher in her first couple years with the USWNT," says Watkins. "She's calm, she's organized, she's a good shot-stopper. She's a great communicator."
Young talent make strong cases for USWNT roster inclusion
Watkins also sings the praises of several young talents whose performances over the last week will make them hard to drop, including "obvious" choices like forward Alyssa Thompson and attacker Catarina Macario, as well as strike Ally Sentnor and teen midfielder Lily Yohannes.
Callling Yohannes "the freaking truth," Watkins notes that "you're seeing glimpses of what could become truly world-class play against the top teams in the world in a couple of years."
Making a slightly quieter, but no less impactful, case, argues Watkins, is winger Michelle Cooper.
Cooper's consistent refining and improvement have Watkins comparing her progress to star Trinity Rodman's USWNT evolution, saying that top passing is "how [Rodman] worked her way into the team before starting to take more shots. I think Cooper can follow that same game plan."
Missed opportunities leave some players scrambling
Pivoting to the missed opportunities arising from the two friendlies, Watkins calls the center-back pairings "lackluster," celebrating the return of star Naomi Girma and her rock-solid play as well as veteran Emily Sonnett's versatility while critiquing Hayes's decision to not test much depth at the position.
"It just feels like a wasted opportunity with so many other center back injuries," Watkins explains, referencing season-ending injuries to players like Tierna Davidson.
Along with what Watkins calls "rough" set pieces, she notes that less rotation and late subs were a missed opportunity to adequately test fresh faces or build chemistry with other players.
Noting that performances like forward Lynn Biyendolo's Jamaica match, in which she scored a brace off the bench, are "the gold standard," Watkins also questions Hayes's own criticism about the level of play dropping off when athletes aren't given enough minutes to find their feet and make an impact.
Citing talent like defender Emily Sams and midfielders Lo'eau LaBonta and Olivia Moultrie, Watkins posits that the sub patterns "just didn't quite have the focus that I'm sure Hayes was looking for."
"I worry that the players that kind of got dumped into games late never really had a chance, which is this happens at times when they're starting to ramp up," she says.
Overall, Hayes seems to be more obviously honing in on her starting core.
"We're starting to see players get multiple starts.... Those are the players to take seriously as the future of this program," notes Watkins.
"Hayes is being very purposeful with what she wants to see from her starters and what she wants to see from her bench. And there is an increasing gap between those two groups," says Watkins. "So the competition rises next international break."
About 'The Late Sub' with Claire Watkins
The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes on the USWNT, NWSL, and all things women's soccer. Special guest appearances featuring the biggest names in women’s sports make TLS a must-listen for every soccer fan.
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In their first match since early April, the USWNT didn't miss a beat, comfortably taking down China PR 3-0 to kick off a series of two international friendlies on Saturday.
Forward Catarina Macario opened scoring in the match's 28th minute, before midfielder Sam Coffey doubled the scoreline later in the first half. A header from captain Lindsey Heaps in the 54th minute put the finishing touch on the Saturday victory.
Head coach Emma Hayes's top-ranked USWNT played fluidly against No. 17 China PR, dominating the game's attack with more than 70% possession while notching 18 shots on goal — seven of them on target.
"I feel like I'm working a lot on trying to join the play more, get up in counter-measures. I tend to play it too safe, and think too 'worst-case scenario,' so I was just trying to join," Coffey told TBS after tallying her second international goal.
The match also saw the international debut of 32-year-old midfielder Lo'eau Labonta, who became the oldest player to earn a first cap in USWNT history with her entrance in the game's 70th minute.
"When they called my name, I was sitting being the best cheerleader I could be on the bench," LaBonta joked after the win. "I was like, 'This is amazing. I've never been field-view watching the national team.' It was so cool."
The US will go again against No. 40 Jamaica on Tuesday, but it appears that Hayes's roster reshuffling hasn't yet hindered their ability to control games.
How to watch the USWNT vs. Jamaica friendly this week
The USWNT will take on the Reggae Girlz at 8 PM ET on Tuesday in St. Louis, Missouri, with live coverage on TNT.
The United States women’s national team continued to dominate Group A at the Concacaf W Championship, thumping Jamaica 5-0 Thursday, three days after blanking Haiti 3-0 in the opener.
Thursday’s shutout puts the USWNT in a prime position to qualify for the World Cup. The team has the advantage of an eight-point goal differential entering the group-stage finale against Mexico on Monday.
Here are three takeaways from the USWNT’s shutout of Jamaica.
Young USWNT defense keeps a clean sheet
Two new faces joined the USWNT’s backline against Jamaica. Naomi Girma and Sophia Huerta replaced veterans Kelley O’Hara and Becky Sauerbrunn, who anchored the backline against Haiti in Monday’s Concacaf opener.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski’s rotation paid off early, with Girma and Huerta each logging assists in the first half and serving impressive long balls up the field to Sophia Smith.
Girma played alongside Alana Cook at center back, and the two shut down Jamaican sensation Khadija “Bunny” Shaw with apparent ease. The pair’s chemistry was evident, after the two played together for a year at Stanford.
The young defenders have a combined 15 USWNT caps compared to Sauerbrunn’s 204 international appearances. Andonovski has been eager to usher in young talent and build chemistry with the team’s seasoned leaders. The success of the Girma-Cook combination could complicate Andonovski’s plans, as the coach has yet to cement a go-to lineup ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Sophia Smith shines
Smith put her mark on Thursday’s matchup early, notching a brace in the opening eight minutes of the game.
In the fifth minute, Smith sprinted into the box before beating her defender and striking the ball with the outside of her boot for the go-ahead goal. Three minutes later, Smith got on the end of a Huerta long ball to double the USWNT’s lead.
Thursday marked Smith’s eighth start of the year, tying her with defenders Cook and Emily Fox for the most by any USWNT player in 2022. With each game, the 21-year-old appears to be solidifying herself as the foundation of the team’s forward lineup.
Smith is currently tied for the most goals in the Concacaf Championship with two, alongside teammate Alex Morgan and Canada’s Julia Grosso.
After a prolific 45 minutes, Smith was replaced by Midge Purce at the break as part of Andonovski’s effort to get a range of players minutes.
The first of the evening for @sophsssmith ☝️
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 7, 2022
pic.twitter.com/zpc4TQk8Oi
Rotation, rotation, rotation
Andonovski has been known to rotate players often, and his approach to the Concacaf W Championship has been no different. The USWNT coach made five switches from his starting lineup against Haiti, including the swap in the backline. Alyssa Naeher replaced Casey Murphy in goal, Ashley Sanchez took over for Andi Sullivan in the midfield, and Ashley Hatch got the start over Alex Morgan in the attack.
Five substitutes came on in the second half, further shaking things up for the USWNT. Emily Sonnett relieved Emily Fox at left back, while Purce took over for Smith at the break. Then, in a surprise move, Trinity Rodman came on for Hatch at the No. 9 position, a role the 20-year-old rarely fills.
Kristie Mewis and Taylor Kornieck also got minutes, replacing midfielders Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan.
The heavy rotation from Andonvski gave players new looks, with Rodman scoring her second career USWNT goal and Mewis notching her first international penalty to lead the squad to an emphatic 5-0 victory over Jamaica.
Andonovski’s lineup changes continue to sow speculation about starting positions and roster movement ahead of the 2023 World Cup cycle.
The second match of the Concacaf W Championship group stage for the U.S. women’s national team is here.
The USWNT is set to face off against Jamaica at 7 p.m. ET Thursday in Monterrey, Mexico. The match will be streamed on Paramount+.
USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski already revealed Wednesday that Alyssa Naeher would get the starting nod over Casey Murphy in net. After Thursday’s match, though, it’s anybody’s spot for the rest of the tournament.
The starting lineup for Thursday’s match features:
- Alyssa Naeher, GK
- Emily Fox, D
- Alana Cook, D
- Naomi Girma, D
- Sofia Huerta, D
- Ashley Sanchez, M
- Rose Lavelle, M
- Lindsey Horan, M (captain)
- Mallory Pugh, F
- Ashley Hatch, F
- Sophia Smith, F
Available subs include: Casey Murphy, Aubrey Kingsbury, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Andi Sullivan, Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman, Emily Sonnett, Taylor Kornieck, Kristie Mewis and Midge Purce.
Megan Rapinoe is unavailable for Thursday’s match after traveling to Washington, D.C. to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden at the White House.
After defeating Haiti 3-0 in Monday’s opener, the USWNT has a big test against Jamaica before turning their attention to Mexico next Monday.
Mexico is already in a do-or-die situation after losing to Jamaica on Monday. The host team is set to face Haiti at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Khadija “Bunny” Shaw scored Jamaica’s lone goal in the 1-0 win over Mexico. Andonovski cited her as a major obstacle in the USWNT’s path to winning the group.
This will be the fifth meeting all-time between the U.S. and Jamaica, and their fourth in a Concacaf qualifier. Each of their previous four meetings between have resulted in USWNT clean sheets — including last June during the USWNT Summer Series friendlies.
Jamaica started off the Concacaf W Championship on the right note Monday, stunning host Mexico with a 1-0 victory.
Khadija “Bunny” Shaw played hero, notching the game’s lone goal a mere eight minutes in off of a set piece.
BUNNY SHAW OPENS THE SCORING FOR JAMAICA. 🇯🇲
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) July 5, 2022
What a set piece from the Reggae Girlz. 💪 pic.twitter.com/6cM6zItZhv
The all-time top goalscorer for the Jamaican women’s national team, Shaw has played with Manchester City since 2021 and has scored nine goals through 17 appearances with the Women’s Super League club.
After the game, Mexico head coach Mónica Vergara said the slow start was a killer for the home team and took responsibility for the loss, while Jamaica head coach Lorne Donaldson said his team went in prepared and didn’t come across any surprises in their matchup.
“Almost everything they did, we expected it,” he said.
The Reggae Girlz finished with four shots on goal to Mexico’s two.
The win opens up Group A, as just two teams will advance to the knockout rounds. Jamaica, now in second in Group A, is in a strong position as it enters their final two matches of the group stage.
The upcoming women’s soccer friendly between Jamaica and Costa will be aired live on ata football, the organization announced Wednesday.
In support of Cedella Marley’s Football is Freedom initiative, the match will be available live and for free on atafootball.com. It’s set to kick off on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
The Football is Freedom initiative, begun by Cedella Marley in an effort to expand her advocacy and commitment to the women’s game, aims to provide tools and resources for the development and growth of women’s soccer throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as diaspora communities in the United States.
The friendly fundraising match between Jamaica and Costa Rica represents the combined efforts of the Bob Marley Foundation, Rita Marley Foundation and Reggae Girlz Foundation.
With Sunday’s broadcast, ata football continues to show its commitment to the women’s game. The platform is currently home to more than 200 live and on-demand matches and highlights from women’s soccer leagues around the world.
Tickets for the game, which will be held at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., are available for purchase.