The Denver Summit vs North Carolina Courage matchup ended in a 2-0 road win for the Courage on Wednesday, the only NWSL match on the midweek slate.

Penalty Gives NC Courage 2nd-Half Lead Over Denver Summit

Both teams traded chances through a scoreless first half. Then, three minutes after the restart, Summit defender Eva Gaetino brought down Erica Parkinson in the box. Courage midfielder Riley Jackson stepped up and buried the penalty in the 48th minute.

Denver Summit FC continued to push for an equalizer but could not find a way to break through in the end. In the 81st minute, Colorado native Ally Schlegel doubled the lead for North Carolina. She charged at goal and slipped one past keeper Abby Smith to slam the door.

Behind them, veteran Kailen Sheridan made six saves for her fifth clean sheet of the year. It was also the Courage's second straight shutout.

One late twist stood out before kickoff. Denver captain Lindsey Heaps, who also wears the armband for the USWNT, was a surprise scratch after initially being named to the starting XI.

Both sides turn around quickly. On Saturday, the Courage visit the Washington Spirit while the Summit host the surging Utah Royals in their next NWSL matches.

The world No. 2 USWNT returns to action on Tuesday night, taking the pitch for the first time in Santa Barbara, California, to close out the team's January friendlies against No. 47 Chile.

Tuesday also marks the final match before US manager Emma Hayes begins narrowing her player pool ahead of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup in March, with competition mounting in the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup qualifiers in November.

"I have a really good idea of the pool," Hayes told reporters prior to Tuesday's friendly. "I know which group of players we're going to be building around."

With a roster comprised entirely of NWSL players, Hayes will also be managing fitness as the team gears up for their second game in four days.

"One thing I have almost agreed to do, knowing where the players are at this stage of the season with their NWSL club, is to not start a player for two games," Hayes said.

"I'm putting together a whole new lineup," she continued. "Which itself will bring another set of challenges, whether that be first caps, whether that will be inexperience, [or] collectively playing together."

Three January call-ups remain uncapped, as North Carolina Courage midfielder Riley Jackson, Denver Summit defender Ayo Oke, and Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz look to make Tuesday night's starting XI.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Chile

The No. 2 USWNT will close out their January friendlies against No. 47 Chile at 10 PM ET on Tuesday, with live coverage airing on TBS.

The world No. 2 USWNT is getting the band back together, as head coach Emma Hayes named her 26-player roster ahead of the team's January friendlies against No. 46 Paraguay and No. 47 Chile.

Forward Trinity Rodman will join the squad for the first time since April 2025, after an MCL sprain limited her NWSL postseason availability last fall.

"When it comes to the playing front, I don't know where she's at [physically]," Hayes told reporters following Thursday's roster drop. "But if she gives me the thumbs-up, which she has done, to say, 'I'm good, I'm in a good place,' I have to take that at her word."

With the January USWNT camp taking place outside one of the official FIFA windows, only NWSL-based players were available for roster selection, with Gotham FC athletes also getting a pass due to their upcoming FIFA W Champions Cup commitments in London.

Averaging just 6.6 caps per player, this month's lineup continues Hayes's trend of elevating fresh talent, as the manager tapped four first-timers in forwards Maddie Dahlien (Seattle Reign) and Reilyn Turner (Portland Thorns), and midfielders Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage) and Sally Menti (Seattle Reign).

"Once again, our roster presents opportunity, for the coaching staff to evaluate players and for some NWSL players we haven't seen as much in the National Team environment, as well as for some first-time call-ups, to show they can contribute in 2026, 2027, or beyond," said Hayes.

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The January 2026 USWNT roster

How to watch the USWNT friendlies this January

Hayes will first test her January roster against Paraguay at 5:30 PM ET on Saturday, January 24th, airing live on TNT.

The USWNT will then take on Chile at 10 PM ET on Tuesday, January 27th, with live coverage airing on TBS.