Trinity Rodman and Rising Talents Highlight USWNT January Camp

Trinity Rodman made a significant impact in her single appearance for the USWNT in 2025, scoring the decisive goal in a 2-0 victory against Brazil. After grappling with injuries during much of the previous year, Rodman is now fully fit and poised to bring her experience to the team.

With a total of 11 goals for the national team and having not played since the 2024 Paris Olympics until last year, Rodman has the agility and flair necessary to spearhead the USWNT’s attack.

“Trinity Rodman has been part of our setup for some time, and despite her absence, she has remained connected with the team. Her experience is invaluable as we look to develop more leaders,” said Coach Hayes during a press conference following the roster announcement.

Rodman excels on the wing, using her speed and assertiveness to exploit any available space. Although she may be without some familiar forwards this time, she has plenty of experience collaborating with skilled players like Croix Bethune, her teammate from the Washington Spirit, along with Hal Hershfelt, Tara Rudd, and Kate Weisner.

Playing in Southern California also holds special significance for Rodman, as she hails from Orange County.

The January camp provides Hayes with an opportunity to refine the USWNT’s goalkeeping strategy. After a transitional year in 2025 aimed at expanding the goalkeeper pool, this camp represents a crucial step toward solidifying the depth chart and identifying a long-term starter.

“I have confidence in Claudia [Dickey] and Phallon [Tullis-Joyce] at this moment,” Hayes stated.

While Tullis-Joyce is absent from this camp due to her commitments with Manchester United, Hayes has indicated her as a key contender for the future, underscoring that the competition remains open.

This context positions Dickey as a strong candidate to start against Paraguay.

“Claudia is well-placed within a relatively inexperienced group,” Hayes affirmed.

Dickey is joined by Mandy McGlynn and Jordan Silkowitz in camp, collectively bringing only ten senior international caps—six for Dickey, four for McGlynn, and none yet for Silkowitz—highlighting the developmental focus on the goalkeeper position this January.

At just 20 years old, Claire Hutton has established herself in the USWNT midfield. She fits seamlessly alongside seasoned players like Sam Coffey, Lindsey Heaps, and Rose Lavelle. As a naturally defensive-minded No. 6, Hutton also contributes to the attack.

Having been called up to Hayes’ Futures Camp last year, Hutton has since regularly appeared on rosters, making her senior international debut last February against Australia during the SheBelieves Cup. She scored her first international goal just months later, helping the USWNT secure a 3-0 victory against Canada.

Despite being one of the youngest midfielders in this January camp, Hutton is already positioned to lead.

After her inaugural goal, Hutton received accolades from teammates, including Rose Lavelle, the reigning U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, who commended her maturity on the field.

Alyssa Thompson has garnered much attention recently due to her outstanding form with Chelsea, which has propelled her rise at both the club and international levels. Although Alyssa remains in England during this camp, her younger sister Gisele has the chance to step into the limelight.

While the sisters occupy different roles—Alyssa as an attacking winger and Gisele as an outside back—they both bring a dynamic pace and directness to their play. Gisele’s ability to advance and contribute offensively adds to her versatility in a competitive position group within the USWNT.

As Alyssa continues her season in England, Gisele is preparing for her NWSL campaign with Angel City. Although she participated in last year’s Futures Camp, her path to the senior team remains uncertain, especially given the depth at her position. With the evaluation process ongoing, the competition for roster spots is still very much alive.

This makes the upcoming matches particularly significant for Gisele Thompson, especially with several regular players unavailable. With Naomi Girma, Emily Sonnett, Emily Fox, and Lily Reale in Europe, there are valuable minutes available for emerging talents like Thompson to make their mark.

Hayes has characterized this window, and the broader cycle, as a crucial opportunity to assess new players. While the qualification process for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins in November, limiting the time for experimentation, this camp allows for essential evaluations.

With numerous U.S. players based abroad and some Gotham FC contributors unavailable due to the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, Hayes crafted the roster from a limited pool. “You can only pick the players that are available,” she remarked post-announcement, acknowledging the complexities of selection during this timeframe.

Despite these challenges, the roster underscores a clear focus on evaluation. Hayes has included four uncapped players, with an average squad age of just 24.1 years. Before Saturday’s match, the team averages 6.6 caps per player, with five players still awaiting their senior international debuts.

“Once again, our roster presents opportunities—for our coaching staff to evaluate players and for some NWSL players who haven’t had extensive exposure to the National Team environment, as well as for first-time call-ups to demonstrate their potential contributions for 2026, 2027, or beyond,” stated Hayes.