Photo Credit: Bailey Holiver for Imagn Images
In a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal match, the United States women’s national team downed Brazil by a 2-0 scoreline on Saturday. Though the opponent – and the outcome – were the same, the United States looked very different than they did last summer.
Without players like Alyssa Naeher in goal, Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson in the backline, and Rose Lavelle, Sophia Wilson, and Mallory Swanson in the attack, head coach Emma Hayes stressed that there would be “experimentation” in the personnel in this set of friendlies.
As a result, the United States ran out with a brand-new goalkeeper in Phallon Tullis-Joyce holding it down between the sticks, leading a backline of Emily Fox, Tara McKeown, Emily Sonnett, and Crystal Dunn. Sam Coffey anchored the midfield at the No. 6 position, with Lindsey Heaps and Ally Sentnor as the No. 8 and No. 10, respectively. Catarina Macario lined up as a false No. 9, and Trinity Rodman and Alyssa Thompson occupied the wide flanks…
