The U.S. women’s national team (USWNT) is back following its gold medal run in France this summer, with head coach Emma Hayes naming a 26-player training roster for their upcoming friendlies.
Eighteen of the Olympians will return for these matches against Iceland and Argentina at the end of the month, but there are also new and returning names from Hayes — including North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez and Angel City’s Alyssa Thompson.
Injuries have also played a role in shaping this training roster, including keeping out Washington Spirit players Croix Bethune (who has a season-ending injury with a torn meniscus) and Trinity Rodman (working her way back from a back injury), and Gotham FC’s Tierna Davidson. Crystal Dunn was not named to this roster due to personal commitments, according to the team’s official release.
Injuries may have also played a role in Hayes bringing back other players for evaluation. Andi Sullivan had been tabbed by Washington Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez for a USWNT return before tearing her ACL earlier this month, for instance.
But for Hayes, who has been spotted across the country at NWSL matches featuring half-time appearances, the theme has been “quite a lot of work to do.” With Thursday’s release, the narrative now seems to be…
 is back following its gold medal run in France this summer, with head coach Emma Hayes naming a 26-player training roster for their upcoming friendlies. Eighteen of the Olympians will return for these matches against Iceland and Argentina at the end of the month, but there are also new and returning names from Hayes — including North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez and Angel City’s Alyssa Thompson. Injuries have also played a role in shaping this training roster, including keeping out Washington Spirit players Croix Bethune (who has a season-ending...){kind=link}