Hayes selects roster for 2025 SheBelieves Cup, with the squad featuring NWSL standouts and four uncapped players
Hayes names 23 players, heavy NWSL presenceNaomi Girma, Rose Lavelle, and Triple Espresso left offLily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, Gisele Thompson among teens namedGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED
Emma Hayes named the 23-player roster for the 10th annual SheBelieves Cup, with a lineup composed largely of NWSL players and just two goalkeepers: Jane Campbell and Maddy McGlynn.
Notably absent from the squad are standout defender Naomi Girma and the Triple Espresso attack of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson. The injured Rose Lavelle will also miss out. The USWNT has won the past five SheBelieves Cup editions, yet this will be Hayes' first time leading the squad in the tournament.
With several key players contributors not on the roster, Hayes noted that she will practice patience, but still has high expectations for the competition, saying "We’ll be patient with them but at the same time, we’re going to maximize the time we have together."
The roster is a blend of several veterans – including Lindsey Heaps, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnet, Tierna Davidson and Lynn Biyendolo – and some notable newcomers. The roster includes four uncapped players and 10 players who have four or fewer caps.
The USWNT closed out 2024 on a 20-match unbeaten streak overall, including 15 straight under Hayes, who has not lost since taking over the program ahead of the Paris Olympics.
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GOALKEEPERS (2): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 8), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 1)
DEFENDERS (8): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 65/3), Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 155/25), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 62/1), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (Arsenal FC, ENG; 18/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 103/2), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 22/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 28/1), Lindsey Heaps (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 161/36), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (North Carolina Courage; 21/8), Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 2/1)
FORWARDS (7): Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC; 75/21), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 0/0), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG; 19/8), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash; 4/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 3/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 2/0), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 13/1)
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The roster includes 16 players from the NWSL as well as five players from different European clubs. At the USWNT and Futures camp at the end of January, players competing for European clubs were unable to attend.
That changes for the February roster. Those making the squad for SheBelieves includes Emily Fox and Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal, Catarina Macario from Chelsea FC, and Lindsey Heaps from Olympique Lyon. All will be competing in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women's Champions League in March.
Out of the 23-players named, 12 helped the USWNT win the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. Only four players, however, started just five or more games in the tournament. The roster welcomes two players for their first USWNT call-ups: Claire Hutton and Michelle Cooper. Both attended the USWNT Futures Camp last month and are also members of the Kansas City Current.
Absent from the roster, once again, are Swanson, Wilson and Rodman, as well as Girma, Chelsea FC's newest signee. U.S. Soccer said that Girma is "regaining fitness after recovering from a calf injury."
Catarina Macario is the only previous MVP winner of the SheBelieves tournament to make her return. All eyes will certainly be two sisters named to the team: Gisele and Alyssa Thompson. The Angel City FC pair will be the third set of sisters to make the same USWNT roster. Others to watch include Jaedyn Shaw, Lynn Biyendolo, Emma Sears and Yazmeen Ryan.
Getty ImagesWHAT HAYES SAID
“This team is still growing, and I continue to be impressed with the dedication of our player pool to get better, individually and as a group,” Hayes said in a statement. “With many players at the beginning of their club preseasons, we’ll be patient with them but at the same time, we’re going to maximize the time we have together.
"We are facing three excellent teams with three very different styles and the tournament will be a great test to see who can perform against world-class players, but to see that, we need to give them opportunities. We have put in a lot of thought on how best to accomplish that while continuing to evolve and putting out a team that can win, so every game should be a lot of fun for the staff, the players and the fans.”