USWNT coach Emma Hayes calls up NWSL standouts Yazmeen Ryan, Alyssa Malonson and Emma Sears for the first time

Two months after winning Olympic gold, Emma Hayes and the U.S. women’s national team will be back on the field this month for friendlies against Iceland and Argentina. If you thought the USWNT’s gold-winning squad was locked in for the near future, think again: Hayes has decided to sign several talented non-cap players for the October window.

US Soccer announced Hayes’ October roster on Thursday, and while there are some familiar faces, there is also some news. Of the 26-member squad, 18 from the Olympic squad will return to camp in October. However, six players in the squad are uncapped, five of whom come from NWSL teams.

Hayes has spent the last few weeks touring the NWSL roster and attending and observing several league games across the country. Although Hayes has said that the USWNT January camp will be a “future camp” designed to recruit emerging talent (which US Soccer confirmed in Thursday’s press release), she has opted to bring in some of that talent a little earlier to oblige.

Two of the uncapped players – Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams and Washington Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt – traveled with the team to Paris but did not play. Another, PSG central defender Eva Gaetino, was called up for the 2024 SheBelieves Cup but also failed to make the field.

The other three uncapped players were called up to the squad for the first time: NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Yazmeen Ryan, Bay FC defender Alyssa Malonson and Racing Louisville FC forward Emma Sears. all got their first opportunities at senior international level. Ryan, a versatile 25-year-old midfielder who played two standout seasons with Gotham, is a popular name among fans as someone who deserves a chance at a draft.

This 26-man friendly squad offers much more space than the Olympic squad, which only allowed 18 players. Additionally, some USWNT regulars were left off the roster due to some key injuries: defender Tierna Davidson is injured and defender Crystal Dunn was not selected due to “personal commitments,” according to the press release. Meanwhile, Trinity Rodman is still battling a back injury and midfielder Croix Bethune is still recovering from a torn meniscus.

Forward Alyssa Thompson, who was the youngest member of the USWNT squad at the 2023 World Cup but has not been on the U.S. squad since, is back in the lineup. Midfielder Ashley Sanchez has also returned to the USWNT lineup for the first time since 2023. Jaedyn Shaw, who was part of the Olympic squad but suffered an injury before the tournament, is also back in the squad.

The October window includes three games: friendlies against Iceland on October 24th in Austin and October 27th in Nashville, and a game against Argentina on October 30th in Louisville. USWNT great Kelley O’Hara, who is retiring this year, will be honored at the Oct. 27 game.

Here is the full USWNT roster for October:

Goalkeeper (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 8), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 19), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 112)

Defender (9): Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 57/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 0/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 40/0), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit; 56/0 ). ), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current; 8/0), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 15/2), Emily Sams (Orland Pride; 0/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 99/2)

Midfielder (7): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 18/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 24/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 156/35 ), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 106/24), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 4/2), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 27/3)

Forward (7): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 16/7), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 56/23) , Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 100/38), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 9/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 71/19)