The No. 2 ranked USWNT took on No. 1 ranked Spain in the first of two friendlies on Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
The two are the favorites to bring home the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and headed into these matches looking to make a big statement.
Patri Guijarro’s long-range blast put the visitors on the board in the third minute. The midfielder had acres of space in front of her and took advantage of the lack of pressure. In the 14th minute, Salma Paralluelo beat Tierna Davidson one-on-one and proceeded to deliver a pinpoint cross to an unmarked Eva Navarro to double the lead.
The only blemishes for the defending champions? Natalia Ramos conceded a penalty kick with a foul in the box on Sophia Wilson and Athenea del Castillo received a red card for violent conduct (hair pull), three minutes after subbing on.
Spain’s clinical finishing was the difference in this match as they pounced on every single mistake from the home side. The top-ranked side needed with just six shots (three on goal), to take down the home side.
The USWNT’s struggles in the first half, led to them chasing the game the rest of the way. Although it resulted in good attacking sequences, they wasted the chances when they had them.
In the 70th minute, Lily Yohannes stutter-step penalty attempt was denied by Adriana Nanclares.
In the first of two friendlies, who shined bright and who failed to capitalize on the moment?
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Alyssa Thompson: The one player that Spain had absolutely no answer for.
In the 11th minute, she delivered a ball into the box that nearly provided Rodman the goal.
Five minutes later, she received the ball from Wilson and rounded the goalkeeper Adriana Nanclares. She should’ve finished the chance, but only a few players in the world would even be in the position to make that happen and Thompson is one of them.
In the 40th minute, she drew a yellow card on Lucía Corrales.
It was heck of a performance for the winger who looks every bit like the final frontline starting spot will be hers.
Sophia Wilson: The forward was influential in every aspect of the match. Her defensive intensity, speed on the counters, and playmaking stood out. Wilson’s connection with Thompson shined in the first half and Rodman in the second half.
In the 53rd minute she finished off a through-ball from Rodman, but it was later ruled offside.
Although it was not converted by Yohannes, Wilson drew a foul in the box in the 67th minute on Natalia Ramos. She’s 11/11 in her career on penalty kicks in NWSL, could Hayes make the move to her soon?
She led the USWNT in shots, shots on target, touches in opposition box, successful dribbles, chances created, and fouls won.
Other Positives
Ashley Sanchez: For the first time since October 30, 2024, the NWSL MVP favorite would earn a USWNT cap – 66th minute sub.
Emily Fox: It took a bit of time to settle in, but Fox came up with numerous goal-saving interventions and ignited multiple counterattacks. She led the team with seven defensive contributions, nine clearances, and backline with six duels won.
Claire Hutton: The absence of Sam Coffey should have opened the door for a defensive midfielder to take her place, but instead head coach Emma Hayes opted for Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes in a double pivot. Hutton is still widely-regarded as one of the top sixes in the NWSL and will have work to do to get more opportunities. However, in the second half she stabilized the control of the match once coming on a sub and now she’ll likely start in the second friendly vs Spain and to further that impression.
Gisele Thompson: Once she subbed on at the start of the second half, the left side of Rodman and Thompson shined bright and gave Spain more than they could handle. The early struggles of Patterson will open up more opportunities for the Angel City FC star.
Trinity Rodman: It was a tale of two halves for the superstar as she shined in the second half once Thompson came on. She was nearly credited with an assist before the goal was called off and started applying even more pressure on Spain’s backline with and without the ball. Rodman was first on team in recoveries and second in shots, shots on target, touches in opposition box tackles, fouls won, and defensive contributions.
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Central Defense: Neither Kennedy Wesley nor Tierna Davidson did enough to separate themselves apart from one another with Naomi Girma looking for her partner at CB. Their nightmare opening 15 minutes included a shaky sequence – attempting to cover for Wesley who was in midfield, Davidson was beaten 1-v-1 by Paralluelo who found an unmarked Navarro. They cleaned it up significantly after that, but it was too late by then.
Avery Patterson: Although it was on the entire backline in both goals conceded, Patterson was near the action each time. She completed just 16/21 passes (76%) in the first half and struggled with the ball and trying to stop Spain’s attack being credited with just two defensive contributions. She was replaced at the start of the second half by Gisele Thompson. It’s also important to consider that the Houston Dash FB is a natural right-back as is ACFC’s Thompson – they were both asked to play on the left for this match.
Emma Hayes and Midfield: Instead of replacing Sam Coffey with another defensive midfielder, Emma Hayes opted for a midfield of Rose Lavelle, Lily Yohannes, and Lindsey Heaps. With all three players traditionally better in attacking roles, the balance in the middle of the park was lost immediately to Spain. All three struggled to help in defense and none of them did a good enough job shielding the backline. What encapsulated the entire day for the group? Yohannes missed PK in the 70th minute.
Claudia Dickey: In the goalkeeping competition, it has come down to either Dickey or Tullis-Joyce. Unfortunately for the Seattle Reign backstop, folks will only remember what happened in key moments.
She faced three shots from Spain and was only credited with one save.
USWNT vs Spain: The Rematch
In the rematch, both sides would make several changes.
Emma Hayes made four changes with Sanchez, Thompson, Hutton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce all in the starting XI.
Sonia Bermúdez countered with six changes for Spain.
In the 27th minute, a lack of pressure the entire sequence led to Alexia Putellas’s tap-in goal to give Spain the 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, the visitors took advantage of Tullis-Joyce’s distribution with Putellas catching Tierna Davidson asleep and Salma Paralluelo clinically finishing to double the lead.
Sophia Wilson led the counterattack brilliantly, finding Ashley Sanchez to trim the lead to 1-2 in the 49th minute. It was the NC Courage winger’s first goal for international goal since 2022.
Off a long-ball in the 86th minute from USWNT debutant Kate Del Fava, Michelle Cooper took it into the box and laid it off to Mallory Swanson for an incredible volley, completing a 0-2 comeback draw.
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Emily Fox: The top performer in the friendlies was the Arsenal fullback. After a stellar opening match, Fox followed it up leading the team in defensive contributions, interceptions, and duels won. The only question left is who will be starting opposite of her?
Ashley Sanchez: In her first start for the USWNT since 2024, the NWSL MVP frontrunner gave them the much-needed spark to the attack.
Mallory Swanson: The Chicago Stars forward always scores in the biggest moments and this was no different. With her team desperately searching for the equalizer, she took a touch and then volleyed it home – her first goal since the 2024 Olympic Games winner.
Other Positives
Lily Yohannes: The young midfielder came on as a second-half sub and dominated the proceedings with her playmaking. In the 69th minute, she nearly tallied the equalizing assist to Swanson and in the final seconds of stoppage time, almost found the game-winner.
Michelle Cooper: The KC Current forward has a work rate that is simply impossible to match in attack or defense. She tallied the game-tying assist to Swanson and will likely be a key contributor off the bench and a spot starter for the senior team moving forward.
Kate Del Fava: The Utah Royals center back was the final name added to USWNT and she made her first appearance memorable. Although she won’t be credited with the assist, her precise delivery sparked the equalizer.
Kennedy Wesley: A solid performance from the San Diego Wave captain as she was first in clearances and blocks. Additionally, second on the team in defensive contributions and duels won. The scary part? Wesley also completed 49/56 passes for 88% accuracy.
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Phallon Tullis-Joyce: The Manchester United goalkeeper immediately made her presence felt with a crucial one-on-one save on Clara Pinedo in the 14th minute.
Unfortunately, there were two glaring mistakes on the second Spain goal.
The struggles in distribution would also continue for the backstop. In the 32nd minute, her long-ball immediately found a Spain player, and they proceeding to take advantage for the goal. On that particular score, the GK was beaten near-post.
The competition is wide-open for this position as Hayes will have to make a decision.
Tierna Davidson: She may very well earn the starting spot opposite Naomi Girma, however, these two performances in key moments against Spain were underwhelming to say the least. The central defender was near the action on all four goals conceded to the top-ranked side whether it was caught out of position or beat one-on-one in crucial situations. Against top sides, you cannot afford those ‘mistakes.’ After these friendlies, she may have lost ground in the CB competition.
Defensive Woes: Although each goal given up was ‘preventable,’ it was also the lack of urgency that cost the USWNT time and time again during the two friendlies. Spain capitalized on mistakes and exploited the spaces in rest defense en route to four goals.
Finishing: The attack generated 27 shots with 16 on target combined in two matches vs Spain. It took two bangers to find the back of the net coming from Sanchez and Swanson. The lack of finishing will be a key talking point moving forward especially from Rodman and Wilson who are penciled in as two starters.