October Matches - Oct 23, Oct 26, and Oct 29 including pre/pbp/post match

6 Fws: Macario, Rodman, Cooper, Thompson, Sears, then Tiernan, Adames, or Turner
AM's Bethune, Moultrie, Lily, Shaw
8's Moultrie, Lily, Hutton, Howell, Schupansky
6's: Flint, Howell, Coffey
7-8 Defs: McKeown, Sams, Fox, Patterson, Gisele, Izzy, Sharples, Mace
3 GKs: Bloomer, Kingsbury, Dickey

Players that are orange, blue, or green are either/or's

1) re Sentnor, she hasn't been scoring or assisting all season. Imo, Sentnor is too slow to be a starter. She has an incredible first step and snap shot, but if she can't shoot off of her first step, she's going to get D'd up. And, if she receives the ball in space that's not a shooting position, she gets run down or closed down. She'd make a great situational sub. But, I don't see her ever starting. So, I'd bring in potential 9's that are more well rounded.

2) re Lavelle and Heaps, I'd use this time to get a look at and blend in some younger players. Schupansky has had a very good rookie year. Shaw is coming into form. Flint and Howell have been playing fantastically.

3) Is Girma still injured? If not, I'd bring her in for Sams, Sharples, or Mace. Regarding Izzy, Sharples, Mace - they are all playing well.

Emma won't do it, but I'd sub in Gisele for Alyssa at LAW.

 

Howell? Now that's a name I haven't heard of in a while.
Funny thing is that a few weeks back I was thinking about her.

 

To my mind she usually does the dirty-work well, but recently she's added some long golazos to her game which have really helped her team. I've read that her coach, Amoros had wanted to acquire her as he admired her game.

 

This is my list of who I would call up. Not a prediction list.

I'm guessing Hershfeldt gets called in before Flint or Howell. Hal was an alternate on the Olympic team. For me, I'd have her behind Flint and Howell for reasons I've stated. But, she's on the verge of being fantastic.

We agree on Schupansky. Like Tiernan, her season has tapered off. She's been sitting on 5 assists for like 6 weeks? and is no longer a regular starter. But, she's a very good player.

Re: Sentnor, I agree. Her passing is one of the things that really attracted me to her game, initially. For a while I advocated trying her as an AM. But, she's too slow to play in space like an AM has to. Ideally, she's a second striker, or a striker paired with another striker in an old school 442 (Rudy Voeller to someone else's Klinsman). It looks like KC has tried her recently as a second striker. But, that's kind of a luxury position. But, I've always thought her passing in tight spaces was very good. Same thing that helps her be goal dangerous around the box, good vision, quick feet, with good control. Long term, I'm fine with her being an off-the-bench specialist.

 

I agree. That's why I wouldn't call her in until she starts producing in NWSL.

Regarding your list, and ya, that's insane depth, I think Sentnor's only hope is as a specialty player. One who comes into the game late, when the D is tired, and maybe you're pushing an extra player forward, to get a result. In that very narrow situation, I think there's a chance that of all the players on that list, she might develop into being the best at snapping off a dangerous shot on goal after finding a little space bubble, or beating a defender with one quick touch. She also has the ability to engage in nice combo play around the box. Maybe, that's maybe, as good as anyone on the list.

If those two things don't come to fruition, I can't see her ever making WC or Olympic roster. If they do, then I can see her making a WC roster with 23 or 26 spots, (but not an Olympic roster where diversity of skillsets is Queen). That would mean that someone with a better allround game than her doesn't make the roster. But, as I said, she would be a specialty player.

And, for picking this roster, there are so many other players that exude talent, (heck, Tordin may be as good or better than Ally at taking a one-touch snap shot) that I wouldn't be calling Sentnor into this squad. JMO.

Super bummed Hanks got hurt, she's fantastic. And, there's a good chance that by next season, Dahlien will be muscling her way into this conversation. She's a 21 year old rookie with 7 goal contributions so far. Of US-eligibles in NWSL, only Sears, Tiernan, Cooper, and Alyssa have more. She's tied with Olivia.

 

‪@tayvincent6.bsky.social‬

#uswnt roster drops tomorrow
October 14, 2025 at 10:32 AM

 

Wesley was not on my radar. We know that Rodman is looking as good as she did pre-injury in her NWSL club, but still great to see her back with the NT. It's also great to see Shaw back in the fold.

With these matches, there will be a concurrent U23 camp in Philadelphia, and a concurrent U20 camp in Kansas City. It's nice that they'll be overlapping with 2 of the youth teams, and also it'll be interesting now to see who's on that U23 roster.

 

Also is there any word on when Girma will be back to playing? Obviously, it makes sense for her to miss these games as she's not back to club play yet, but it's not an encouraging sign for her calf injury to linger on.

Actually I'll answer my own question: according to social media, it looks like Girma was back to training with Chelsea yesterday, so hopefully that means she's close to getting back actually playing.

 

I'm not sure. The USSF website just says concurrent camps, and I'd think that they would have already announced matches if they're taking place. But, I guess matches could still be planned and may be announced when the U23 and U20 rosters are announced.

 

My only real question about the lineup is: What does the little tic mark ">" next to Rodman's name mean in this case.

 

She's the player pictured.

 

Thank you. It never occurred to me that it could mean something that simple. I was worried that it meant something about her being injured or having some other limitation that would impact her play.

 

Unfortunate news: Rodman left the field injured this evening.

“An emotional Trinity Rodman had to be helped off the field during the first half of the Washington Spirit's Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage game with Monterrey on Wednesday.

The United States star went to ground after attempting a tackle along the right touchline. After being helped to her feet by the trainers, Rodman appeared unable to put any weight on her right leg before being helped to the sideline while in obvious distress.

After being replaced by Brittany Ratcliffe in the 41st minute, Rodman was then seen heading to the locker room on crutches at halftime.”

 

Well, damn, that doesn't sound good. Looks like a knee injury?

 

I'd take Tiernan, Adames or Tordin over Sentnor, Ryan. And, for Sentnor, that's by a mile. Or, since there is no room for Gisele. I'd bring in Gisele as a forward. I think she may be a damn good forward. Sub her in for Alyssa on the left.

Bugg and Wesley .... those have to be "Futures" call ups. We've discussed that Emma says she will bring in players that aren't ready, to get them familiar with the system. Bugg is talented, but a long way from ready. I know nothing about Wesley. At some point, I'd like to see Sharples and Staab looked at. I'm a huge Sonnett fan, but I question the wisdom of playing her in a backline that's playing a high line.

I'd like to see Howell get some call in's. She may be currently better than Hutton, and as much as I like Meza, Howell is currently the better player. I'm a Hutton fan, but instead of Hutton and Meza I'd have called in Schrader and Howell.

 

I think a few of those young forwards will show up on the U23 roster. Do we think Rodman will get replaced on the roster? It's already a roster of 26, so maybe not, but they could also bring up someone who otherwise would have been in the youth camp.

Also I'm not writing Rodman off before there's an official update, but she did come back out with ice and a brace on her knee and was using crutches. It doesn't look good for her to be back all that soon.

 

Really like the roster regardless of slight discrepancies of who was or wasn't selected. I hadn't considered Wesley and had put Meza on the back burner along with Bugg and Reale. But they all were recently on the U23s for the Germany trip (Wesley one of the over-age) and the latter three included in the last call-up when Euro players weren't called. So kind of a vote of confidence by Hayes to continue looking at them as the next up as Girma, Dunn and possibly Shrader all unfit. Probably a tough call to select Reale over Izzy Rodriguez. In an interview with J Kassouf after last friendlies Hayes said this call-up would not be as experimental, more of a true first team--so a real vote of confidence on those four U23s.

My only unfulfilled wish was the omission of Bethune, but a lot of attacking players included anyway. With Rodman now in doubt, could be a chance for her. I can put up with Sentnor as she's being groomed and might respond to this favoritism. Wasn't thinking of including Ryan but she's got 12 appearances in this last year, so her playing better in the second half of this season seems to justify her selection.

A lot of worthy players left out, but that just points to our current depth and they shouldn't be discouraged as injuries are sadly always a threat.