The United States women’s national team’s 1-0 triumph over Canada on Wednesday did not showcase the overwhelming performance seen eight months prior, when the Americans decisively defeated their northern neighbors in Washington, D.C. Nevertheless, it served as a similarly crucial milestone for the Americans as they now approach the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Trial-and-error and a lack of seasoning have been the defining characteristics for the USWNT over the past year. Head coach Emma Hayes has introduced many new players — awarding 32 debuts in her first 32 games at the helm before this tournament. However, Wednesday, and this SheBelieves Cup, have centered on honing skills — on developing profound depth and growing experience for the world to witness.
“It was one of my most cherished showings, because they’re maturing,” Hayes commented about her squad following Wednesday’s success.
Forward Ally Sentnor netted the game’s sole tally 10 minutes into the second half on Wednesday, capitalizing on her start in the fierce competition for the USWNT’s No. 9 role. She has now recorded three scores in four matches this calendar year.
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Sentnor was among the USWNT’s starters with the greatest need to impress on Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, as Hayes seeks to determine who she can truly depend upon as the 2027 World Cup draws near. She garnered praise from Hayes after the match for an astute showing.
Sentnor almost found the net in the first half from a corner kick setup mirroring the one that led to her goal. She also spearheaded the USWNT’s repeated effective pressing that induced errors from Canada, and this pressure led to Sentnor fashioning a solitary chance moments before half-time.
She failed to convert that attempt at the near post, but Hayes highlighted the forward’s determination in shrugging off the error and netting her score shortly after halftime.
Gisele Thompson also began as a defender for the USWNT and was asked to often contribute to offensive plays in another significant appearance early in the 20-year-old’s career. Thompson played the entire match for the second time in four days, which Hayes stated was deliberate because she had informed Thompson that she needed to be more resilient to play consistently for the USWNT.
Thompson and Sentnor were two of four alterations to the U.S. squad that defeated Canada 3-0 last July. Wednesday’s USWNT was flawed, particularly in the first half, when the Americans appeared disjointed in the final third and could not convert the pressure they effectively exerted high up the field. There were also defensive blunders early on, which allowed Canada to momentarily gain assurance.
Nonetheless, a sense of seasoned composure underpinned the USWNT’s win on Wednesday. Notwithstanding Canada’s difficulty generating chances, the USWNT displayed the character of a squad on a journey from what has felt like public auditions to a more cohesive unit that is uncovering its optimal form in a tournament setting.
Hayes provided insight into this vision the day before the match, when she praised profusely the progress of Emma Sears.
Sears was drafted in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville FC; she was not widely anticipated to be an emerging star professional, much less an international player.
It was around the time of that Canada match last year that Hayes discussed the development she expected to witness from Sears. Ahead of Wednesday’s return fixture against Canada, Hayes mentioned she had just told Sears this week that if the World Cup started today, she would be one of the first players off the bench.
Sears came on in Wednesday’s match in the 69th minute and almost immediately advanced the play from penalty box to penalty box to secure a corner. The question for Sears and several teammates is now less about whether they will be included in the squad and more about how much and in which scenarios they will participate.
Sears, for instance, now has 16 appearances for the USWNT; Sentnor has 17 appearances.
These players, alongside emerging talent in midfield Claire Hutton — who again started on Wednesday, just as she did against Canada in July — integrated seamlessly with seasoned athletes like midfielders Sam Coffey and Rose Lavelle, and defender Naomi Girma. Alyssa Thompson, one of the transitional players who is neither new nor a veteran, continued to be energetic and threatening on the wing.
Similar to last July, Lavelle was vibrant in the middle of the park on Wednesday. She proved to be such a formidable presence that Canada coach Casey Stoney conceded Lavelle was the reason Canada had to alter its formation to two holding midfielders.
Lavelle, whose international emergence occurred in the SheBelieves Cup nearly a decade ago, is now the 30-year-old experienced player in the squad. She has enjoyed her best (and healthiest) year for some time since recovering from an ankle operation last spring.
“Everyone admires Rose for numerous reasons, and I appreciate that she is embracing being this [leader] too, because the team requires it,” Hayes stated. “If you consider the players from Ally Sentnor to Gisele — even Alyssa, Claire Hutton — they are truly advancing; their experience is growing because of players like Rose making sure they encounter the demanding nature of the setting, but most importantly the high challenge of veteran guidance.”
Hayes might have fielded her strongest possible squad on Wednesday, with minor variations. It comprised a mix of recently established experienced players and young talents who are mostly now aiming to demonstrate they can manage matches like this — competitive tournament play on limited recovery time against a formidable adversary.
The Americans securely closed out the 1-0 triumph with no signs of distress or exhaustion in sight. That determination, as much as the victory or any successful dead-ball plays, will send Hayes heading cheerfully to New Jersey for Saturday’s SheBelieves Cup final match against Colombia. It will also bring her one step closer to a more defined understanding of what next year’s World Cup team might resemble.