5 USWNT players who stood out in easy wins over China and Jamaica | OneFootball

The USWNT kicked off its summer with a pair of wins over China and Jamaica. With all due respect, it wasn’t the most challenging set of friendlies. But there is also nothing wrong with a couple of convincing wins.

Keep in mind the USWNT roster isn’t at full strength right now due to several notable absences because of injuries and pregnancies. That gave Emma Hayes a chance to see more players and develop more squad depth, which she’s clearly stated is a point of emphasis. Among the players who took the field against China and Jamaica, here are the five who stood out the most.

Sam Coffey

Coffey scored a banger in the game against China. Based on the look on her face, not even she could believe it. That goal was just the second of her USWNT career. It was also emblematic of the improvement she’s made.

Coffey has become a lot more progressive in moving the ball forward and not just being a defensive midfielder. On multiple occasions against China, she played the pass to jumpstart the counterattack. Even if she hadn’t scored, Coffey would have been one of the best players on the field in that game. The USWNT has some other defensive midfielders in the pipeline who could be considered a threat to Coffey’s job, but she’s holding them at bay.

Ally Sentnor

Opportunity knocked for Sentnor when Hayes gave her a start against Jamaica. The Utah Royals forward answered the door by scoring the first two goals. Both were clean and clinical finishes, which was great to see given Sentnor has recorded just one goal and one assist in 10 NWSL games this season.

Her two goals against Jamaica come on the heels of two goals during the SheBelieves Cup in February, giving Sentnor four goals in just nine caps. To be fair, she probably didn’t play as well over the two games as Alyssa Thompson, but Sentnor’s ability to finish her chances will no doubt lead to more opportunities with the national team.

Cat Macario

After the 3-0 win over China, it was clear that Macario has become the centerpiece of the USWNT attack. She had a goal and an assist in the game, while also contributing to the third goal.

Despite not getting on the scoresheet against Jamaica, Macario put in another good effort. She doesn’t play like a traditional striker because her skill set allows her to make plays in different parts of the field. That versatility makes her a huge tactical weapon that Hayes clearly enjoys having.

Emily Fox

With all due respect to Avery Patterson and the other American right-backs, that position belongs to Fox. She was rested in the China match to give her extra time to recover after winning the UEFA Champions League with Arsenal, but in 90 minutes against Jamaica, Fox reminded us why she’s the clear starter at right back for the USWNT.

She was constantly pushing up the field and finding space on the right wing throughout the Jamaica game. She does that far better than any other right back the U.S. has right now. Fox was an integral part of the attack all night, especially the beautiful one-time assist on Sentnor’s first goal. It’s sometimes easy to take her performances for granted, but Tuesday’s game is further proof that the right-back position is spoken for right now.

Lynn Biyendolo

Just when we think that younger players like Macario, Sentnor, and Thompson are taking over, Biyendolo provides a gentle reminder that she’s still in the mix. She came off the bench in both games, playing less than 55 total minutes. Yet, that was long enough for Biyendolo to score two goals.

Fair or not, the 32-year-old is always fighting for a spot on the national team, trying to earn an invite to the next camp. By scoring two goals off the bench on Tuesday, Biyendolo showed that she should still be a part of the USWNT and could still be an asset coming off the bench during the next World Cup in 2027.