Why Phalllon Tullis-Joyce should be the USWNT goalkeeper of the future | OneFootball

Officially, the USWNT goalkeeper position is still open for auditions. Emma Hayes has made it clear that she’s not ready to declare a No. 1 goalie right now.

However, there is every reason to believe Phallon Tullis-Joyce is the USWNT goalkeeper of the future and will be the one in net in a meaningful game.

There were several standout players for the USWNT during their recent friendly wins over China and Jamaica. Tullis-Joyce wasn’t necessarily one of them, as she was rarely called upon to do much of anything in those games in which the U.S. dominated possession. But the fact that Hayes gave her the start in both games was a clear sign that she’s ahead of the pack, which Hayes more or less confirmed after the game.

"I think it's fair to say Phallon's experience at this moment in time, with the current group that I've got, is ahead," Hayes said. "I still want to develop the other goalkeepers, but I get a fair sense of where their level is, one in relation to each other, but two in relation to 2027."

Of course, Hayes also made it clear that the USWNT isn’t going to put all of its eggs in one basket. As any good coach would do, Hayes is planning to develop multiple goalkeepers to help give the USWNT depth at that position during the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. However, fans should have no doubt in their minds that Tullis-Joyce is the long-term successor to Alyssa Naeher.

How did Tullis-Joyce get here?

The path Tullis-Joyce has taken to be part of the USWNT is enough of a reason to believe she’s the long-term answer. The perseverance and determination she has shown to become the starter at a club like Manchester United and the de-facto No. 1 with the USWNT is incredible. It makes her exactly who the national team needs in net.

When the NWSL didn’t call Tullis-Joyce coming out of college, she worked her way to the top the hard way. She played in the French second division for two years before finally getting a chance to be a backup with OL Reign. After a year as a backup there, Tullis-Joyce became one of the NWSL’s best goalkeepers in 2022 before Manchester United came calling. After another season as a backup to Mary Earps with Manchester United, Tullis-Joyce emerged as one of the top goalies in the WSL during the 2024-25 season.

Such a journey exemplifies the confidence Tullis-Joyce has in herself, her willingness to learn from others while serving as a backup, her patience, and her ability to take advantage of her opportunities. Obviously, Tullis-Joyce has also proven to be an excellent shot-stopper who has the skills to play out from the back. But it’s the intangibles she’s developed during her career that make Tullis-Joyce the right choice.

The other candidates

The rise Tullis-Joyce has made from relative unknown to top-choice national team keeper has been a swift one. She hasn’t been on the USWNT radar for that long, which is another reason why she’s the best option. Other goalies have had their chance to showcase themselves for years, but never found a way to establish themselves as the heir apparent to Naeher.

Casey Murphy was the long-time backup to Naeher, earning 20 caps. However, mistakes in friendly matches last year all but took her out of the equation. Likewise, Jane Campbell has amassed 10 caps over many years as a reserve keeper but never stood out enough to take the reins when Naeher retired. Even Aubrey Kingsbury, who has twice won NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year honors, hasn’t been able to turn club success into a spot on the national team.

The road forward

To be clear, the starting job doesn’t officially belong to Tullis-Joyce yet. Younger goalies like Mandy McGlynn of the Utah Royals, Claudia Dickey of the Seattle Reign, and Angelina Anderson of Angel City have all been invited to recent national team camps. More experienced goalies like Campbell and Kingsbury are in the mix as well. Surely, Hayes would like to have at least two or three trustworthy options at that position.

Nevertheless, Tullis-Joyce is in the process of making the No. 1 job hers and hers alone. She has both the physical tools and the intangibles to be the long-term starter and help the USWNT become the best team in the world yet again. After Naeher’s retirement, the goalkeeper position was a big question mark for the USWNT. But thanks to Tullis-Joyce, it shouldn't be for much longer.