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Welcome back to your weekly column from Sports Illustrated that breaks down the women's soccer weekend through a U.S. women's national team lens.
Here we are. The moment has passed. This past weekend marked the final opportunity for players to make an impression on manager Emma Hayes before she announces her USWNT roster for the upcoming friendlies against reigning World Cup holders Spain on Oct. 10 and Oct. 13.
Tuesday will unveil the 26 players earning international call-ups. Let's examine which stars saw their stock climb or drop this past weekend.
Stock Up
Evelyn Shores
Riding a six-match unbeaten run with five victories in that stretch, Angel City have emerged as the NWSL's hottest team. Their standout result in that run came this past weekend with a hard-fought, rain-soaked 1–0 away victory over the Washington Spirit.
Much of Angel City's remarkable surge into playoff contention in the second half of the season has been anchored by their outstanding defensive unit. Chief among them is left fullback Evelyn Shores. ACFC have recorded three clean sheets during this unbeaten run, and all three have come away from home.
Shores delivered one of her finest performances of the season, keeping the Spirit at bay. Tasked with containing the unpredictable winger Rosemonde Kouassi, the 21-year-old Angel City defender was kept busy and registered more defensive contributions (12) than any other player on the pitch.
Going forward, Shores was a key outlet along the flank. No player recorded more touches than Shores in Angel City's 1-0 victory (90), and she also led the team in chances created (three).
Shores has yet to earn a senior USWNT call-up. So far, Hayes has allowed her to grow within the U-23 setup. Facing a formidable side like Spain may not be the ideal moment for a debut, but based on her level of play, Shores has earned her shot.
Michelle Cooper
Michelle Cooper to Haley Hopkins secures the equalizer for KC 👏 pic.twitter.com/jWaKOzPlI0
In a must-win clash against the Denver Summit, with significant playoff implications at stake, Michelle Cooper once again demonstrated her sharp instinct for the well-timed pass, setting up Haley Hopkins in the first half.
At that point, the KC Current were down 1–0 to the Summit. Hopkins's finish leveled the contest and ignited a stunning comeback that saw the Current emerge as 4–1 winners. The victory allowed KC to leapfrog Denver in the NWSL table and into the playoff positions.
As the forward has consistently shown this season when healthy and available, Cooper read Denver's offside trap, timed her run perfectly and burst into the open space before laying the ball off for Hopkins. While her shooting output has been limited this season, her movement and chance creation have been elite. She should absolutely be included in the next USWNT roster.
Alyssa Thompson
Alyssa Thompson. The derby winner. 😮💨🎯#CFCW pic.twitter.com/vjrMGQTV8f
What a way to open your Women's Super League (WSL) account for the new season. Alyssa Thompson delivered in the first half of Chelsea's 1–0 derby triumph over Arsenal this past weekend. The American winger read the play brilliantly and reacted fastest to a rebound, slotting home the decisive goal from close range at Stamford Bridge.
With the advantage secured, Thompson's most valuable contribution in the second half came through her tireless defensive work, pressing and harrying Arsenal whenever they had possession.
She is edging closer to becoming a guaranteed starter for the USWNT, and her continued strong form at Chelsea is crucial to sustaining that trajectory.
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Stock Down
Mal Swanson
Only time will tell whether Mal Swanson is healthy enough for the upcoming international window. After a month on the sidelines, the Chicago Stars forward made her comeback with a 45-minute appearance in her side's 3–1 road loss to Gotham FC. Already out of playoff contention, the bottom-placed Stars have little left to play for.
Swanson started and was withdrawn at halftime, with the score sitting at 1–0 in Gotham's favor. The 28-year-old struggled to make any meaningful impact as Gotham controlled the game throughout. She failed to register a single shot and created just one chance as the match largely bypassed her.
Hayes holds Swanson in high regard and will likely want to retain her in the squad, particularly against top-level opposition; however, numerous other forwards are making compelling cases for a roster spot.
Emma Sears
Another side eliminated from playoff contention, Racing Louisville extended their losing run to six consecutive defeats following a 2–0 home loss to the San Diego Wave this past weekend. Winger Emma Sears was left on the bench from the start, before entering for a 24-minute substitute appearance with Racing already two goals down.
One can't fault Sears for her effort, accumulating 20 touches in her limited time on the pitch. Despite not registering a shot, she won four of five duels and created one clear-cut chance for teenager Audrey McKeen, who struck the post.
Louisville appears to be heading toward an offseason overhaul, which could see Sears move on to a different NWSL club. 2026 has been a season of inconsistency for the 25-year-old. She has five goals in her last 18 NWSL appearances, but all five came within a three-game window. On either side of that run sits a nine-match and an ongoing six-match scoring drought.
Naomi Girma
Another week of soccer, another week of Naomi Girma watching from the bench at Chelsea. Four games into the WSL season, the 26-year-old has yet to set foot on the pitch for the London club. Chelsea's 1–0 win over Arsenal even saw manager Sonia Bompastor deploy Lucy Bronze in an unfamiliar central defensive role rather than hand Girma her first league appearance of the campaign. She remains on the roster, but a persistent calf problem continues to loom large.
When fully fit, Girma remains the undisputed first-choice center back for the USWNT and arguably one of the most vital American players on the global stage right now. But with no meaningful club minutes against quality opposition so far this season, the question remains: will Hayes trust her with a major role against a Spanish powerhouse?