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Welcome back to your weekly column from Sports Illustrated that breaks down the women's soccer weekend through the lens of the U.S. women's national team.
Even though the next women's FIFA international window isn't until October, this is the ideal way to track the prospective roster as it shifts in real time—which players are gaining ground, and which are losing it.
With European leagues still in their offseason, all eyes remain on the NWSL. Here's a look at who saw their stock rise and fall this past weekend.
Stock Up
Angelina Anderson
It has been more than a year since Angelina Anderson last received a USWNT call-up, but a window of opportunity may be on the verge of opening if she can sustain her current form. The 25-year-old Angel City goalkeeper was outstanding in the Los Angeles side's 2–0 derby victory over the San Diego Wave.
Anderson produced six saves in the SoCal Derby, highlighted by a crucial one-handed stop low to her right that appeared destined to be a goal. She finished the match having denied 1.78 expected goals on target, on a day when San Diego registered 18 shots and generated 2.56 total expected goals. Keeping a clean sheet against the NWSL's top side is a significant boost for Anderson's USWNT case. She has now recorded back-to-back shutouts since the NWSL resumed following its summer break.
Here is Angelina Anderson's Save of the Match for #SDvLA!@GetSpectrum | Save of the Match pic.twitter.com/1CSaRIx5R8
With Seattle Reign's Claudia Dickey sidelined through injury and Mandy McGlynn struggling for form, a goalkeeper spot on the USWNT could be up for grabs. Anderson will face competition from the likes of Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC), and potentially a resurgent Casey Murphy (Boston Legacy).
Tara Rudd
Following a composed 2–0 road victory over the North Carolina Courage, the Washington Spirit have now claimed nine wins from their last 10 matches. Central to their defensive solidity has been Tara Rudd. The center back has played every single minute of the 2026 season and was instrumental in the team securing their first clean sheet in four games this weekend.
Rudd contributed 15 defensive actions in the win, including seven clearances, five interceptions, and winning 4 of 6 duels. Going forward, she provided the assist for Trinity Rodman's goal just before the break to make it 2–0. But it was the second-half defensive display that will impress Emma Hayes most. The Spirit protected their lead and relied on Rudd to organize the backline as they absorbed 13 shots while conceding just 0.78 expected goals. An added bonus: Rudd didn't give away a single foul throughout the match.
Yazmeen Ryan
Want a standout performance from Yazmeen Ryan? Simply schedule the Denver Summit to face her former club, the Houston Dash. Following a thunderbolt from outside the area this past weekend, Ryan now has a goal and two assists across two matches against the Dash in 2026.
TAKE A BOW, YAZ. 👏 pic.twitter.com/AIqCAFb5x0
Ryan, who had already carved out a major chance for Delanie Sheehan in the opening minutes, spun on the edge of the box, looked up, and unleashed a rocket that flew past Jane Campbell in the Houston goal without mercy. The forward then proudly clutched the Summit badge as she celebrated in front of her home supporters in Colorado.
The competition is fierce for Ryan to reclaim her USWNT spot. Her heavy minutes in 2025 were partly a result of the absence of "Triple Espresso" (Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, and Mal Swanson). But with that attacking trio now back in action, Ryan will need to maintain the impressive form she showed in this 2–2 draw between Denver and Houston.
Stock Down
Emma Sears
Racing Louisville's difficult 2026 campaign shows no signs of turning around. This past weekend saw the NWSL's bottom-placed side fall 2–0 at home to Bay FC, and the uncertainty surrounding the future of star winger Emma Sears continues to grow. Racing have now dropped five straight matches.
Last week, ESPN reported that Sears is pushing for a trade away from Louisville. The 25-year-old U.S. international signed a contract extension through the end of the 2028 NWSL season during the most recent offseason.
Sears was the top-scoring American in the NWSL last season, netting 10 goals. Renowned for her pace and directness, she has been a regular USWNT call-up since 2024 and has scored six international goals across 21 caps. Her strained relationship with Racing and dip in form are clearly affecting her prospects. Sears has managed just one goal in her last 10 appearances and risks losing her place in the USWNT setup.
Mandy McGlynn
Another player feeling the heat of competition for her position is Mandy McGlynn. The 27-year-old Utah Royals goalkeeper endured another difficult outing in her side's 3–1 home defeat to Gotham. Despite being a trusted figure under Emma Hayes, it appears that other goalkeeping options are beginning to emerge.
McGlynn ended the match with two saves from five shots on target and could have conceded five goals had Gotham been more clinical. She gave the ball away sloppily on the edge of the box in the opening moments, leading to Esther firing over. Then Jaedyn Shaw struck the post 10 minutes later. McGlynn currently ranks 11th in the NWSL for goals prevented, with a figure of 0.8.
Ally Sentnor
Another week brings another question mark over how to unlock the best from Ally Sentnor and how she maintains her USWNT spot. The encouraging news is that Angel City has won both matches since Sentnor joined the club in June. The less encouraging news is that she has yet to contribute to any of the four goals the team has scored.
In this past weekend's 2–0 derby win over the San Diego Wave, Sentnor once again displayed impressive ball-carrying ability, completing three dribbles—more than any other player on the pitch. However, the 22-year-old forward's 90-minute showing produced just one chance created and one shot on target, a long-range attempt that was comfortably gathered by the Wave goalkeeper.
Is Sentnor a natural winger? Is she better suited as a No. 10, a false nine, or a central attacking threat between the lines? The answer remains unclear. She excels when given space and can carry the ball effectively, but she doesn't provide enough as a passer to make the most of the positions she finds herself in. Meanwhile, in central areas, her shooting from distance doesn't translate into enough goals. The puzzle remains unsolved.
More NWSL from Sports Illustrated
Theo Lloyd-Hughes is a writer for Sports Illustrated Soccer based in the Southern United States. Originally from England, he can frequently be found in a press box at NWSL matches or at international fixtures involving the USWNT and other Concacaf nations.