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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.
There are still roughly five weeks remaining before Emma Hayes announces her roster for the upcoming friendlies against Spain in October. Much can shift in that time, but beyond a core group of around 20 players, there still appear to be plenty of spots available.
We're approaching the final rounds of UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying, and European leagues will soon be gearing up for their season openers. A great deal is set to change regarding the pool of players vying to make their mark.
But for now, let's examine who saw their stock rise and fall this past weekend in the National Women's Soccer League.
Stock Up
Jaedyn Shaw
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder already demonstrated her knack for clutch long-range shooting in Gotham FC's 1–0 home victory over the San Diego Wave last week. Now, a week on, she's displaying further technical brilliance in yet another narrow win for Gotham.
With the match between Gotham and KC Current level at 1–1, Shaw collected the ball on the left side of the penalty area and weaved past two Current defenders. Her footwork was a sight to behold — impeccable timing and tight control drew in the opposition before cutting the ball into open space. Shaw capped the move with a perfectly weighted layoff to Sam Kerr, who converted the winner in a 2–1 victory.
Jaedyn Shaw with the footwork 💃
Sam Kerr with the smoooooth tap in 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/CbKFpiRdj4
With the USWNT losing Olivia Moultrie to an ACL injury, the demand for technically skilled creators with vision has only grown. Shaw is heating up ahead of the next international window.
Ally Sentnor
It finally happened! Ally Sentnor's lengthy wait for a goal in Angel City colors has come to an end. The 22-year-old attacker had gone scoreless across nine NWSL appearances, attempting 34 shots without finding the net. On Sunday evening, in Angel City's 1–1 draw with the Washington Spirit, Sentnor drove in from a wide position and unleashed a thunderous strike from deep in the center to grab the equalizer.
Sentnor is an undeniably talented player. The question remains: Can she consistently deliver on that talent? How much of it comes down to form, mentality, coaching, frequent team changes, or a general lack of consistency? One of those long-range efforts was always going to find the net eventually.
The past year has seen comparable players emerge and push Sentnor for a place in the USWNT setup. This goal and overall performance served as a timely reminder of why Hayes holds Sentnor in such high regard.
ALLY SENTNOR FROM DISTANCE FOR HER FIRST IN ANGEL CITY COLORS 🚀 pic.twitter.com/xq9n6vSSmJ
Yazmeen Ryan
Sometimes, when a player does something outside their usual repertoire, it makes it all the more remarkable. That was the case when Yazmeen Ryan delivered a commanding target-forward display and headed home the equalizer for Denver Summit in their 1–1 draw with the San Diego Wave. The 27-year-old forward, typically recognized for her crossing, precise passing, and sharp strikes from the edge of the area, calmly redirected Janine Sonis's effort from close range as if it were second nature.
Ryan is competing in a crowded field for a roster spot on the USWNT as either a winger or a versatile central forward. Demonstrating this kind of instinctive aerial finishing certainly won't hurt her chances. Ryan has now scored in consecutive weeks for the first time in 2026 — a thoroughly impressive debut campaign in Denver, tallying five goals and three assists across 18 appearances.
The dummy from Ally Brazier 👀
The cross from Janine Sonis 😮💨
The header from Yazmeen Ryan 💫 pic.twitter.com/E3qMmlTQHT
Stock Down
Mandy McGlynn
The Utah Royals goalkeeper recorded 27 touches in her side's 3–2 victory over Bay FC this past weekend, but one of them will be hard to forget. In the sixth minute, Bay seized an early lead when McGlynn took a heavy touch directly in front of her goal and failed to account for Karlie Lema's rapid press. The result was McGlynn's clearance cannoning straight into Lema, with the ball deflecting into the Utah net.
McGlynn, who is in the midst of the finest NWSL season in the Royals' short history, remains firmly in contention for the third goalkeeper position on the USWNT. However, she will need to eliminate errors like this to hold onto her standing.
The incredible effort and speed of Karlie Lema 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/gBMf1y9gUm
Michelle Cooper
When Michelle Cooper is fully healthy, she is moving in the right direction to earn a place on the USWNT's 26-player roster. However, Cooper entered 2026 carrying an injury from the previous season and only recently returned to availability following a midseason setback.
Cooper remains on restricted minutes, though she is back in the squad. The 23-year-old winger made a 29-minute substitute appearance in the Current's 2–1 loss at Gotham, where she was unable to help overturn the one-goal deficit. Cooper finished with zero chances created, zero shots, one successful dribble, and 7 of 14 passes completed. There is clearly still some rust to shake off.
Lilly Reale
A minor tactical adjustment for Lilly Reale did little to prevent Boston Legacy from suffering a heavy 4–1 road defeat against Racing Louisville. Reale was deployed in more of a left-sided center-back role, with Nicki Hernandez ahead of her as a left wingback. Hernandez's tendency to push forward meant Reale frequently found herself acting as a makeshift left back.
Reale had a difficult afternoon dealing with Emma Sears on Louisville's right flank. There was nearly an own goal early on, when a Sears effort deflected off Reale and struck the post. Matters nearly worsened when a breakdown in communication with goalkeeper Casey Murphy almost allowed Boston to surrender possession in their own box to Sears once again.
Despite those early struggles, Reale could do little to prevent Boston's first two goals. However, Sears would eventually get on the scoresheet to make it 3–0 in the 59th minute, and it was Reale who lost her marker and surrendered the space for the Racing winger to finish emphatically.
Emma Sears with her 20th career goal on an insane delivery from Katie O'Kane 😱 pic.twitter.com/STfclzDxEr