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On Saturday and Tuesday, the USWNT ventured to Brazil — host nation of the upcoming 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup — to escape what manager Emma Hayes described as the "nicey-nicey" comfort of home fixtures. With eight red cards handed out to Brazilian players and coaching staff, the feisty and physical encounters gave the visiting USWNT plenty of material to reflect on as the squad gears up for next year's tournament.
The objective was to embrace discomfort, facing a tough opponent in a hostile away environment and, frankly, getting used to the challenges that await them next year. The two fixtures against Brazil offered valuable lessons, with the USWNT suffering a 2–1 defeat on Saturday before bouncing back with a 1–0 victory on Tuesday.
The week also marked a partial reunion of the triple espresso trio. While Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, and Mal Swanson all suited up together for the first time since the 2024 Olympics, the three never shared the pitch simultaneously. Swanson, in fact, didn't feature at all. With just two U.S. goals across both matches, her eventual return will be a welcome boost alongside her fellow espressos.
As Hayes edges closer to finalizing her squad for next year's tournament, here's a look at the players whose stock rose and fell during this international window.
Stock Up
Sophia Wilson
Responsible for the team's only goal in each match (the second was technically an own goal due to a deflection, though Wilson will gladly claim it), Wilson continues to demonstrate she hasn't missed a beat since returning from maternity leave earlier this year. The Portland Thorns forward started both games, highlighting just how vital she is to this USWNT setup. As the matches grew increasingly physical, Wilson remained sharp, resilient, and clinical. Her instinct for goal is as keen as ever, and the team is all the better for it.
BACK TO BACK GAMES WITH A GOAL FOR SOPH ‼️
USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/9cemBmHtyJ
Kennedy Wesley
While the 25-year-old defender didn't feature in the first match, she made her presence felt in the second. In a highly physical contest, Wesley demonstrated her ability to match the intensity of the game, use her physicality to hold her own against opponents, and deliver crucial 1v1 defending in and around the box. She was part of a backline that kept Brazil without a single shot on goal on Tuesday. Tasked with marking her San Diego Wave teammate Ludmila, she proved more than equal to the challenge.
Lily Yohannes
At just 18 years old, the OL Lyon midfielder has enormous room to develop, yet her tenacity and technical quality were on full display across both matches, particularly in Tuesday's performance. From last-ditch slide tackles to commanding midfield presence during a bruising encounter, Yohannes rose to every challenge. She has once again shown that her ceiling is as high as she sets it, and if she keeps stringing together strong performances, demonstrates the resilience she showed between the two games, and continues to deliver for club and country, she'll likely be on the plane to Brazil in 2027.
Honorary Mention: Michelle Cooper
The natural forward was deployed as a defender in both matches against Brazil, and particularly impressed in the second game. Her tireless work rate on the wing was a significant factor in the USWNT shutting Brazil out on Tuesday.
Stock Down
Mandy McGlynn
In an intensely competitive battle for the USWNT's starting goalkeeper position, the pressure is mounting for McGlynn. After missing time earlier this season with a finger injury, the Utah Royals keeper got her opportunity between the posts in the first of the two matches. Perfection is never expected, but with the gap between McGlynn and fellow keeper Claudia Dickey razor-thin, every detail matters.
McGlynn conceded two goals on Saturday, though it's worth noting she saved four of six shots on target. Nevertheless, these are precisely the fine margins Hayes will weigh when making her final selections, particularly in light of Dickey's clean sheet on Tuesday.
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Ally Sentnor
The forward has struggled to find the net or make a meaningful impact with her NWSL side, the Kansas City Current, and saw limited playing time across both international fixtures. When she did come on, her contributions, while decent, lacked the spark she's typically known for. With no starts and Hayes appearing to settle on a preferred attacking lineup, Sentnor looks like a fringe player who will need to find ways to impress for both club and country if she hopes to be part of the 2027 World Cup squad.
Claire Hutton
While the Bay FC midfielder has been a key figure for her club since arriving from the Current earlier this year, she endured a difficult pair of matches against Brazil. A misplaced back-pass in Saturday's game directly led to Brazil's go-ahead goal, and the 20-year-old uncharacteristically struggled to cope with the physicality of both contests. Hutton has the potential to become a cornerstone of this USWNT, but she'll need to consistently bring the composure and quality she displays for her club to Hayes's attention in the months ahead.
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Jenna Tonelli is a writer for Sports Illustrated Soccer. She is passionate about women's soccer, particularly the NWSL, USWNT, and the Italian women's national team. When not thinking about soccer, Jenna can be found drinking iced coffee and rooting for the Buffalo Bills.