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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.
The last time we covered the latest developments in the USWNT player pool was following the Brazil friendlies in June. Missed it? Read it here.
What a weekend it was for the National Women's Soccer League. Following a five-week hiatus for the start of the men's World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, the NWSL made its official return to action.
With European leagues enjoying their summer recess, all eyes were firmly on the NWSL. Let's dive into who saw their stock climb and drop this past weekend.
Stock Up
Trinity Rodman
Is Trinity Rodman putting together the finest NWSL season of her career? It's beginning to look that way, and after an offseason dominated by headlines about her record-breaking contract negotiations, this is quite the statement to cement herself as the NWSL's premier star.
How? It's Trin, duh 🤭 pic.twitter.com/eSxg7kpYYS
Rodman notched just her third-ever NWSL brace for the Washington Spirit in a 2–1 victory over the Houston Dash, pushing her season goal tally to five. That ties her output from the injury-disrupted 2025 campaign, and puts her just three shy of her career-best regular season mark of eight.
But Rodman has always been far more than a goalscorer. She commands key areas and thrives under pressure. Her second goal of the evening was a clutch 94th-minute strike that sealed the victory. Rodman also drew a penalty after being brought down by Avery Patterson while clean through on goal. There was a sharpness and intensity to her performance that signaled she is surging back to her very best.
Ashley Sanchez
Heading into the 2026 season, few would have predicted that Ashley Sanchez would not only re-enter the USWNT conversation but also find herself in the running for NWSL MVP.
Shinny sends it to Sanchez for her second brace this season 🤩 pic.twitter.com/V9o0V55uk3
Sanchez bagged another brace in the NC Courage's 3–1 triumph over the Seattle Reign, lifting her season goal tally to a career-high nine. Both finishes were composed efforts from inside the box, but the 27-year-old attacking midfielder deserves extra recognition for winning the ball in the press and engineering the opportunity herself.
Pietra Tordin
Who doesn't love a young player making a sophomore leap? NWSL second-year player Pietra Tordin contributed a goal and an assist to her 2026 tally in the Portland Thorns' commanding 4–0 victory over Racing Louisville.
Tordin has already matched her rookie goal total of four from the 2025 season in 10 fewer appearances (14 in 2026, 24 in 2025). She has also racked up six assists this year, the most in the entire league.
It is Tordin's ability as a creator that makes her one to watch for the USWNT attack. Against Racing, the 22-year-old won a header in the box from a set piece to set up Jayden Perry. While she may still be a U23 player for now, that kind of well-rounded game is invaluable.
A rocket from Pietra Tordin! 🧨 pic.twitter.com/aH9EpTth9a
Stock Down
Eva Gaetino
Friday night's 3–0 defeat to the KC Current was one Eva Gaetino and the Denver Summit will want to put behind them quickly. The 23-year-old was central to nearly everything that went wrong for Denver and was directly responsible for two of the goals. It was a weekend that highlighted the dangers of the press.
For the opening goal, Gaetino carelessly surrendered possession while carrying the ball in her own half. The Current immediately broke forward and converted. Then, for KC's second, Gaetino repeated the same error even closer to her own box, resulting in a foul on Temwa Chawinga, conceding a penalty and picking up a yellow card.
Lilly Reale
It has been a busy summer for Lilly Reale, who was transferred from Gotham FC to Boston Legacy during the break. The 22-year-old defender made her debut for her new side in their 2–2 home draw against Bay FC last weekend.
It's never fair to judge a player on their debut, but it was clear that Reale may face a learning curve in her new surroundings. Legacy manager Filipa Patão deployed Reale as a left wingback in an uncommon 3-1-4-2 setup. It was an uneasy start for Reale, who appeared positionally uncertain on Bay's second goal, when a lofted through ball caught both her and defensive partner Laís Araújo off guard.
Once Reale settles in with her new teammates and adapts to her manager's tactical preferences, there's every reason to believe she can get back on track and push for a place in Emma Hayes's squad.
Ally Sentnor
From one American who made a summer move to another. This past weekend, Ally Sentnor made her debut and played 80 minutes for Angel City in their 2–0 win over the Orlando Pride. The 22-year-old joined Los Angeles from Kansas City for an $850,000 transfer fee — her third club in under a year, having previously moved from the Utah Royals to KC back in August 2025.
Settling into a new team always takes time. Sentnor will need a period of adjustment to integrate into the Angel City attack, as she managed just one blocked shot, one effort wide and zero chances created — not a display marked by volume or quality in the final third. She had no involvement in either of Angel City's goals, though she did show some positive moments with the ball at her feet.
More NWSL from Sports Illustrated
Theo Lloyd-Hughes is a soccer writer for Sports Illustrated based in the Southern United States. A native of England, he is regularly found in press boxes across the NWSL and at international fixtures involving the USWNT and other Concacaf nations.