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The U.S. women's national team faced some sobering moments this autumn, and two-time World Cup champion Becky Sauerbrunn delivered yet another wake-up call: it's time for the Stars and Stripes to stop tinkering and begin "building chemistry" ahead of next summer's marquee tournament.
All attention was fixed on the reigning Olympic champions this October as they squared off against reigning world champions Spain in two high-profile friendlies. Many considered the matches a potential preview of the 2027 World Cup final, expecting the USWNT to put up a strong fight against a La Roja side missing Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey.
Instead, Emma Hayes's side suffered a disappointing 2–0 loss to Spain in the opening friendly before settling for a 2–2 draw in the second. The results underscored just how much ground the USWNT needs to cover if they hope to unseat the defending champions in Brazil.
Sauerbrunn, joined by fellow two-time World Cup winner Sam Mewis, addressed a critical issue undermining the USWNT's preparations for soccer's biggest stage next summer.
"The idea of building chemistry versus building depth. When is it time to focus on the chemistry part?" Mewis asked on The Women's Game podcast.
"It's probably yesterday," Sauerbrunn replied. "It's tough because Emma has probably not had her first-choice roster since the [2024] Olympics. There have been a string of injuries, so it's somewhat out of necessity that she keeps trying different combinations.
"The most successful teams aren't built on the best individual players in the XI; it's the best collective unit that forms the XI. At some point, you simply have to commit to chemistry.
"Heading into a World Cup year ... with limited training camps remaining, with few games left, I've seen as many partnerships as I can. I'm committing to that. I'm building reps. I'm building chemistry. And if I can get all my players healthy, that's a bonus. That will provide depth when I need it. Right now, I'm figuring out my best partnerships."
The Clock Is Ticking for the USWNT, Hayes
Expectations are always elevated for the USWNT, but they have reached new heights following the team's gold medal victory at the 2024 Olympics. The U.S. is eager to claim a record-breaking fifth World Cup title, yet Hayes's squad cannot reach that summit without genuine team chemistry.
Following the Stars and Stripes' defeat to Spain, Hayes made five changes to her starting lineup for the rematch. Phallon Tullis-Joyce stepped in goal, Gisele Thompson took charge on the left flank, Ashley Sanchez earned a spot in midfield, and Trinity Rodman and Claire Hutton were introduced in attack.
Mallory Swanson, the hero for the USWNT against Brazil at the Paris Olympics, was absent from both starting lineups. Naomi Girma, Emily Sonnett, Catarina Macario, and Sam Coffey were also unavailable in Hayes's squad.
With less than a year before the USWNT is expected to mount a serious World Cup run, Hayes continues to experiment with her lineup, searching for winning combinations while key players remain sidelined. It's far from an ideal situation, given the formidable opponents awaiting on the world stage.
Overcoming powerhouses like England or Spain without genuine chemistry and cohesion will be an enormous challenge. When the USWNT reconvene in November, Hayes must seriously consider following Sauerbrunn's advice and begin consistently fielding the strongest XI available.