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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. If you missed the previous edition, you can find it here.
This was the opening weekend of women's soccer action following the FIFA international window, during which the U.S. women's national team claimed two victories and suffered one defeat against Japan.
It appears that several USWNT stars have carried their momentum and confidence from that window into their respective club sides. Meanwhile, some fringe bubble players are trending in the wrong direction when it comes to catching the eye of USWNT head coach Emma Hayes.
With the next USWNT roster announcement not expected until June, let's examine which players saw their stock rise and fall over the past weekend.
USWNT Stock Up
Sophia Wilson
Welcome back to the scoresheet, Sophia Wilson. The 25-year-old Portland Thorns striker netted the decisive goal in a 2–1 victory over Angel City on Sunday. It was Wilson's first goal since returning to the pitch following the birth of her daughter in July 2025. A full 540 days had passed since her previous strike, which also came against Angel City back in November 2024.
SOPHIA WILSON WITH HER FIRST GOAL BACK SINCE MATERNITY LEAVE 🔥
Look at what it meant to her after finding the back of the net ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LYeJSNz6R8
Wilson's playing time and minute totals had been gradually increasing week after week. Following an extended run with the USWNT against Japan, she returned looking noticeably sharp in NWSL play. She completed the full 90 minutes in Los Angeles, led all players in shots (four), tested the goalkeeper three times and converted 0.27 expected goals (xG) into 0.67 xG on target.
The precise finishing that Wilson is renowned for was on full display with her stunning 90th-minute strike. The way Wilson uses her body and shoulder movement to make Angel City defender Sarah Gorden fear her right foot, before shifting the ball onto her left and driving it home, is outstanding forward play.
Ashley Sanchez
Could it be too late for Ashley Sanchez to force her way back into USWNT contention? The North Carolina Courage midfielder hasn't received a call-up since 2023, yet she is currently producing some of the finest soccer of her career.
The 27-year-old has now reached four goals in 2026 after another match-winning strike in the Courage's 1-0 away victory over the Houston Dash. Since joining the Courage in 2024, Sanchez has found the net 12 times, with seven of those proving to be game-winners.
On her goal, a swift counter-attack down the field, Sanchez positions herself well against Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell to disguise her shot. Ultimately, Sanchez drives a low effort to the far post just beyond Campbell's reach. Effortlessly composed, everything is coming together for Sanchez at the moment.
Manaka Matsukubo drops it over the top and Ashley Sanchez does the rest 🫨 pic.twitter.com/laN8gOweVi
Trinity Rodman
The drought is over. After beginning 2026 without a goal or assist to her name, Trinity Rodman made a statement with a goal and an assist in the Washington Spirit's commanding 4-0 win over the KC Current.
Things haven't come easily for Rodman this season and she hasn't appeared fully fit. But she was back to her brilliant best on Friday night. As a playmaker, she was outstanding, surging down the left flank and delivering the cross for Leicy Santos to open the scoring, before nearly registering a second assist on a similar run that ended with Sofia Cantore firing a close-range effort.
Rodman's first NWSL goal of 2026 wasn't a thing of beauty. She pounced on a terrible fumble from Kansas City goalkeeper Lorena from a corner kick. But that kind of alert, opportunistic finishing is exactly what elite forwards must do consistently. Rodman was composed when it mattered and showcased her electrifying dribbling throughout the match.
USWNT Stock Down
Ally Sentnor
Kansas City Current starting center forward Ally Sentnor has now gone five consecutive matches without finding the net. The positional shift to a more central, target-forward role in Kansas City has not appeared to suit her.
In the Current's 4–0 road defeat to the Washington Spirit, Sentnor played the full 90 minutes, registering three shots and creating one chance. All of those attempts came after the Current were already trailing by multiple goals. Her best effort saw the 22-year-old rattle the crossbar from a free kick outside the area.
There was a moment when Sentnor believed she had pulled one back for the Current, only for her close-range tap-in to be disallowed for offside. Sentnor was clearly ahead of the last defender by a considerable distance — another indication that she is still developing the instincts needed to time her runs in the box correctly.
Lindsey Heaps
The USWNT captain was directly involved in the costly error that gifted Arsenal a 2–1 victory over OL Lyon in the first leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League semifinals.
Heaps overhit a back pass to Ingrid Engen, forcing goalkeeper Christiane Endler to rush off her line, collide with Engen and present Olivia Smith with an empty net to put Arsenal in front in the 83rd minute.
"It's frustrating, it's difficult to get that result here," a clearly irritated Heaps told CBS on Sunday. "There's a lot we can take away, get the details right and prevent those little things from happening. Again, it's a lot of our mistakes and things that we can do better."
Both of Arsenal's goals stemmed from Lyon errors, with Endler and Engen involved in the breakdown on each occasion. Heaps was not the primary culprit, but will regret her role in gifting the opposition a goal. The 31-year-old also offered little in an attacking sense, finishing with zero shots and no chances created, without a single touch inside the Arsenal penalty area.
OLIVIA SMITH WITH THE NO LOOK FINISH 😮💨
Arsenal complete the comeback late at the Emirates 💥
Stream every UEFA Women's Champions League game on @paramountplus 📺 pic.twitter.com/f7O8JeteIq
Sofia Huerta
It had been a promising start to 2026 for Seattle Reign right back Sofia Huerta. The 33-year-old has earned 32 caps for the USWNT but none since 2023. While she may not be in contention for an imminent roster spot, she remains an experienced fringe player worth monitoring.
Unfortunately for Huerta, her form took a sharp dip over the weekend as both she and the Reign delivered their worst display of the season in a 3–0 defeat to the Utah Royals. Huerta was culpable for Cloé Lacasse's goal just before the break, which put the Royals up 3–0 and effectively ended the contest for the home side.
Ana Tejada with a perfect through ball to find Cloé Lacasse for the finish 👑
Utah Royals lead 3-0 in the first half! pic.twitter.com/zX5LtvXfxs
After the Reign surrendered possession in midfield, Huerta was slow to react and reestablish her defensive position. Once the Royals regained the ball, Huerta should have sprinted back to cover the right side of Seattle's defense. Instead, she hesitated and was drawn toward the ball rather than tracking Lacasse's run. Huerta lunged at Ana Tejada's pass but failed to intercept it, leaving Lacasse with acres of space to run into the box and finish.
Had Huerta communicated her intentions more clearly, Reign center back Emily Mason might have been able to shift across. However, Mason needed to monitor Mina Tanaka, meaning the Reign players were forced to make split-second decisions — just six seconds elapsed between the turnover and the ball hitting the net.
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Theo Lloyd-Hughes is a writer for Sports Illustrated Soccer based in the Southern United States. Originally from England, he can often be found in a press box across the NWSL or at international matches featuring the USWNT and other Concacaf nations.