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Welcome back to your weekly column from Sports Illustrated breaking down the women's soccer weekend through a U.S. women's national team lens. If you missed the first edition, check it out here.
Time is moving fast, and the National Women's Soccer League is already three weeks and four matchdays deep into the season. This past weekend marked the second-to-last matchday before the FIFA international break, and the final round of fixtures before manager Emma Hayes unveils her next squad.
This week, Hayes is set to name her squad for next month's three friendlies against Japan on April 11, 14 and 17. Here is the latest USWNT stock up, stock down breakdown.
USWNT Stock Up
Reilyn Turner
Now in her third season, Reilyn Turner has quietly established herself as one of the most dangerous aerial threats in the NWSL. That was on full display when she rose above Kansas City Current goalkeeper Lorena and flicked the ball behind her and into the net to make it 2–0 for the Portland Thorns on Saturday.
A looooooooong ball from Jayden Perry finds Reilyn Turner to head it over the keeper 💫
Portland leads 2-0! pic.twitter.com/6Z6O2Sv2KY
A long ball played forward, knocked on in the air by a striker, is commonly referred to as "Route 1." It's not the most elegant approach, yet somehow Turner made it look effortless and refined. The careful footwork tracking the ball's flight, the precise use of her neck muscles — even her ability to drift past the last defender was smooth as silk.
Hayes and the USWNT aren't necessarily in the market for a target striker, and yet no other forward in the squad can quite rival Turner when it comes to aerial duels on crosses. That said, Turner offers far more than just her heading ability. The 23-year-old excels at running in behind defenses and can operate as a winger who makes well-timed late runs into the box to finish.
Sophia Wilson
While Sophia Wilson didn't find the net, she did strike the post and earn a penalty in the Thorns' 2-0 victory over the Current. But beyond causing problems in the box in the first half and drawing the foul, the 25-year-old showcased a smooth first touch and burst of speed that hadn't quite been seen since her return from maternity leave.
Wilson is growing sharper with each passing week. With that improved sharpness comes increased playing time. Wilson made her first start of the season on Saturday and was substituted off in the 68th minute. This was her longest uninterrupted spell on the field since the birth of her child in September 2025. Earlier this season, she had logged 13, 31 and 45 minutes across the Thorns' three other matches.
Hayes has spoken about not wanting to rush Wilson back into USWNT duty and acknowledged she wasn't quite ready for the SheBelieves Cup. But the upcoming window may be just the right moment to bring her back.
Claudia Dickey
It's no secret that the Seattle Reign tend to perform at their peak when protecting a lead. Their recent 2–1 victory over Racing Louisville was a prime example, with goalkeeper Claudia Dickey stepping up to help see the game out.
Seattle headed into halftime with a 2–0 advantage, having converted two of their three shots. In the second half, the Reign were outshot 11–3, with Dickey producing five saves to secure the win. Had it not been for a late goal off the crossbar by Macy Blackburn, she would have kept a clean sheet. The Reign are built to execute the basics well and avoid unnecessary risks — a system that demands Dickey to be at the top of her game.
USWNT Stock Down
Croix Bethune
After three straight losses, it was understandable to see visible frustration on Croix Bethune's face. The midfielder was booked for her only foul of the match, while she herself was fouled three times and relentlessly pressured by the Portland Thorns.
For a playmaker widely regarded as one of the league's finest, a 70-minute performance in which she failed to create a single chance will be a bitter pill to swallow. Bethune was clearly targeted and neutralized during Kansas City Current's 2–0 defeat in Portland. Even so, one would hope the 25-year-old can find ways to occupy better positions rather than being forced to battle in the wide channels.
Bethune missed the last USWNT camp due to availability concerns, and her spot in the next squad feels uncertain. Current manager Chris Armas is already under scrutiny following his team's poor start to the season. Getting the best out of Bethune should be near the top of his agenda.
Jameese Joseph
Jameese Joseph has now gone four matches without a goal contribution to open 2026. The forward has started all three of Chicago Stars' defeats, the most recent being a 68-minute appearance in the 2–0 loss to San Diego Wave this past weekend. The 23-year-old registered just 23 touches, zero shots, and zero chances created in that outing.
Joseph was a standout performer at the USWNT's January camp and the SheBelieves Cup, but competition for places appears to be intensifying and she is being overtaken by the likes of Turner and Wilson on current form. Of course, not all of this falls on her shoulders — Chicago's sluggish start to the season isn't doing her any favors.
Jaedyn Shaw
A hamstring injury has kept Jaedyn Shaw off the pitch for three straight matches. It remains to be seen how serious the injury is and whether she will be fit enough for Hayes to consider her for the upcoming April friendlies. Another weekend on the sidelines does little to strengthen her case.
Gotham FC certainly misses the 21-year-old creative forward in their lineup. Gotham's only win of the season — a 1–0 victory on opening day away to Boston Legacy — came when Shaw delivered a man-of-the-match performance across the full 90 minutes. Since then, the Bats are 0-1-2 and have failed to find the net in all three of those outings.
More NWSL from Sports Illustrated
Theo Lloyd-Hughes is a soccer writer for Sports Illustrated based in the Southern United States. Originally from England, he is regularly found in press boxes across the NWSL and at international fixtures involving the USWNT and other Concacaf nations.