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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.
Last week, USWNT players returned to their clubs nursing their pride after failing to win either of two friendlies against Spain. But setbacks can spark a reaction. There were clear takeaways from the international window. Emma Hayes and her squad have plenty to address, and that opens the door for players looking to make their case.
Many will be competing for a roster spot when the USWNT reconvenes for the World Cup qualifiers, which kick off on November 27. With league play back in action, here's a look at which American players helped or hurt their standing this past weekend.
Stock Up
Trinity Byars
SD's Trinity Byars chips it and IT'S IN 💪 pic.twitter.com/z0VVpLEmEj
Sometimes, it's the unseen work that best reflects a player's development. After earning her first-ever senior USWNT call-up this month, Trinity Byars showed no signs of deflation after missing her international debut against Spain. The San Diego Wave forward was at her sharpest in their 2–1 victory over the NC Courage on Saturday.
Byars is making the one-on-one with the goalkeeper on a counter-attack her signature move. This was her 11th goal of the season in her 13th start, and it may be among her most technically refined. The timing and execution of the chip were sublime. She calculated every second, tracking both the recovering defender and the advancing goalkeeper. Composure and brilliant shot selection in perfect harmony. One touch, goal.
Sophia Wilson remains the first-choice center forward for the USWNT, but Byars is climbing the pecking order as a likely backup or impact option off the bench. Even if, for now, she has yet to earn a single senior USWNT cap.
Gisele Thompson
Taylor Suarez with the equalizer!
From being down by two, to all square 🤩 pic.twitter.com/vLX7lwWxZq
A two-assist performance from Angel City's Gisele Thompson will have plenty of observers pushing the wide player further up the USWNT depth chart and even into contention for a starting berth. The 20-year-old was outstanding on the right flank for Angel City in their 3–2 win over the Denver Summit on Saturday. Her trajectory just keeps climbing.
Thompson put her creativity on full display, setting up Angel City's equalizer in the 39th minute before engineering the winning goal just four minutes later.
The first assist was a well-weighted pass into the right channel to send Taylor Suarez in on goal. The second was all about patience, as Thompson was involved in a slick team move that worked the ball side to side before teeing up Ally Sentnor from outside the area.
Even on the Angel City goal she didn't assist, Thompson delivered a key forward pass to transition the ball from defense into attack. To cap it off, she finished with a 92% pass completion rate.
Karlie Lema
Bay is right back in it 👊
Caroline Conti roofs Karlie Lema's cross and Bay are level! pic.twitter.com/ooHXNB9EG6
From one two-assist winger this weekend to another. While Karlie Lema is still some distance from the senior USWNT picture, her impressive showing in Bay FC's 2–2 draw against the Portland Thorns will have turned some heads.
Lema is a dynamic wide player who keeps defenders on their heels by threatening the space in behind. When given room to run, she's dangerous in transition. Those qualities were evident as Lema skillfully dribbled past onrushing Portland goalkeeper McKenzie Arnold, kept the ball in play and rolled it across for a simple open-goal finish for Caroline Conti. Her second assist of the afternoon, which put Bay ahead 2–1, came through sharp one-touch combination play with teammate Kennedy Fuller.
Bay's most dangerous outlet on the day, Lema finished with three chances created — two of them big chances — along with a couple of efforts of her own. In a near-perfect outing, Lema completed 100% of her 18 passes.
Stock Down
Jordan Silkowitz
THE THORNS TIE IT 👀
Caiya Hanks slots home her second of the season to tie it late!#NWSL pic.twitter.com/xRw1iYZsug
Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz joined the USWNT last week for the friendlies against Spain but didn't feature. After a strong first two-thirds of the 2026 season, her form has begun to dip, and this weekend's 2–2 draw with the Portland Thorns was among her more difficult outings.
In the closing moments, with Bay leading 2–1, Silkowitz was beaten at her near post by a low, driven effort from Caiya Hanks. The post-shot expected goals (PSxG) on Hanks's equalizer was just 0.38. Morgan Weaver's opener was a thunderous strike from outside the box that, despite coming from further out, was a tougher ask for Silkowitz, with Opta data recording a PSxG of 0.62. Ultimately, Bay couldn't hold on, with Silkowitz making three saves from five shots faced.
Jameese Joseph
Forward Jameese Joseph's difficult start to life with the Utah Royals continued this weekend as her side fell 2–0 at home to the KC Current. Joseph has yet to earn a starting spot since arriving from the Chicago Stars and was given a 28-minute cameo on this occasion.
In terms of positioning, Joseph shifts between winger and center forward. At present, she can't displace Kiana Palicios in the central role, so her minutes are coming out wide. That limits her prospects with the USWNT, where the competition for places is exceptionally fierce.
Joseph ended the weekend with just 13 touches, zero chances created, two completed dribbles and one shot on target.
Jaedyn Shaw
Gotham FC attacking midfielder Jaedyn Shaw remained an unused substitute as her side fell 1–0 to the Washington Spirit in a high-stakes rivalry clash that could shape the race for the NWSL Shield this season. She has been working her way back to full fitness after a training knock forced her withdrawal from the USWNT U-23 squad last week.
During the match, Shaw was spotted warming up and visibly eager to contribute as Gotham chased an equalizer in the final 20 minutes. However, Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amoros ultimately decided against risking Shaw when she wasn't fully fit.
Shaw is enjoying the finest NWSL regular season of her career to date, with 10 goals and five assists across 24 matches. How much she can contribute down the stretch and in the playoffs will determine whether she can force her way back into the USWNT setup for World Cup qualifiers after sitting out the Spain friendlies.