The United States Women’s National Team started 2026 in style with a 6-nil hammering of Paraguay in Carson, California to open up January Camp. This roster was built with the aim of seeing a number of new and young players to see who could force their way into the squad ahead of next year’s World Cup in Brazil. But there was one player who featured who stands out with her experience. Trinity Rodman, fresh from her record-setting contract signing, made her return to the national team in nearly a year.
Coach Emma Hayes put out a forward lineup with Olivia Moultrie on the left, Rodman on the right, and Reilyn Turner in the center for her first ever cap with the national team, with Ally Sentnor playing as the attacking midfielder behind them. Joining her in midfield was Claire Hutton and Lo’eau LaBonta. And in defense was Izzy Rodriguez and Gisele Thompson as fullback, with the centerback pairing of Tara Rudd (née McKeown) and Kennedy Wesley, with Mandy McGlynn slotting in at goal. Five players were actually natives of Southern California, appearing in front of their hometown: Rodman, Moultrie, Thompson, Wesley, and the debutant, Turner.
The US started off a bit slower and more disconnected than they would have wanted. That’s not to say that the US wasn’t getting shots. Wesley got a head off a corner that went wide, then the US forced the Paraguayan keeper to intervene with a threatening byline cross, and then the US put another shot off target. And that proved to be the story for most of the match. The US dominated on the ball and Paraguay actually played pretty high, but the US wasn’t able to connect fast enough to exploit the pockets before the defense compressed and clogged up the space in front of goal.
However, that stalemate didn’t quite make it to the half. Deep into stoppage time, Reilyn Turner got onto a good throughball from Moultrie, broke into the box and past her mark, and then buried her shot at the near post. Her first ever goal with the national team in her first ever appereance, in front of her home town. And that goal turned out to be the winning goal. You couldn’t have written it sweeter.
The US continued right where they left off. Hayes made once change with Croix Bethune coming on for Turner at the half, and that proved to be a major change. Suddenly the flood gates were opened and the US were scoring one, two and three. Within the span of ten minutes, the score went from 1-0 to 5-0. It started with Sentnor in the 47th when she got onto a slipped through ball in the box and then finished past the keeper.
The US kept on knocking at the goal, with Bethune nearly heading in a third. However, when that goal came, it wasn’t Bethune who put it in, but a Paraguayan defender. Moultrie put in another cross across the face of goal with Bethune racing towards it, but Fiorela Martinez got there first, only to slide it into the net. 3-0.
Then it was Rodman’s turn to get on the scoresheet, latching onto a ball over the top and stuffing it into the back of the net.
Finally, Sentnor got a brace, getting on the end of a throughball that broke through all the lines and putting it in to make it five.
With the result well and truly decided, Hayes opted to make a slew of changes, bringing on Maddie Dahlien, Emma Sears, Sally Menti, Emily Sams, and Hal Hershfelt for Rodriguez, Rudd, Rodman, LaBonta, Wesley. From there, the game slowed down. With the changes and the lack of urgency the US made fewer chances, but that didn’t stop Sears from getting a final goal to cap off the night.
And that is how the game ended, six goals to zero. A result that certainly would have some of these players pushing for further time in the national team. But in the meantime, the team will have to turn their sights forward for a game against Chile on the 27th in Santa Barbara.
