Ashley Sanchez tied the National Women’s Soccer League single-season record with 20 goals this year, as many as her previous five campaigns combined.
For this reason, the 27-year-old winger from North Carolina Couric is returning to the US national team.
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After an absence of almost two years, Sanchez ended her long wait on Tuesday, naming No. 1 Spain in a 26-woman squad for a friendly against reigning world champions.
A member of the 2023 World Cup squad, Sanchez has not received a call-up since January 2025 and last appeared on October 30, 2024 against the USA. She remained a good NWSL player, but not good enough to return to the second-place USA.
Ashley Sanchez of the North Carolina Courage controls the ball during an NWSL match against the Utah Royals at America First Field on September 27, 2026 in Sandy, Utah.
(Chris Gardner via Getty Images)
“It’s been a big step for him,” coach Emma Hayes said. “At the stage of his career, I’m sure he doesn’t want to waste the opportunities in front of him. The experience he has, this is a player who has always done great things as a youth national team player, so I’m glad to see him realize his potential and now it’s about stepping up to the big level.”
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Her remarkable 2026 campaign — five multi-goal games and nine goals in her last seven outings to tie the NWSL’s American single-season scoring record — has returned her to national team form less than a year before the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Before reporting for international duty, Sanchez could break the all-time record set in 2024 by Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga on Friday night in Seattle. US camp opens Monday at the national training center near Atlanta.
The Americans will host Spain on Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., and Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. – the 18th and 19th times the U.S. has played matches between the top two teams in the FIFA rankings.
“While we’re very much looking forward to playing the World Cup champions, I keep coming back to the journey we’ve all been on together,” Hayes said. “This camp will be about reconnecting after a long break, seeing a few players who have not been with us this term and showing our best in front of packed stadiums. Of course, our dual focus will also be on our final preparations for the World Cup qualifiers in Texas later this year.
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Hayes will also return Mallory Swanson, who starred in the lauded Triple Espresso offense with Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson. The 28-year-old Chicago Stars forward returned from childbirth for two friendlies in Brazil in June but did not play. His last performance was in the match for the Olympic gold medal held in Paris in 2024.
Also called Missing the trip to Brazil were two regular starters: Chelsea centre-back Naomi Girma and Manchester City defensive midfielder Sam Coffey.
However, Girma was injured in Chelsea training on Tuesday and may have to withdraw from the USA squad, Hayes warned.
The roster also includes regulars such as Rodman, Wilson, midfielders Lindsey Heaps and Rose Lavelle, defenders Emily Fox and Tierna Davidson and winger Alyssa Thompson.
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Injuries ruled out defender Emily Sonnett, midfielders Olivia Moultrie and Croix Bethune (tied NWSL in assists) and forward Katarina Macario.
The two strikers who traveled to Brazil — Jaedyn Shaw (10 goals in 37 U.S. caps) and Ally Sentnor (seven in 23) — will report to the Under-23 team this window, Hayes said.
“They’re still at the heart of our plans,” Hayes said, pointing to Sanchez’s promotion as the reason behind the decision.
Hayes invited four players looking to make their debuts: Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz, 26; Angel City midfielder Evelyn Shores, 21; San Diego Wave forward Trinity Byars, 23; and Portland Thorns forward Pietra Tordin, 22. The latter three have combined for 20 goals and 18 assists in the NWSL this season.
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Byars is “a really exciting prospect,” Hayes said. “He does things you can’t teach.”
The three goalkeepers have combined for just 18 appearances, with Silkowitz joining Seattle Reign’s Claudia Dickey and Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Dickie is the only survivor from the Brazil trip.
“Claudia leads the way,” Hayes said.
Nine of the 26 players have 11 or fewer games.
Five draftees are competing for their clubs in the UEFA Women’s Champions League: Girma, Coffey, Thompson (Chelsea), Fox (Arsenal) and OL Lyonnes midfielder Lili Yohannes, who at 19 is the youngest player in the United States.
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USA list
Goalkeepers: Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign, 11 games), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC, 0), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, 7).
Defenders: Tierna Davidson (Gotham, 70), Emily Fox (Arsenal, 78), Naomi Girma (Chelsea, 54), Avery Patterson (Houston Stone, 14), Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy, 9), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit, 12), Gisele Thompson (Angelli City, 1), Diego Wave, 7).
Midfielders: Sam Coffey (Manchester City, 46), Lindsay Heaps (Denver Summit, 178), Claire Hutton (Bay FC, 20), Rose Lavelle (Gotham, 122), Evelyn Shores (Angel City, 0), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars, 103), Liliyonnes (102).
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Strikers: Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave, 0), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current, 14), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit, 57), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville, 21), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage, 28), Pietra Thordinsport (Pietra Thomasport), P. (Chelsea, 32), Sofia Wilson (Portland Thorns, 63).