The 2026 USWNT Campaign Starts Now ❄️

Plus, TWG's ins and outs for the year.

January 13, 2026

Happy Tuesday, TWG readers!

The first USWNT roster of 2026 dropped last week with a young, NWSL-based group of players who will all be hungry to impress during these upcoming games. I relate to them so much and have been thinking about the treadmill and winter workouts they likely did over the holidays. This time in the calendar can be so difficult as you’re training on your own, knowing that January camp is right around the corner. I’m sending them all my thoughts and wishes for warm weather wherever they are training! 🙏

Here at TWG, we’ve got a few podcasts dropping this week to help us all get back on track. First up, we’ve got an episode with Kate Ward, former captain of the Deaf WNT, out today. Make sure to check that one out on YouTube (and linked below) as we also had an interpreter join us on screen. Then on Thursday, we’ve got Bárbara Olivieri joining us to chat all things Boston Legacy, and on Friday, “Mewis Squared” is back! 📺

I’m holding strong with my New Year’s resolution of getting good at roasting chicken. I’m 2/2! Even though they have both been heavily supervised by my chef husband, Pat, I’m learning as I go and getting my protein in. Let me know if you have a favorite roast chicken recipe by emailing us here. I’ll be checking the inbox. 🍗

Thank you all for being here!

Love,
Sam

PS - Here’s our 2026 ins & outs list. Tell us what’s on yours! 😎 

TWG HQ Bulletin Board 📣

The USWNT January Camp Roster Arrives ❄️

The 2026 campaign starts now for the four-time World Champions, who are beginning the penultimate year before the 2027 World Cup in SoCal. Emma Hayes named a 26-player roster to convene in Carson, Calif. for friendlies against Paraguay (Jan. 24) and Chile (Jan. 27). 

Headline news for this camp is the return of Trinity Rodman, who is back with the national team for the first time since last April. Rodman took time away to rehab a back injury last season, and arrives in California with speculation still swirling around the star forward’s club status. 

With leagues outside the U.S. in the middle of their seasons, Hayes’ roster is NWSL-only, and includes four first-time call-ups for Maddie Dahlien (Seattle Reign FC), Reilyn Turner (Portland Thorns FC), Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage) and Sally Menti (Seattle Reign FC).

  • Sam’s Take 🗣️: I've been a big fan of Reilyn’s, especially since the Skills Challenge at NWSL Championship weekend last fall. She was on my (winning) team and was just so funny and great to work with. I'll be cheering for her big time this camp and hope to have her on the podcast soon.

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🇺🇸 USMNT Only: Your regular update on the most important topics in the U.S. men’s game, all leading up to this year’s World Cup.

Lindsey Heaps Signs with Denver Summit FC ⛰️

The new NWSL regular season begins March 13, and will make history as the first to feature 16 teams, with Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC joining the fray. Clubs new and old across the league are busy making offseason moves (hello, Angel City) and the league’s 16th team just made a seismic hometown signing. Colorado-born USWNT captain, World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist and Champions League winner, Lindsey Heaps, is officially coming home. As she told Sam last year: “I think it would be so special, if they want me.”

The 31-year-old from Golden, Colo. has led a storied career in France, after joining PSG straight out of high school (the first USWNT player to skip college and go pro) and joining European juggernauts OL Lyonnes in 2022. The midfielder will finish the season with France’s top-ranked UWCL contenders, and join Denver this June on a deal that runs through 2029.  

Meanwhile, in England’s WSL… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United

The marquee match of the weekend finished in a stalemate as the visitors held off Arsenal while being outshot 25 to four (six to one on target), and finishing the match with 10 players thanks to Jayde Riviere’s two yellows. With the result, first-placed Manchester City (who beat Everton 2-0 on Sunday with goals from Kerolin and Viv Miedema) widened the gap at the top of the table as there are now 10 points between them and third-placed Arsenal, while United dropped to fifth behind Tottenham with the draw.

Chelsea 5-0 West Ham

The Blues are still six points behind City, but they started the year with a bang at Kingsmeadow this past Sunday. Misery began early for West Ham, as they trailed from the first minute thanks to an own goal. The two finished the weekend at exact opposite ends of the table, as Chelsea strengthened their hold on second after Arsenal’s draw with United. The Hammers, on the other hand, are in a precarious 11th place and just one point ahead of last-placed Liverpool. The highlight for USWNT fans? Alyssa Thompson’s first Chelsea goal of 2026, which marks the SoCal native’s fourth goal in seven WSL starts.

  • Sam’s Take 🗣️: This wasn't the prettiest game to watch, but Sandy Baltimore's goal was beautiful. She continues to impress me with the way she can create opportunities for herself. Sandy is versatile and dangerous and becoming one of my favorite players to watch.

📊 You can view the full WSL table here.

Upcoming Matches to Set a Reminder for 🗓️

While the WSL regular season waits until Jan. 23 for matchday 13, the FA Cup is back in action for the fourth round. Here are a few interesting matchups: 

Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace (Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET, DAZN)

Last year’s champions take on Crystal Palace at home this weekend, marking their first meeting since Palace were relegated from the top flight last season. The South London side have a lot to prove, as they enter this matchup sitting in fifth place in the second tier.

Manchester United vs. Burnley (Sunday, 8 a.m. ET, DAZN)

Last season’s runner up, Manchester United, will face off against Burnley, who are in their first season as a fully professional club, and are in fourth place of the National League North (the third tier of English football).

🥤 Olipop power everything we do here at The Women’s Game. You can use code TWG20 for 20% off your first order at drinkolipop.com/TWG20.

News & Notes 🗞️

  • Twenty-five-year-old Olympic gold medalist and 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger is leaving Arsenal after struggling for minutes, and is joining Aston Villa on loan from the Gunners. 

  • Speaking of Arsenal, after leading the Gunners to the UWCL title in her debut season as manager, head coach Renée Slegers signed a contract extension through 2029.

  • Amid ongoing conversation surrounding NWSL’s talent retention tactics and USWNT players going abroad, The Guardian has reported that Portland Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey is in advanced talks to sign with Manchester City. 

  • The schedule for the 2026 SheBelieves Cup is here. The USWNT will face Argentina in Nashville on March 1, followed by Canada in Columbus on March 4 and Colombia in Harrison, N.J. on March 7.

It’s TWG Trivia Time 🤔

This week’s question: Emma Hayes’ January camp roster features nine players from Southern California, where the team will play its upcoming games. SoCal has long been a hotbed for USWNT talent, with two of the top-10 top scorers in USWNT history coming from the region. Who are they?

Respond to this email (or reply here) for a chance to win a coveted TWG patch.

Last week’s answer: OL Lyonnes has the most Coupe de France Féminine titles with 10.

Congrats to Barbara Ravel, who was the first person to respond with the correct answer. Barbara, the patch is on its way! 💌

Good Reads 📖

Moment of Joy 🤸

Kyla and Megan write: Hey Women’s Game crew!

My girlfriend and I are huge fans and I just wanted to share a good vibe: every time either of us does something worth celebrating (a real success or even just folding laundry), we sing our own version of Lynn’s “Claudia Claudia song” to hype each other up! 

“Look at her fold, look at her go!” Complete with the hand claws. Thanks for the laughs and the ear worm of a song! 

-Kyla and Megan from Chicago

Sam writes: Kyla and Megan! Thank you for writing in. This is so funny and I am so glad to hear the Claudia song is catching on. 🦀 Maybe I’ll rework the lyrics to sing the first time I successfully roast a chicken.

-Sam

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