Emma Hayes' Two Different USWNT Lineups 🇺🇸

Plus, 10-player Brazil take down England.

October 28, 2025

Happy Tuesday, TWG readers!

The USWNT put us all at ease on Sunday afternoon with a convincing win over Portugal. With eight changes to the lineup from Thursday’s loss, I was particularly impressed with Lily Yohannes and Claire Hutton in the midfield, who distributed the ball with composure and defended with an organized compactness the team lacked in the previous game. The tactical adjustments were overall successful and I’m looking forward to seeing the squad have one more chance to improve even more on Wednesday night against New Zealand. 🇺🇸

We went live after Sunday’s win with Twila Kilgore, former interim USWNT head coach, and I have to say that I learned so much about the way the team is playing thanks to her knowledge and understanding of the game. I really recommend going back to give that a listen (or watch). We’ll be back live on YouTube immediately after Wednesday’s game with Lynn Biyendolo and we’ll hear from Alyssa Thompson on Friendlies on Thursday. 📺

I enjoyed a beautiful fall weekend here in Vermont - walking Finn through the park, taking a foliage hike with friends, and having a delicious dinner at my favorite restaurant, May Day. I have let my Halloween planning slip, however, and will be taking costume suggestions for the dogs. Email me at [email protected]. 🎃

Thank you all so much for being here!

Love,
Sam

After a Portugal Split, New Zealand Awaits USWNT 🇺🇸 

In back-to-back games against Portugal, the USWNT were tested by a squad that challenged them first in Chester, Pa., handing the reigning gold medalists their third loss of 2025 in a 2-1 defeat marked by two goals conceded from corners. Afterward, Emma Hayes said she felt like she was playing “Whack-a-mole” tactically, noting the 113 days since their last friendly (a 3-0 win against Canada), and the individual nature of their play.

Sunday in Connecticut, the USWNT reached for redemption. Hayes rotated eight new names into the starting XI, testing out a young team that averaged 21.6 years of age and 19.2 caps. Emily Sonnett wore the captain’s armband AND collected her 112th cap (more than the 100 combined caps for the rest of the starting XI at the start of the match).

Twenty-year-old Olivia Moultrie entered the XI and wasted no time turning Rose Lavelle’s first-minute goal from Thursday into a theme of this window. The Portland Thorns midfielder took 44 seconds to put one past the Portuguese in East Hartford, then added a second in the 10th minute. Moultrie’s fellow Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey added a third off the bench—her fourth of the year—to seal things 3-1. 

Tomorrow in Kansas City, the USWNT rounds out a three-match window with one final test, this time against the New Zealand Football Ferns (8 p.m. ET on TNT, HBOMax or Peacock).

  • Sam’s Take 🗣️: Really hoping to see the KC Current players feature in this game at their home stadium. I think Michelle Cooper and Claire Hutton have performed incredibly well this camp, and I thought Ally Sentnor did so much work as the No. 9 on Sunday. Lo Labonta featured briefly, but she has a lot to offer the midfield and I know the Current fans will be thrilled to cheer her on in the USWNT jersey.

📬 Enjoying The Women’s Game? Check out our other MiB newsletters:

🐦‍⬛ The Raven: Our Monday and Friday newsletter where we preview the biggest matches around the world (and tell you where/how to watch them) and recap our favorite football moments from the weekend.

🔍 The Correspondent: Rory Smith’s thoughts on the world of soccer, culture, food, and how they all connect – every Thursday.

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

Around the World 🌍

UEFA Nations League Semifinals: Decisive Tests TODAY 🇪🇺

In the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Nations League semifinals, Germany beat France 1-0 with a 79th-minute goal from Bayern Munich forward Klara Bühl. France’s keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin made an essential six saves to limit Die Nationaelf, who outshot Les Bleues seven to three on target while playing in Düsseldorf. They’ll play today in France to settle the winner (4:10 p.m. ET). 

In Málaga, the reigning Nations League champions, Spain, beat Sweden (the only new team to appear in this year’s semifinal, replacing the Netherlands from the last edition) 4-0 in their first leg with a brace each from Barcelona teammates Cláudia Pina and Alexia Putellas (this free kick is worth a gander). Sweden hosts the second leg, but they’ll need to surmount a deep deficit of goals to reach the final.

England 1-2 Brazil 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇧🇷

The back-to-back reigning champions of Europe, England, fell 1-2 at the Etihad (home of Manchester City’s men’s team) to 2027 World Cup hosts and titans of South America, Brazil. As Canarinhas, who won their ninth Copa America trophy this summer, scored two early goals and proved resilient to see things out after Angelina was sent off with a red card in the 21st minute. England will look for redemption today against Australia (3 p.m. ET). 

Australia 2-1 Wales 🇦🇺 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Welsh footballing legend Jess Fishlock has officially retired from the international game, hanging up her boots after one last time out against Australia. Matildas veteran and Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord scored an 85th-minute goal to rob the Dragons of a point in Fishlock’s final game, but the Seattle Reign favorite departs with 166 appearances and 48 goals as the all-time leading scorer in men’s or women’s football in Wales.

  • Sam’s Take 🗣️: This game also marked Sam Kerr's return to the Australian national team - she started and played about an hour, affecting Australia's first goal. Australia are playing England on Wednesday for their final game in this window.

🥤 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.

Goals of the Weekend, Presented by New Balance 💥

Upcoming Games to Get Excited About 🗓️

North Carolina Courage vs. Gotham (Sunday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Ninth-placed North Carolina are the only team ranked below the playoff spots that can still break in. They'll need to beat a strong Gotham squad to do so, while hoping Racing Louisville stumbles. Gotham have slid down to seventh place in the standings, but confirmed their playoff spot before the international break and can still clinch home-field advantage with a win, pending results elsewhere in the table. 

Racing Louisville vs. Bay FC (Sunday, 5 p.m., ET, NWSL+)

Bay FC are already out of the playoffs, but Racing Louisville can clinch their first-ever postseason appearance with a win. The eighth-placed Kentucky side has finished ninth for four straight seasons, falling just short of the playoffs each time. Regardless if they break the curse or stretch their streak to five straight seasons, history will be made this Sunday.

  • Sam’s Take 🗣️: How many screens will you be watching on Decision Day? Come join us on Discord and let me know which game you're most looking forward to this weekend!

Northern Super League Semifinals 🇨🇦

Canada’s inaugural top-flight professional women’s football league will host its first playoff semifinal this Saturday (Nov. 1 ) when the Montreal Roses welcome Toronto FC (12 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Then next Tuesday, Vancouver will take on Ottawa to determine the opponent in the final.

News & Notes 🗞️

  • U.S. Soccer has confirmed their bid to host the 2031 World Cup will now include Mexico, Jamaica, and Costa Rica, marking what could be the largest World Cup in women’s football history. There are currently no other bids for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, and the winner is due to be confirmed in a ceremony on April 30, 2026. 

  • The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will expand from 12 to 16 teams, starting with next year’s 2026 edition which is set to be hosted again by Morocco. OL Lyonnes forward and Malawi captain Tabitha Chawinga (older sister of Kansas City’s top-scorer Temwa Chawinga) noted, “It means more opportunities and great exposure to both older and upcoming players.”

  • The U.S. U-17 squad collected three wins from three games in the group stage of the U-17 World Cup, beating Ecuador, China and Norway to top Group C. Seventeen-year-old Silver Spring, Md.-born striker Nyanya Touray is the team’s top-scorer, with four goals from three games, including a brace against China. They’ll continue with the round of 16 today at 11:30 a.m. ET against the Netherlands. This year’s tournament is hosted by Morocco, with the final scheduled for Nov. 8.

It’s TWG Trivia Time 🤔

This week’s question: Alyssa Naeher didn’t just save penalty kicks during her legendary international career, she also took them in multiple competitions for the USWNT. So we want to know: in which three tournaments did Naeher score from the spot?

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

Last week’s answer: In the 2019 World Cup, Christen Press scored a beautiful goal against England.

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

Moment of Joy 🤸

Dennis N. writes: I just finished your episode with Professor Radley Horton about climate change and how it impacts sports and I loved it! My work revolves around climate change education and one of the big ideas I try to reinforce is the need to talk about climate change in different kinds of contexts. Climate change won't just affect scientists; it'll affect everyone including athletes. I also think that you did a great job at the end focusing on solutions and not leaving us with "doom and gloom" thoughts. Climate anxiety is so prevalent right now and it is important to focus on solutions and the things we can do to mitigate the worst. I hope you continue to bring on interesting guests like Professor Horton!

Also on a side note, I wrote an article for my organization, Earthday.org, and I mentioned the KCC vs. Pride game that was delayed: 5 Jobs Already Being Transformed by Climate Change. Thanks for elevating women's soccer!

Sam writes: Dennis, wow thank you for this message. The episode I did with Professor Horton was extremely important to me and I am so glad to hear you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing your organization, Earthday.org. I will definitely be checking it out!

Thanks for writing in!

Sam

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