Emma Hayes has led the U.S. women’s national team for nearly two years. Her tenure has been defined by expansion — in a clear effort to widen the player pool and reshape the roster ahead of major international competitions in 2027 and 2028, she has handed out at least 30 first caps.
But as the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics approach, Hayes is beginning to narrow her choices. A mix of veterans like Lindsay Heaps and Rose Lavelle alongside younger talents like Jaedyn Shaw and Lily Yohannes will anchor this new era, with a rotating group of players rounding out the squad.
But what about those who have featured before, but aren’t getting selected anymore? Here’s a look at players who haven’t found themselves on recent USWNT rosters — and whether they might work their way back.
Certain returners
Let’s start with the easy ones. Four core USWNT players — Tierna Davidson, Catarina Macario, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson — haven’t featured recently for obvious reasons. Davidson and Macario are rehabbing injuries (Davidson is recovering from her second ACL tear in three years), while Swanson and Wilson are navigating return-to-play protocols after giving birth in recent months. Together, the four have 242 combined caps and an average age of just 26.5. When they are fully fit, their spots will be waiting.
Just missing the cut
Washington Spirit teammates Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt appear to be on the verge of becoming national team regulars. Both 24, they have fewer than ten caps apiece but have impressed in limited USWNT minutes and helped lead their club to back-to-back NWSL finals. Their challenge is positional depth. Bethune competes with attacking midfielder Jaedyn Shaw and Hershfelt sits behind defensive midfielder Sam Coffey. Still, both remain firmly in the conversation, and strong club seasons could solidify their roles on the international stage.
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Haven’t heard that name in a while
For a stretch over the past few years, fullback Jenna Nighswonger and midfielder Korbin Shraeder (née Albert) were near-constants on USWNT rosters. Each has 20 caps, both play in Europe — and both have faded from the national team picture over the past six to nine months.
Nighswonger’s absence is relatively straightforward. After leaving Gotham FC for Arsenal, she struggled for minutes and fell down the depth chart. A move to Aston Villa has improved her visibility, and Crystal Dunn’s surprise retirement creates additional USWNT space at fullback. If Nighswonger can regain form in the WSL, a return feels possible.
Shraeder’s situation is more complicated. Like Nighswonger, she may suffer from reduced visibility overseas. At just 22, time is still on her side — she was actually part of the U-23 setup as recently as late 2025. However, Shraeder’s history of engaging with homophobic and transphobic content on social media has damaged her standing within parts of the women’s soccer community. While Hayes is unlikely to exclude a player solely for social media activity, locker room dynamics matter. If her activity created tension or alienated teammates, it could affect her path back.
Yazmeen Ryan, a 27-year-old forward with 10 caps falls here too. The competition up front is steep, but a standout season with the Houston Dash could strengthen her case.
Another relatively quiet name is Mia Fishel. Once projected as a future face of the national team, Fishel has yet to make a sustained impact for the USWNT. After opting out of her NWSL draft selection to play in Liga MX Femenil, she transferred to Chelsea where she played under Hayes. In July 2025, she joined the Seattle Reign. Between those moves and a lengthy ACL recovery, she hasn’t appeared for the USWNT since October 2023. She still hasn’t reached her peak, but the upcoming NWSL season and the next few camps could prove pivotal.
Still on the bubble?
Several players remain in the broader pool despite inconsistent call-ups and could reemerge with strong club performances. Goalkeeper Casey Murphy, midfielders Ashley Sanchez and Savannah DeMelo, and forward Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams) sit in this tier. Murphy held a regular role after Alyssa Naeher stepped away from national team duty but has since been surpassed by Claudia Dickey, Mandy McGlynn and Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Sanchez and DeMelo have not been capped recently and would face stiff competition in Hayes’ midfield plans, though neither is entirely out of contention. Biyendolo, currently pregnant, will be away from the national team for some time but could return to tournament consideration if she chooses to resume international play.
The real longshots
Finally, there are the names that feel firmly in the rearview mirror. Jane Campbell, Alanna Cook, Ashley Hatch, Sofia Huerta, Aubrey Kingsbury, Midge Purce, and Andi Sullivan have combined for 185 caps. But under Hayes, the program appears to have moved on.
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