North Carolina Courage forward Ashley Sanchez is absolutely stealing the headlines on the just-announced U.S. women’s national team roster for the October friendlies against Spain. Sanchez recently matched a league record, hitting an incredible 20 goals in a single season after a positional shift at her club. But for us in the Emerald City, the real buzz is that our own Claudia Dickey from Seattle Reign FC is also on that 26-player squad, ready to rep the green and blue on the national stage!
New Blood, Big Numbers, and Shifting Roles
This 26-player roster, named by head coach Emma Hayes, combines Olympic gold medalists with in-form NWSL players and some fresh faces. Sanchez’s record-tying goal haul is certainly turning heads, especially after her club moved her around on the pitch. She’s not alone in getting a first look, either. Three players are getting their very first call-ups: Trinity Byars from San Diego Wave FC, Pietra Tordin of the Portland Thorns, and Evelyn Shores from Angel City. That’s a lot of new energy in camp as the squad gears up for some serious international competition.
But it’s not just about the new; there are some big positional shifts for familiar faces. Mallory Swanson, who once formed a crucial part of Hayes’ preferred attacking “triple espresso” trio, is now listed as a midfielder for this camp. Swanson just returned from maternity leave in June and has been working her way back from a hip injury with the Chicago Stars. Meanwhile, defender Naomi Girma is back on the roster after managing an injury, but she sustained a knock in training on Tuesday and might have to withdraw. Midfielder Sam Coffey also makes her return, having worked her way back into minutes with Manchester City after minor knee surgery in mid-May.
October Showdowns and World Cup Dreams
The USWNT hasn’t been together since June, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup over the summer keeping them apart. These upcoming friendlies against Spain are years in the making and are the perfect chance for the team to re-establish those connections Hayes talked about. This is also their shot to really measure themselves against one of the world’s best teams. Hayes said the camp will be about “reestablishing connections after a long break, looking at a few players who haven’t been with us this cycle, and putting on the best performances we can in front of packed stadiums.”
These October matches aren’t just for show. They’re critical as the final prep for the Concacaf W Championship, which is the region’s World Cup and Olympic qualifier. Hayes was clear: “Our dual focus will also be on our final preparations for the World Cup qualifying tournament.” So, get ready to see our Reign star, Claudia Dickey, and the rest of the squad face Spain in what promises to be an intense preview of the road to the World Cup!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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