The eye-catching inclusions of Emma Hayes’ U.S. women’s national team squad for October’s friendlies were Alyssa Malonson, Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears, all first-time call-ups who will look to make an early impression as the team builds on its Olympic Gold medal and toward the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Hayes’ latest selection is an inclusive one, calling upon players representing 12 of the 14 National Women’s Soccer League clubs. There is also a clear focus on form.
“The new players coming into camp — that weren’t part of the Olympic roster — are all players who have performed well throughout the NWSL season,” Hayes confirmed in her squad announcement press conference.
Malonson, Ryan and Sears have all enjoyed positive campaigns with Bay FC, NJ/NY Gotham and Racing Louisville, respectively. Their call-ups indicate a slight change in selection policy, where club performances in the domestic league can pay quick dividends. In the past, U.S. squads have traditionally been a mix of familiar names and well-known prospects. Malonson, Ryan and Sears are also all 25 years old or younger, meaning they should be hitting their peak around the 2027 World Cup.
Let’s look in more detail at what these three players bring to the table and why Hayes has brought them into the U.S. fold for a pair of games against Iceland, and a match against Argentina.
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