The USWNT’s ‘Triple Espresso’ line reunites for a star-studded series in Brazil
Trinity Rodman and new moms Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson are back together for the first time since the 2024 Olympics, right in time to visit next year’s World Cup hosts.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — In its quest to resume a habit of winning trophies, the U.S. women’s soccer team resumed another of its customs on Wednesday: seizing attention.
It already was news that the Americans are in Brazil to play the hosts of next year’s World Cup for a two-game series. Then it was news that winger Mallory Swanson returned to the squad this month after maternity leave, reuniting the “Triple Espresso” front line with Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson that stormed to Olympic gold in 2024.
On Wednesday, the trio sat together for an online news conference ahead of Saturday’s game in São Paulo (5:30 p.m., TBS, Telemundo 62). The second matchup is Tuesday in Fortaleza (8:30 p.m., TNT, Peacock).
“Having my sisters back is amazing,” said Rodman, who’s now an unofficial aunt to Gigi Wilson and Josie Swanson. “And then on the field, I just feel like our connection is so good. Being able to play with them again has been really good, and I’m excited to keep doing it.”
Sophia Wilson, who returned to the U.S. squad in the spring, praised the staff for doing “a really good job of making sure that we are getting caught up, and feel like when we come back into camp, we haven’t missed a beat and can kind of just get back on the ground and flying.”
The experience of playing in a World Cup host country before the tournament can help not just the play on the field, but with all the off-field logistics. It’s why U.S. Soccer has set up trips for every such tournament on foreign soil since 2003.
» READ MORE: The USWNT will visit next year’s World Cup host Brazil for two games in June
Both cities and the stadiums for these games will be World Cup host sites next year, and were hosts of the 2014 men’s World Cup. (The São Paulo venue is where the Eagles played in 2024.)
Rodman, Swanson, and Wilson have lived it themselves. The first two went to New Zealand at the start of 2023, and Wilson went to Australia in 2021.
“I think any time we can be in an environment that replicates what it’s going to look like in a world tournament is very important,” Wilson said. “Because there’s so many factors that you maybe don’t think about, and that we kind of have to adapt to and just get comfortable with — get comfortable being uncomfortable. And just the opportunity to play in Brazil in front of their fans, with this energy, in a country that lives and breathes soccer, football, I think it’s so great for us. “
Granted, the team has not yet qualified for 2027; Concacaf’s qualifying tournament is Thanksgiving week in Houston and Dallas. But the feat is expected, with the U.S. only having to beat El Salvador — No. 78 in FIFA’s global rankings — in the quarterfinals to clinch a berth.
» READ MORE: Why U.S. Soccer’s new national training center will matter long after the World Cup
This U.S. squad has lots of stars: the Triple Espresso line, winger Alyssa Thompson, playmakers Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw, central midfielders Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes, and defenders Tierna Davidson and Emily Fox.
But there also are many young players who are major contenders for the World Cup team and will gain priceless experience on the trip. Some names to watch are forwards Ally Sentnor and Emma Sears, midfielders Claire Hutton and Riley Jackson, and defenders Avery Patterson and Lilly Reale.
To have such a list once again shows that the U.S. team’s greatest strength is its depth. If manager Emma Hayes was picking the World Cup team today, she could easily do so without choosing 2024 Olympic champion Croix Bethune.
Bethune is on this month’s squad, but 2024 Olympic alternate Hal Hershfelt isn’t. There was room with Sam Coffey out recovering from a knee operation, but Hayes chose to take 20-year-old Riley Jackson instead — and raved about her when the roster was announced.
» READ MORE: The USWNT wins fans with its stars, but keeps winning games with its depth
“As I’ve said all along, in order to develop successive competitive teams, you can’t just develop a group of 28-to-32 year olds that we focus on [for] that World Cup,” Hayes said. “If Riley Jackson is in contention for ’27, which she is, then we have to provide [her] opportunities. … And for me, she is next in line because of the qualities in possession that I think she has above every other No. 6 [defensive midfielder] that she’s competing [against] across the country.”
Swanson watched that depth grow while she was away and liked what she saw, even though it means more competition for her place.
“When I was out, I was obviously watching the games and keeping up,” Swanson said. “And trying to not only watch as a fan, but also as a player, and see the tactical game of what we’re trying to achieve. … I think that there’s been a lot of depth within that, and Emma’s done a great job of getting so many different players on the same page with that.”
USWNT roster vs. Brazil
Goalkeepers (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash)
Campbell replaced Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, England), who was named to the initial roster but withdrew because of an injury.
Defenders (8): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal, England), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave)
Midfielders (7): Croix Bethune (Kansas City Current), Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit), Claire Hutton (Bay FC), Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, France)
Forwards (7): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea, England), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns)
Nine nations will compete in five group stage matches this summer, plus two more in a knockout game on July 4. Here’s what you need to know about those countries — and what those fans need to know about Philly. Click here for more.
