The USWNT’s stars are coming to town for the showdown with Spain at Subaru Park

As the men’s World Cup summer fades away, the time has come to kick off the countdown to next year’s women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The U.S. women’s team’s series with Spain — a clash between the reigning Olympic champions and reigning World Cup champions — will serve as the starting gun. So it’s fitting that U.S. manager Emma Hayes has summoned a squad packed with stars for the two-game set, Oct. 10 in Washington and Oct. 13 at Subaru Park.

All three of the “Triple Espresso” attackers are aboard — Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Wilson — as are midfield standouts Rose Lavelle, Lily Yohannes, and Sam Coffey. The defense also has its headliner in Naomi Girma, who makes the squad despite injuries hampering the start to her season at English club Chelsea.

While those players will sell the most tickets, the one who might generate the most fan buzz is forward Ashley Sanchez. She has been steamrolling the NWSL this year with the North Carolina Courage and has 20 goals and four assists in 26 games.

But she hasn’t been with the national team since January 2025 and hasn’t played for her country since October 2024.

The 27-year-old has tied the league’s single-season scoring record with four games to go. She could break it Friday night by scoring on the goalkeeper who might be the U.S.’s new starter, the Seattle Reign’s Claudia Dickey.

Hayes doesn’t have everyone available she’d like to. Three major players are dealing with long-term injuries: veteran centerback Emily Sonnett, young creative midfielder Olivia Moultrie, and do-it-all attacking star Catarina Macario.

» READ MORE: What to know about the USWNT's recent history with Spain

While Hayes hopes they’ll be back next year, the door has opened for some young prospects. Winger Pietra Tordin has turned heads with seven goals and nine assists for the Portland Thorns, while striker Trinity Byars has 10 goals and two assists for the San Diego Wave.

As for available players who didn’t make the cut for this squad, the biggest absence is Gotham FC playmaker Jaedyn Shaw. It’s easy to forget she’s only 21, as she has 37 senior national team caps. Shaw has been in superb form in the NWSL lately: four goals and one assist in her last five games, with nine goals and five assists on the season.

Hayes undoubtedly will be asked about Shaw’s absence when she meets with the media later this afternoon.

Both games are close to sold out, with only scattered seats open on Ticketmaster. As of Tuesday afternoon, the starting price for the Tuesday game in Chester is $76 and leaps to $168 for the Saturday matchup at Washington’s Audi Field.

» READ MORE: Brazil's iconic Maracanã Stadium will host the 2027 women's World Cup final

The big crowds will come to cheer on the U.S., but they’ll also be keen to see Spain’s stars. La Roja’s squad includes three-time reigning world player of the year Aitana Bonmatí, two-time winner Alexia Putellas, a further all-world playmaker in Mariona Caldentey, and one of the planet’s top young players in Salma Paralluelo,

It notably does not include former Gotham FC striker Esther González. She left Gotham in late July via a mutual contract termination for what she said were personal reasons but within a month joined Saudi Arabian club Al Qadisah.

That drew backlash on this side of the Atlantic, and not just from Gotham fans who felt scorned. Several eyes were raised around the league, and even some observers in Europe were surprised.

But the rest of the squad is more than than deep enough to give the U.S. one of the biggest tests it can get from any team in the world.

Goalkeepers (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, England)

Defenders (8): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal, England), Naomi Girma (Chelsea, England), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave)

Midfielders (7): Sam Coffey (Manchester City, England), Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit), Claire Hutton (Bay FC), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Evelyn Shores (Angel City FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, France)

Forwards (8): Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage), Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns)

Saturday, Oct. 10: vs. Spain at Audi Field, Washington, 2:30 p.m. (TBS, Telemundo 62, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)

Tuesday, Oct. 13: vs. Spain at Subaru Park, Chester, 7 p.m. (TNT, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)