Rodman, Swanson, Wilson…

Forwards Mallory Swanson has been summoned to the United States national team for the first time since giving birth last November. She will join the USWNT for back-to-back away matches against Brazil on June 6 and June 9.

Swanson’s return, alongside Sophia Wilson’s recent comeback from maternity leave, revitalizes the self-termed “Triple Espresso” forward trio of Swanson, Wilson, and Trinity Rodman for the first time since the 2024 Olympic gold medal match. Swanson was the one who netted the decisive goal in that encounter against Brazil.

Head coach Emma Hayes and U.S. Soccer announced a 26-player roster for the USWNT’s trip on Wednesday. The upcoming matches against Brazil will occur just over a year before the 2027 World Cup begins in the country.

“That front three hasn’t played together since the Olympic gold medal match, which is quite a long time,” said Hayes during a Wednesday news conference following the roster reveal. “We have to maximize every opportunity and ensure we’re assembling our best players together at all times.”

Swanson’s return follows Wilson, who made her first USWNT appearance in April after giving birth in September. Their maternity leaves, coupled with Rodman’s injuries, have prevented the trio from playing together since the Olympic final on August 10, 2024.

The USWNT’s upcoming matches in São Paulo on June 6 and Fortaleza on June 9 will be the team’s last engagements until October, as World Cup qualifying kicks off in November.

Hayes emphasized the importance of rebuilding the connection among the formidable forward trio right away, rather than postponing until the next training camp.

“While we’ve developed great depth, those three players have earned their place,” Hayes explained. “We clinched a gold medal with them. Now, we have to start rekindling their chemistry together, and I’m genuinely excited for that.”

Swanson made her return to competitive play with the Chicago Stars on May 16. In her second match since coming back on Sunday, she contributed the only goal off the bench, leading Chicago to a 1-0 victory over Bay FC.

If Swanson plays on June 6, it will mark a gap of 604 days between her USWNT outings; her last appearance was in October 2024.

“She feels like she’s in a really good place,” Hayes remarked about Swanson. “She has been prepared to play and contribute, syncing well with her daughter, Josie.”

“There are nuances we often overlook, like sleeping and feeding schedules, that need to be balanced. She knows she has my full support, whatever she requires to manage that,” Hayes added. “Although I wanted her in this camp, I completely respected her readiness. She is excited and truly ready.”

Since Swanson’s last match, the USWNT roster has seen considerable changes. Hayes has given out 32 first caps in her initial 32 games as head coach.

Hayes indicated that she plans to select players for Brazil whom she anticipates will feature in the World Cup. Unfortunately, three potential starters will miss out due to injuries: midfielder Sam Coffey recently underwent minor knee surgery, while forward Catarina Macario and defender Naomi Girma remain sidelined without clear timelines for their returns.

During a recent visit, Hayes observed Girma at a Chelsea match and noted that she didn’t appear far from being fit, although she won’t make the trip to Brazil.

Hayes also mentioned not seeing Macario during her recent trip to San Diego and lacking a timeline for her recovery. The USWNT coach deferred to Macario’s club, the San Diego Wave, which has not disclosed further details about her injury, only indicating “heel” as the reason on the weekly NWSL injury report.

Macario has yet to make her debut for San Diego since transferring there in March; her last competitive match was in December.

This camp in Brazil sees no first-time call-ups for the third consecutive time, but Hayes has reinstated midfielders Croix Bethune and Riley Jackson, both of whom have been standout players in the NWSL for the Kansas City Current and North Carolina Courage, respectively.

Defender Tara Rudd also returns after being omitted from three previous games against Japan in April.

Veteran midfielder and 2019 World Cup champion Rose Lavelle has also made the roster, even though she has not been active for Gotham FC since May 3 due to a hamstring strain.

Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn returns to the lineup as well after recuperating from a hand injury and helping lead the Utah Royals to the top of the NWSL standings.

Brazil is ranked sixth in the world, while the United States holds the second spot, trailing only Spain.

Full USWNT roster for June matches against Brazil (Club; Caps/Goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 10), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 5), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 7)

DEFENDERS (8): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC; 69/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 76/1), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 12/1), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC; 9/0), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit; 12/0), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 116/2), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 10/0), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC; 6/1)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Croix Bethune (Kansas City Current; 7/1), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 176/40), Claire Hutton (Bay FC; 18/1), Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage; 1/0), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 120/29), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 17/5), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC; 36/10), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 18/1)

FORWARDS (7): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 12/1), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 55/13), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 19/6), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current; 21/7), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars; 103/38), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 31/4), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns FC; 61/24)