United States Women’s National Team<\/a> is returning to action after a four-month summer break.<\/p>\nIt’s set to take on Spain back-to-back in Washington D.C. and Chester, Penn.<\/p>\n
The two matches are just friendlies, but they’re serious business for both sides. With the USWNT entering as Olympic champions and Spain entering as world champions, these friendlies could serve as a preview of next summer’s World Cup knockout games \u2014 and maybe even of its final.<\/p>\n
Here’s what to watch for as the USWNT continues its 2027 World Cup preparations:<\/p>\n
The return of Triple Espresso … and the return of Ashley Sanchez, too<\/h2>\n
When the USWNT won its Olympic gold medal in 2024, it did so on the back of its “Triple Espresso” attack: Washington’s Trinity Rodman, Chicago’s Mallory Swanson and Portland’s Sophia Wilson. The three combined beautifully under coach Emma Hayes and wound up creating 10 of the team’s 12 tournament goals.<\/p>\n
Since then, we haven’t seen much of the trio. Rodman spent much of 2025 sidelined with a recurring back injury; Swanson and Wilson both had children and missed several windows of international play. The three returned to the USWNT fold for its June matches against Brazil but never took the field together there; that could change in these crucial games against Spain.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n