USWNT’s biggest strength is bound to force a 2027 headache
By Kian Long
The USWNT is one of the best national teams in the world. With an Olympic Gold medal to show for it, the women’s game in the USA has continued to skyrocket at breakneck speed. Without a shadow of a doubt, their best position is the final third. Emma Hayes boasts so much depth in the offense, that if she’s around for the 2027 World Cup, she may have a headache.
Right now, it is unclear what the USWNT’s best route of attack is. It’s a blessing, not a curse; put simply, Emma Hayes has far too many options to choose from in the final third of the field. Most options who make the USWNT bench could easily start for most nations in the world.
Emma Hayes is spoilt for choice in the USWNT offense
As the USWNT looks ahead to the next Women’s World Cup in Brazil, there will naturally be eyes on the prize. Whether they get their hands on the biggest trophy in the world is a debate we can have closer to the time, but one thing we can certainly predict is a selection headache for Emma Hayes.
Right now (and yes, it’s way too early), it looks like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, Alyssa Thompson, Mallory Swanson, Ally Sentnor, Catarina Macario and Emma Sears are the nailed-on choices for the front-line picks. However, with over a year to go, that could all change.
Between now and next year, there could easily be a few young players who continue to rise towards the top of the USWNT hierarchy.
Trinity Rodman is the only sure-start USWNT attacker for 2027
Even with strength in numbers at the top of the field, there remains one question for one USWNT player to answer: who is the star?
If you look at the strongest teams in contention for the 2027 World Cup - Spain, England, Brazil and Japan - they all have at least one star player who you could look at say ‘she’s the standout in this team.’ Currently, USWNT does not have that player.
As great as the USWNT is, to be a serious contender for the 2027 World Cup, it needs one player to take the team by the hand and lead it into the stratosphere. The closest thing that the USWNT has to this, right now, is Trinity Rodman.
There is a case to be made, then, that Rodman’s place in the offensive side of Emma Hayes’ team is already nailed. Let’s see who uses the remainder of 2026 to also secure their place in the front-line.