The top-ranked USWNT will play their third and final friendly of the October international break against world No. 33 Argentina in Louisville on Wednesday night — likely with few new faces in the mix.
Head coach Emma Hayes told reporters that she will not play anyone with a regular-season NWSL match scheduled for Friday except Rose Lavelle, who will celebrate her 100th USWNT cap in Wednesday’s pre-match ceremony.
“This was the game [Lavelle] chose and for that reason she’s starting,” explained Hayes. “I’ll probably only play Rose for 45 minutes just because I know how important and valuable she is for Gotham.”
Lavelle, a Cincinnati product, likely picked Wednesday’s friendly for her celebration due to Louisville’s close proximity to her hometown.
Resting veterans means more minutes for USWNT newcomers
Coming off two productive 3-1 wins over No. 13 Iceland, fitness is front-of-mind for Hayes with NWSL playoffs approaching and the European season — where four of this camp’s athletes play — in full swing.
“I presented to the [club] head coaches in advance of this camp, saying that no player would play in more than two full games,” Hayes said.
Since the NWSL’s Utah Royals, Gotham FC, Portland Thorns, and Angel City FC all play on Friday, nine of the UWSNT’s 26 October camp athletes are unavailable to take Wednesday’s pitch. Four of those players are forwards, leaving Hayes only Mal Swanson, Jaedyn Shaw, and Emma Sears up top, unless the US boss rotates athletes in from another position.
In prioritizing rest, Hayes’s self-imposed roster limitations could result in more first caps. Both PSG center back Eva Gaetino and Bay FC left back Alyssa Malonson are awaiting their first USWNT minutes.
Other players who have yet to appear during this international window include NC Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez and KC Current defender Hailie Mace.
Young Argentina team aims for first win against USWNT
Like Hayes, Argentina head coach Germán Portanova stacked his 20-player roster with young talent, including four teenagers. The only Argentinian athlete with more than 50 caps is defender Aldana Cometti, and 14 players have less than 20 caps.
That young roster will take aim at the country’s first-ever result against the USWNT, who has won all five previous meetings by outscoring Argentina 32-1. The pair’s last meeting came on February 23rd in group play of the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup, where the US defeated Argentina 4-0.
Hoping to quiet the US attack, Portanova packed his team with nine defenders for Wednesday’s game. As a result, Hayes told the press that she anticipates a low-block from La Albiceleste and that she’ll “be curious to see how we handle that,” particularly as the team has been working on decision-making and finishing in the final third throughout this training camp.
U-17 USWNT races to World Cup semis
Airing on FS1 at the same time as the senior national team’s battle with Argentina, the U-17 USWNT will take on Korea DPR in their first U-17 World Cup semifinal since 2008.
The team has battled North Korea three times in U-17 World Cup history, most notably in the 2008 final when Korea DPR staged a come-from-behind, extra-time 2-1 win to become World Cup champs.
This time out, the US will rely on their sturdy defense, which has already pulled off three straight clean sheets, setting a new U-17 USWNT World Cup record.
How to watch the USWNT vs. Argentina international friendly
The friendly between the No. 1 USWNT and No. 33 Argentina will kick off on Wednesday at 7 PM ET, with live coverage on TNT.
The US will close out the year with with a European tour, making tonight’s match their last 2024 tilt on home soil.
