Emma Hayes's USWNT is still in the oven.

It was a nearly perfect international window.

Back-to-back clean sheets against the 12th-ranked Italy and back-to-back matches where the US operated on an entirely different level than the upstart Italians.Emma Hayes has the US harkening back to a time when the US didn’t just win, but did so with style. Except this time, the players genuinely seem to like the manager, and unlike the Jill Ellis era, players are being given a fair shake, no matter where they ply their trade. 

Hayes stepped into the role and talked big ideas about expanding the player pool, and while that was important work following a disappointing era under Vlatko Andonovski, it’s another thing to follow through on that promise so urgently. 

When Kate Wiesner stepped onto the pitch during Friday’s 3-0 win, she became the 16th player to debut this year – the most debuts since 1985. 

Even with the onslaught of debuts, the continuity established by concurring U23 camps has established an exciting style of play for this iteration of the USWNT. Of course, there have been frustrating nights like last window’s loss to Portugal, but for the most part, Hayes has allowed her group to play with a freedom of individual expression, and it’s led to some spectacular moments.

In the 4-2-3-1, while the FB picture may seem murky, it’s a means to an end as the US’s wide players are allowed freedom to both push into the wings, and – as exhibited in Jaedyn Shaw’s goal Monday night. As Jordyn Bugg worked the ball out to Alyssa Thompson, she sprinted forward before quickly cutting inside as Italy attempted to stuff the attempt. Thompson continued her run, slashed through the middle of the pitch, found a brief reprieve through Cat Macario, and finished the move with Jaedyn Shaw. Shaw then looked off the runners before cutting inside and unleashing a rocket into the left corner.

It’s a play that requires fluidity in the formation – as players move, the area that they dash into is covered by the player previous occupying the space – as much as it requires freedom for the players. Thompson makes the run, and if the move fails, she would be stranded next to Shaw as Italy countered. However, Hayes wants players to have that individual freedom, especially when the squad is responsible elsewhere on the pitch.

“They’re so coachable, these players. Malleable.” Hayes said. “Everything we’ve been driving home, in terms of the messaging, is really starting to be driven home. There’s still much we need to work on, but I felt it was a good team performance.”

It’s easy to sound bullish after a window like this, but Italy were willing to keep the match open and attempt to build through the US with their own principles. That space might not be there in a tournament setting where Andrea Soncin isn’t trying to work on a specific aspect of Italy’s game model. It’s the same caveat the US had in the loss to Portugal last month, it’s easy to read too much into friendlies.

Still, this was a great way to end 2025, and the USWNT enters 2026 in a better place than they were at the start of 2025, with many more answers. 

“First of all, it’s still cooking,” Hayes said. “Watching our team play and you can start to see maturity in our performances. It's not easy when you make changes, but one of the things we do in training with the limited time we have is that by the second half, that back four had trained together all week. So, as much as it feels like, oh, there's all these broken connections, we try and be intentional in how we organize players, but I'm very much about coaching every one of our 26 players to play as us always.”

One of those answers won’t be surprising to ball knowers, but the resurgence of Cat Macario has been incredible to watch in a year where Sophia Wilson and Mal Swanson were on maternity leave. Macario ended this window with three goals across 168 minutes, advancing her tally to 8 goals and 11 goal contributions in total across 10 games in 2025. 

Macario’s form hasn’t quite bounced back domestically, but that is more down to her usage at Chelsea than her play as she has scored in both of her Champions League appearances this season. It’s not a coincidence that Macario was brought to Chelsea under Hayes and now Hayes finally has the opportunity to dispatch her at the top of the formation. 

Hayes knows it was never a given.

“I know the work that even my staff who are here with me now, and that was with me at Chelsea – we knew when we signed Cat she was injured, and we knew we were going to go through a period of time,” Hayes said following Macario’s brace in the US’s 3-0 win Friday night. “Maybe we didn't know how long it was going to take, but she did it. And I think understandably she would feel quite emotional about having a career, and having a career that's having an impact that she's currently having. I think she's a tremendous player. She knows what I think about her. I signed her for Chelsea because I thought she was a world-class player. and I think even more so now, I get the chance to work with her while she's fit and healthy. And we have a fantastic relationship. We've built that over a period of time. And her qualities are just exceptional.”

“Look, it's going to be tough, because we've got so many good players.” Hayes continued. “But Cat Macario is a special talent, and if we can do everything to keep her on the field and keep achieving her dreams, then I think the sky is the limit for her.”

Jaedyn Shaw’s November to Remember:

Jaedyn Shaw’s play since arriving in Gotham deserves a deeper look, or more specifically, her play since leaving the North Carolina system. On paper, Shaw should have been weel suited for North Carolina; she thrived in Casey Stoney’s San Diego squad, but there needs to be space for her to run into for Shaw to operate at her best. That space has been available for her again in Gotham, and that form carried into this international window. 

Since the start of Gotham’s playoff campaign, Shaw has scored three times and assisted Katie Stengel’s heartbreaker in Kansas City. 

An incredible month for a player who has experienced her fair share of turmoil over her young career. Heading into 2026, she’ll carry a hot finish into a season where she’ll be expected to take on much of the responsibility in Gotham’s bid to defend as Concacaf and NWSL champs. 

There will be some tough conversations heading into the 2027 World Cup, but for now, Shaw is making a strong case.

Lingering Questions:

There are still some questions at most positions ahead of 2026 – and subsequently 2027 – but good questions to have at this point in the window:

1) Will Claudia Dickey continue to build on her case as the USWNT's best shot stopper?

Dickey took an enormous step this season in Seattle, one that should have resulted in a nod for GK of the Year, but not a step that comes out of nowhere. Dickey had been an above average shot stopper in her first two seasons in the NWSL, and while some regression should probably be expected, Dickey has looked the part with the national team as well. What would Phallun Tullis-Joyce have to do to overtake her?

2) What does Emma Hayes want in her Left Back?

The two best FBs in the pool are Avery Patterson and Emily Fox but both are Right Backs by nature. Either can play on the left but neither has been good enough on their off side to shut the door. Instead, Hayes has tried a little bit of everything out left.

Kate Wiesner was the latest experiment but Wiesner is LB by committee in Washington, and doesn't have the numbers that forecast a national team level player.

Meanwhile, Lilly Reale had a fantastic rookie campaign for Gotham and has the profile that you would expect from a national team player.

Reale started twice last window, and looked the part in match one of this window, but it's not a lock. She'll have to follow up, but not many players in this pool were year one contributors for a NWSL championship winning side.

3) Who misses out?

Hayes has a tough job in parsing the fine lines between World Cup roster spots, but is there a definitive spot to draw that line? The job becomes much harder when Rodman, Swanson, Wilson, and Cooper are healthy.

Looking at this current roster and there are some obvious spots.

Jameese Joseph probably misses the plane to Brazil but does someone like Ally Sentnor currently with the U23s? Does Jaelin Howell have a shot on the final roster? Or even a player like Hal Hershfelt? There is bound to be someone that makes a jump between now and then as well, someone like PSG's Eva Gaetino or 17 year old Kimmi Ascanio who is also in the U23 camp.

Ultimately, there will be a few very good players that can't make the cut. Taylor Flint has been one of the best 6s in the world since arriving in Louisville but she isn't the type of player Hayes is looking for... and the USWNT has the talent to pick based on both ability and fit.

The player pool has always been deep, but it's also wider than it's ever been.