U.S. Soccer
The U.S. women’s national team did not tiptoe into 2026. They kicked the door down.
Behind a second-half avalanche of goals, a captain’s night from Trinity Rodman, and encouraging performances from a new wave of attackers, the United States dismantled Paraguay 6-0 on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. What began as a measured, slightly rusty January friendly turned into a full-blown showcase of depth, dynamism, and directional clarity under Emma Hayes.
Rodman, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in her international career, scored in the second half to cap a week that already felt surreal. Just two days earlier, the 23-year-old reportedly signed a record-breaking contract extension with the Washington Spirit, silencing months of speculation about a possible move to Europe. On Saturday night, she followed that news by leading from the front, playing with visible joy, and reminding everyone exactly who the next era of U.S. women’s soccer is being built around.
The result also marked the opening act of the U.S. team’s January camp, with another friendly against Chile looming Tuesday in Santa Barbara. This roster, made up primarily of domestic-based players, featured plenty of new faces, plenty of youth, and plenty of auditions. By the end of the night, several players had turned those auditions into strong opening statements.
As expected for a group still finding rhythm, the opening 45 minutes were controlled but occasionally disjointed. The U.S. monopolized possession, camped in Paraguay’s half, and dictated tempo, but clear chances were sporadic early.
Paraguay sat deep in a compact block, rarely pressing high and offering almost nothing going forward. The U.S., meanwhile, probed primarily through the flanks, with Rodman immediately establishing herself as the central hub of creativity on the right side. Every time she touched the ball, defenders collapsed toward her, opening pockets of space elsewhere.
Ally Sentnor had an early opportunity she would rather forget, misfiring on a chance inside the box. Reilyn Turner came close on a couple of occasions but couldn’t quite apply the finishing touch. The dominance was obvious, but the breakthrough stubbornly refused to arrive.
That changed at the perfect time.
In first-half stoppage time, Olivia Moultrie threaded a beautiful through ball behind Paraguay’s back line. Turner timed her run, stayed composed, and slotted a left-footed finish past the goalkeeper for her first career international goal.
In the span of one touch, Turner transformed nerves into momentum.
The U.S. entered halftime up 1-0, but more importantly, with the sense that the dam was about to burst.
If there were any doubts about whether the United States would eventually pull away, they vanished almost immediately after the restart.
Sentnor, clearly eager to atone for her earlier miss, wasted no time announcing herself. She collected the ball outside the box, opened her body, and smashed a left-footed shot into the corner with conviction. The finish was equal parts technique and release, and it flipped the emotional switch for the entire team.
Not long after, Sentnor struck again.
This time, it came via a slicing pass from right back Gisele Thompson, who split Paraguay’s defensive line with a perfectly weighted ball. Sentnor broke through on goal and finished clinically to make it 3-0.
From there, the match turned into a wave.
Paraguay’s defensive shape unraveled, the spaces grew wider, and the U.S. attackers began running directly at retreating defenders rather than navigating tight corridors.
Then came the moment the crowd was waiting for.
Center back Tara Rudd delivered a gorgeous ball over the top, dropping it into Rodman’s path. Rodman took it in stride, cut inside from the right wing, and placed a left-footed finish inside the near post with surgical precision.
Captain’s armband. Goal. Celebration dance toward the bench.
It was theater.
Moments later, the U.S. grabbed a fifth when a dangerous ball into the box forced Paraguay defender Fiorella Martínez into an own goal. What had been competitive on the scoreboard less than 20 minutes earlier had now turned into a rout.
Emma Sears completed the scoring in the 72nd minute, rifling a low, powerful shot past the goalkeeper after being slipped in by Croix Bethune. It was the kind of finish that barely required a reaction from the crowd because everyone already knew it was going in.
Six goals. No response. Total control.
Rodman’s goal will make the highlight packages, but her overall influence mattered more.
Nearly every dangerous U.S. sequence flowed through her side. She combined seamlessly with Thompson, consistently beat defenders off the dribble, and forced Paraguay to tilt its entire defensive structure toward her. That gravity created space for others to thrive, particularly Sentnor and Turner.
Rodman finished the night with one goal, but she could easily have had multiple assists with sharper finishing around her. More than anything, she looked comfortable as a leader. Vocal. Engaged. Confident.
It was her 12th international goal in her 48th appearance, coming in her first U.S. match since scoring against Brazil in 2025. The timing felt poetic.
This was not a ceremonial captaincy.
It felt like a passing of the torch.
Turner’s debut goal stood out not only because of its timing, but because of the maturity behind it. Her movement in the box was sharp all night, and she never looked overwhelmed by the moment.
Sentnor’s response to her first-half miss spoke volumes. Many young attackers spiral after an early mistake. She responded by becoming the engine of the second half.
Moultrie quietly pulled strings from the left, recording an assist and helping initiate the sequence that led to the own goal.
Thompson’s overlapping runs consistently caused problems, and her assist to Sentnor showcased her vision in addition to her athleticism.
Bethune brought immediate energy off the bench, while Sears once again showed a knack for arriving and impacting games quickly.
This did not feel like a group surviving on potential.
It felt like a group demanding opportunity.
It is important not to overreact to a January friendly against an overmatched opponent.
It is also important not to undersell what was visible.
The U.S. looked fast. They looked technical. They looked comfortable playing through multiple channels. They looked like a team with ideas.
That matters in a transitional period.
European-based stars will return. Established veterans will re-enter the fold. Competition for spots will intensify.
Saturday suggested that the internal bar is already rising.
Depth is no longer theoretical.
It is tangible.
Before kickoff, Christen Press was honored for a career that included two World Cups, an Olympic medal, and more than 150 caps. A pillar of the previous generation stood in the spotlight.
Ninety minutes later, Trinity Rodman danced in front of the bench as captain.
That sequence told the entire story.
The past was celebrated.
The future scored.
And it did so loudly.
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