Ashley Sanchez's resurgence leads to her return to U.S. national team

Ashley Sanchez has scored as many goals this year as her previous five campaigns combined, tying the National Women’s Soccer League single-season record of 20 with still another month to go. For that reason, the North Carolina Courage’s 27-year-old winger is returning to the U.S. national team. After an almost two-year absence, Sanchez on Tuesday ended her long wait by accepting a place on the 26-woman squad for a pair of friendlies against No. 1 Spain, the reigning world champion. A member of the 2023 World Cup team, Sanchez hadn’t received a call-up since January 2025 and last appeared in a U.S. match on Oct. 30, 2024. She remained a good NWSL player but not good enough to return to the second-ranked U.S. Last season, she scored just twice for the Courage. Ashley Sanchez of the North Carolina Courage controls the ball during a NWSL match against the Utah Royals at America First Field on Sept. 27, 2026, in Sandy, Utah. Chris Gardner via Getty Images Her remarkable 2026 campaign — five multi-goal games and nine goals in the past seven outings to set the NWSL’s American single-season scoring record — propelled her back into the national team picture less than a year before the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Before reporting for international duty, Sanchez could break the overall record, set by Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga in 2024, on Friday night in Seattle. U.S. camp will open Monday at the national training center outside Atlanta. The Americans will host Spain on Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington and Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania — the 18th and 19th times the U.S. has been involved in matches featuring the top two teams in the FIFA rankings. “While we are very much looking forward to playing the World Cup champions, I keep coming back to the journey that we are all on together,” coach Emma Hayes said. “This camp will be about reestablishing connections after a long break, looking at a few players who haven’t been with us this cycle and putting on the best performances we can in front of packed stadiums. Of course, our dual focus will also be on our final preparations for the World Cup qualifying tournament” late this year in Texas. Hayes will also welcome back Mallory Swanson, a key prong in the vaunted “Triple Espresso” attack with Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson. The Chicago Stars’ 28-year-old attacker returned from childbirth in June for two friendlies in Brazil but did not play. Her last appearance came in the 2024 Olympic gold-medal match in Paris. Also returning for the heavyweight friendlies are two usual starters who missed the Brazil trip: Chelsea center back Naomi Girma and Manchester City defensive midfielder Sam Coffey. The roster also includes regulars such as Rodman, Wilson, midfielders Lindsey Heaps and Rose Lavelle, defenders Emily Fox and Tierna Davidson, and winger Alyssa Thompson. Injuries ruled out defender Emily Sonnett, midfielders Olivia Moultrie and Croix Bethune (the NWSL’s co-leader in assists), and forward Catarina Macario. Hayes invited four players seeking their first caps: Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz, 26; Angel City midfielder Evelyn Shores, 21; San Diego Wave forward Trinity Byars, 23; and Portland Thorns forward Pietra Tordin, 22. The latter three have combined for 20 goals and 18 assists in the NWSL this season. The three goalkeepers have combined for just 18 appearances, with Silkowitz joining the Seattle Reign’s Claudia Dickey and Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Dickey is the only holdover from the Brazil trip. Nine of the 26 players have 11 or fewer caps. Five call-ups are competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League for their respective clubs: Girma, Coffey, Thompson (Chelsea), Fox (Arsenal) and OL Lyonnes midfielder Lily Yohannes, who, at 19, is the U.S.’s youngest player. U.S. roster Goalkeepers : Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign, 11 caps), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC, 0), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, 7). Defenders : Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC, 70), Emily Fox (Arsenal, 78), Naomi Girma (Chelsea, 54), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash, 14), Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy, 9), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit, 12), Gisele Thompson (Angel City, 11), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave, 7). Midfielders : Sam Coffey (Manchester City, 46), Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit, 178), Claire Hutton (Bay FC, 20), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC, 122), Evelyn Shores (Angel City, 0), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars, 103), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, 20). Forwards : Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave, 0), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current, 14), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit, 57), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville, 21), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage, 28), Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns, 0), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea, 32), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns, 63).