When we last saw the US Women’s National Team, they were ending 2025 with back-to-back clean sheet victories over FIFA’s #13 ranked women’s team, Italy. Now that the calendar has turned over to 2026, the USWNT will begin preparations for roughly a year and a half packed with competitive soccer. Between November 2026 and July 2028, the US will seek to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil through the 2026 CONCACAF W Championship, then hopefully competing the World Cup, before finally attempting to defend Olympic gold in front of the home crowd as part of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Emma Hayes has summoned 26 US-based players (absent a few from Gotham FC players who are in London for the initial FIFA Women’s Champions Cup) to this years January camp to begin preparations. Among the 26, are four Washington Spirit players: Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt, Tara Rudd, and Kate Wiesner.

Croix Bethune

Bethune has appeared five times for the US over the last two years. In the last international break, she made a cameo appearance in the final 15 minutes of the US’s 2-0 victory over Italy in December.

Hal Herschfelt  

Since her international debut in October 2024, Herschfelt has made a total of three appearances for the Stars and Stripes. This is Hal’s first call up since 2024.

Tara Rudd

The defender formerly known as McKeown did not feature in the last international window due to a previously scheduled engagement. She returns to the US camp as the reigning NWSL Defender of the Year. Rudd has made nine appearances for the US and provided two assists (including one in front of the home crowd at Rowdy Audi against Canada.)

Kate Wiesner

The last international window marked a series of international firsts for Weezy: Her first official call up, her first appearance for the USWNT, and her first start. Adding to the atmosphere, she battled frequently with teammate Sofia Cantore during her time on the pitch during both games. This camp will mark her second official call up to the USWNT.

As this will be posted before Michele Kang and Haley Carter hold their press conference today, I am going to include Trinity Rodman in hopes that the announcement will work out as we all hope it will. (It doesn’t please indulge me as I include her among Spirit players for old times’ sake.)

Trinity Rodman

Rodman enters the January camp as the most experienced Spirit at the international level. Though she only featured in one USWNT match in 2025, Rodman has 47 caps for the US and 11 goals since her first appearance in February 2022.

Upcoming Matches

• 24 January – vs Paraguay in Carson, CA at 5:30 PM EST
• 27 January – vs Chile in Santa Barbara, CA at 10 PM EST