This past weekend was a busy one for women’s international soccer. The AFC Women’s Asian Cup kicked off in Australia. The SheBelieves Cup launched with a Music City doubleheader. CAF teams began their last set of friendlies in advance of the (possibly postponed) Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. For DC Power and Washington Spirit fans, the weekend featured the first two of four clashes between club teammates during this window. In total, eight of ten possible players who play for a Washington team saw the field for their nations. Let’s see how they did.

Washington Spirit

Deborah Abiodun and Gift Monday (Nigeria)

Nigeria kicked off the weekend’s slate of games with the first of a pair of friendlies against Cameroon. The Super Falcons fell 1-0 to the Indomitable Lionesses on a 91^st minute goal by Yvana Mbomezomo. Cameroon’s victory ended a seven-game winless streak against Nigeria. Gift Monday started for the Super Falcons and went 77 minutes before subbing out. Deb Abiodun was not on the bench for Nigeria.

Upcoming Matches

• 6 March 2026 – vs Cameroon in Yaoundé, Cameroon at time TBA

Gabby Carle (Canada)

Canada began the SheBelieves Cup on the front foot with a 4-1 victory over Colombia. After an uninspiring start for both teams, Canada began building into the game and grabbed the lead in the 31^st minute when Vanessa Gilles headed a Janine Sonis corner kick past Colombian goalkeeper Katerin Tapia. Gilles’s goal ended a 5+ match scoreless run for Canada. Sonis, Sydney Collins, and Nichelle Prince added second half goals for Canada, who find themselves sitting atop the SheBelieves Cup table after the first matchday.

Carle started on the left side of Canada’s backline and played 77 minutes before being replaced by the Utah Royals’ Cloé Lacasse.  

Upcoming Matches 

• 4 March 2026 – vs United States in Columbus, Ohio at 6:45 p.m. EST 
• 7 March 2026 – vs Argentina in Harrison, New Jersey at 12:30 p.m. EST

Leicy Santos (Colombia)

Colombia, unlike Canada, never fully got things going in their SheBelieves Cup tie. It looked like Colombia was going to be shutout until the 80^th minute when Canadian defender Jade Rose fouled Gisele Robledo in the box, giving Las Cafeteras a penalty kick. Leicy Santos beat Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan from the spot cutting the deficit to 3-1. Any hope of a dramatic last-minute comeback for Colombia was dashed two minutes later when they went down a player when Robledo was sent off after drawing her second yellow card. Canada added extra goal in the 90^th minute sealing the game. Colombia sits at the bottom of the SheBelieves Cup table after Match Day One.

In what was a largely a frustrating day for Colombia, much of what went well for them centered around Santos, who served as captain. In addition to the penalty, Santos started one of Colombia’s best goal scoring opportunities, finding Linda Caicedo with a nice through ball from the midfield that put the wing in on goal. Unfortunately for Colombia, Sheridan was up to the task for Canada and made the save.   

Upcoming Matches

• 4 March 2026 – vs Argentina in Columbus, Ohio at 3:30 p.m. EST
• 7 March 2026 – vs United States in Harrison, New Jersey at 3:30 p.m. EST

Rose Kouassi (Ivory Coast)

Ivory Coast jumped out to a quick lead in their friendly vs Benin and went into halftime with a 2-0 lead behind an 18^th minute goal by Grace Sery and an Ines Konan 29^th minute goal. Romaine Gandonou pulled one back for Benin from the spot in the 60^th minute. That was as close as Benin came to tying the game, which finished 2-1 in Ivory Coast’s favor. Kouassi started for Les Éléphantes.

Upcoming Matches

• 4 March 2026 – vs Kenya in Ebimpé, Ivory Coast at 2 p.m. EST

Trinity Rodman and Tara Rudd (United States)

The USWNT started the SheBelieves Cup with a comfortable win over 30^th ranked Argentina. Lindsey Heaps and Jaedyn Shaw scored for the US.  For a full summary, check out our friends at SSFC’s recap. The USWNT find themselves in second place in the SheBelieves Cup standings.

Kickoff against Argentina found the Spirit contingent split between the starting lineup and the bench. NWSL’s reigning defender of the year Tara Rudd started to the right of San Diego’s Kennedy Wesley at the center of the US’s backline. She went the full 90.

Trinity Rodman began the match on the bench and entered in the 62^nd minute for Lily Yohannes. Rodman was unable to continue her USWNT goal scoring streak despite having a shot on frame during her time on the pitch. In extra time, Argentine defender Milagros Martin fouled Rodman sending her to the ground clutching her back, in a moment where USWNT and Spirit fans collectively issued their preferred four-letter curses and held their breaths. The US training staff came onto the field to check on Rodman who remained down for an extended period. Rodman was able to walk off the field to the sideline where the staff continued to check on her. The broadcast showed Rodman upright and moving under her own power, albeit uncomfortably as the game continued. She did not reenter the game before time expired. Coach Emma Hayes didn’t have an update on her condition during her post-match press availability.

Upcoming Matches 

• 4 March 2026 – vs Canada in Columbus, Ohio at 6:45 p.m. EST 
• 7 March 2026 – vs Colombia in Harrison, New Jersey at 3:30 p.m. EST

DC Power FC

Carleigh Frilles and Katrina Guillou (Philippines)

The Philippines WNT kicked off their run in AFC Women’s Asian Cup against hosts Australia in Perth. The Matildas’ captain, Sam Kerr scored the tournament’s opening goal 14 minutes into the match and that was all that was needed to cement the result. Australia dominated possession roughly 85% to 15%, outshot their opponents 15 -1 and had 6 corners to 0 for the Philippines on their way to a 1-0 win.

Carleigh Frilles and Katrina Guillou both started in the midfield for the Philippines. Frilles played 59 minutes before making way for Pepperdine Waves midfielder Ariana Markey. Isabelle Pasion subbed in for Guillou in the 83^rd minute.

Upcoming Matches

• 4 March 2026 – vs South Korea in Gold Coast, Australia at 10 p.m. EST 
• 8 March 2026 – vs Iran in Gold Coast, Australia at 4:00 a.m. EST
• Other matches TBD

Morgan Aquino (Australia)

Aquino was added to the Matildas’ roster when goalkeeper Jayda Whyman was forced to withdraw from the squad with a knee injury at the last minute. Aquino featured previously for Australia’s U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams and was previously called into senior team camps in November 2024 and October 2025 but has yet to debut for the senior Australian WNT. For the Women’s Asian Cup opener, Aquino was on the Matilda’s bench but did not feature.

Upcoming Matches

• 5 March 2026 – vs Iran in Gold Coast, Australia at 4 a.m. EST
• 8 March 2026 – vs South Korea in Sydney, Australia at 6 a.m. EST
• Other matches TBD 

International matches continue tonight with Rebecca Bernal and Mexico taking on Saint Lucia in Concacaf World Cup qualifying. Tomorrow World Cup qualifying gets into full swing with European teams entering the fray and Haiti taking on Suriname.