[RACE TO STRENGTHEN DEFENSE AS USWNT PREPARE FOR SPANISH TESTS BEFORE WORLD CUP]
A week before the U.S. women’s national team opened camp for this month’s friendlies against Spain, Emma Hayes emphasized the squad’s inherent identity. As four-time world champions, the USWNT possesses a reputation as a potent counter-attacking force where pressure is naturally concentrated around the defensive unit regardless of formation. This pattern persists heading into their back-to-back matches against Spain, yet a more urgent dilemma remains.
How effectively will the USWNT undertrained defense withstand Spain’s attacking philosophy?
Spain stands among the toughest opponents facing any squad, complemented by the fact that a former World Cup champion presents particularly demanding conditions after the 2024 Olympics—since winning Paris gold, the U.S. team has conceded merely 15 goals across 34 appearances and averaged just two shots on goal per contest versus their opponents. The disparity extends beyond raw scoring—the USWNT’s defensive units have limited opportunity to develop their full capability over the past two years. Spain may serve as the ultimate arbiter of the hosts’ resolve—or it may demonstrate whether the squads possess any meaningful answer.
USWNT Schedule Against Spain
All times U.S./Eastern
- Oct. 10: USWNT vs. Spain, 2:30 p.m. (TBS)
- Oct. 13: USWNT vs. Spain, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Drawing parallels with her successful recruitment of diverse attacking talent, Hayes spent the preceding two seasons rotating through defensive roles strategically aiming to expand the player pool. Naomi Girma, who legitimately inherited Becky Sauerbrunn‘s central defensive responsibilities prior to the 2023 Women’s World Cup, retained the top selection slot and continues to embody Hayes’ mandate as the finest defender encountered so far. However, a single obstacle emerges—Girma’s return is pending the resolution of a recurring calf injury, prompting Hayes to request a reassessment with Chelsea.
“This situation occurs too frequently, and should we hope for her continued availability to compete regularly at club and national levels, changes must occur,” Hayes stated Tuesday. “She is undeniably eager to occupy this role and has invested considerable effort to regain peak form. I cannot control her personal rehabilitation, nor am I affiliated with her club. Yet, close collaboration with Chelsea is underway to explore novel methodologies for constructing optimal solutions, acknowledging her circumstances. I understand she experiences significant distress.”
Another layer of complexity exists involving Gotham FC‘s Emily Sonnett, who routinely occupied the defensive line as a consistent supporting candidate. Sonnet suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in her left knee during July, sideline-removing her for the remainder of the NWSL season and potentially jeopardizing her prospects for a subsequent World Cup campaign. Hayes consequently finds himself selecting from four viable options: Tierna Davidson—the teammate who partnered with Girma at the Olympics and is the presumed mainstay for Brazil; the Washington Spirit‘s Tara Rudd, an early beneficiary of Hayes’ post-Olympic experimental rotations; the San Diego Wave‘s Kennedy Wesley, possessing just seven international caps; and the Utah Royals‘s Kate Del Fava, an established NWSL veteran poised to earn her inaugural international appearance at thirty-eight years old.
Davidson represents the sole individual within this cohort who brings extensive experience competing in major international contests—but critically, none have accumulated consecutive performances operating side-by-side. The defensive midpoint challenge looms large; Davidson and Rudd share common experience navigating the national team’s intensity under Hayes’ guidance, providing the necessary cohesion that the forthcoming fixtures against Spain would otherwise lack.
The USWNT, regrettably, lacks comparable depth at defensive midfield as well. Sam Coffey, the Olympics representative, will also miss the Spanish exhibitions stemming from an injury sustained over the weekend featuring Manchester City, further depleting the squad’s bench. Bay FC‘s Claire Hutton assumed the vacancy created by Coffey’s injury and garnered attention to claim the starting spot, yet this represents precisely the type of margin where robustness matters most. Bay remains a strong contender given Hutton’s promising trajectory—and at twenty years old, she displays genuine capacity for mainstay responsibility. For Hutton specifically, the absence of the squad’s premier center-back intensifies the collective emphasis on the quintessential spine element.
Amid these defensive uncertainties lies the core tactical examination: how the USWNT will contest Spain’s pronounced preference for ball retention and dominant possession. Historically, the American team dictates tempo throughout engagements, yet clarity regarding their intended methodology remains unresolved—will Hayes prioritize intercepting the ball or temporarily relinquish control in hopes of suffocating opposing space? Hutton’s involvement suggests she will assume a paramount role in implementing whatever strategic framework emerges.
Above all, however, Hayes’ standing as a pragmatic tactician faces scrutiny over the ensuing days. These injuries to Girma, Coffey, and Sonnett transcend unfortunate setbacks; her methodical roster diversification initiative provides a structural foundation as she identifies how to surpass Spain. Earlier defeats leading up to tournament cycles have already illuminated strategic missteps for the United States, and the upcoming competitions carry equal validity as diagnostic periods regardless of final outcomes. Ultimately, every decision in these exhibitions could signal whether the teams successfully advance toward world championship triumph in Brazil.