Add another name to the rivalry lore between the United States and Canada. Ally Sentnor's lone goal was the difference between the U.S. women's national team taking control of the tournament or needing a miracle on the final match day.
The USWNT knocked off their regional rivals and set themselves up for success in one night. With a goal by Sentnor in the 55th minute, the USWNT defeated Canada 1-0 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio, and are now in first place in the tournament table with one game remaining. The Americans now face Colombia on Saturday, where a win or draw would secure the SheBelieves Cup title.
The game was not quite an overly dominant performance, but it was effective, with the USWNT leaning on patience to secure a victory. The starting lineup had some disjointed moments, often missing the final pass in the attacking third, and even some soft passing out of the back.
There were still plenty of good ideas if the execution wasn't quite there, including winning five corners, where Sentnor was often in good spaces inside the box. Still, the goals didn't come until the second half, and a bit more patience was needed.
"I think we just need to be more critical in the final third and continue to be really front footed … I think a little bit more patience, a little bit more composure in the final third. I think we're rushing some of our shots, myself included. So, just really being, like, methodical and patient just knowing that it's going to come, you have to take it though," midfielder Sam Coffey said at halftime.
It didn't take long for the USWNT to kick things into gear. Just as in their opening game against Argentina, they scored just 10 minutes into the second half.
The long goal came by way of a corner kick, a repeat of a play they had tried earlier in the game, but this time executed with great service by Rose Lavelle, a dummy by Trinity Rodman, and the goal by Sentnor.
"I mean, we've been working on set pieces, so I was honestly just happy to factor into that and get it back in the second half," Sentnor said after the game.
"Our goal was just to win this game. And I think going into a rivalry game, we knew what was gonna happen and was gonna be on the line. Canada gave us an incredible performance, and we really had to work for this win. But it was a team performance, team goal, and I'm just really proud of us," she said.
Head coach Emma Hayes has not hidden the notion of wanting high pressure moments for her players in the build-up to World Cup qualifiers and the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup
"[Emma Hayes] was like, 'these are the games we want. We want to be in great competition against opponents that will face in the future.' And we didn't want to run away with the game. We wanted it to be tight, to work on things that we had to work on and put in, [and] keep a lead at the end of the game. So, it was tough, but we really put it in and put in the work at the end," said Sentnor.
The victory puts the United States in a more favorable position to obtain another SheBelieves Cup title, needing just a draw.
"I can only talk as a coach when you're teaching so much variation in play. And you see it played out against the higher level opponent every time. It's one thing to do it, against Argentina it's another to do it at Canada. Of course I'm going to want the challenge to do against Colombia. And of course, I want it against Japan," Hayes said after the game.
"The part I love about my job is that, and I could see that they're really starting to understand both sides of the ball, their roles and responsibilities, and more importantly, they're getting better at recognizing. It's not coach LED. It's like, if they're seeing something, they're saying something, they're adapting to it. This [game] is for me, like the best one.
Ally Sentnor gets the breakthrough and the game-winner for the USWNT in the 55th minute. Assisted by Rose Lavelle on the corner kick. The Americans take control of the SheBelieves Cup tournament.
That's a wrap on tonight's match. A rocky start to the game, but more patience in the second half led to better connections and a set-piece goal.
79' Rose Lavalle and Claire Hutton come off for Lily Yohannes and Lindsey Heaps. Girma passes off the armband to Heaps. Big game by Lavelle, who leaves with an assist, and Hutton off a stable performance in the middle third, collaborating well with Sam Coffey.
75' The USWNT win another corner, their 11th of the game, and Lavelle's service finds a drifting Girma far post. Canada is able to disrupt, but it was still a dangerous moment. A massive upgrade in looks and execution during the tournament so far.
69' Trinity Rodman's night is done, played nearly 70 minutes, and makes way for Emma Sears, the Ohio State University alum, who receives a roaring ovation.
64' Alyssa Thompson hits on the jets after Sam Coffey wins possession. She drags the backline and gets a good shot off inside the box, but Sheridan makes the stop.
55' Ally Sentnor finally gets her goal after putting in a SHIFT tonight. Lavelle delivers a corner kick service, the ball is dummied by Rodman, and Sentnor is there to slot the ball through. That one stays onside.
As the second half gets underway, no new changes for either side. We'll see if the USWNT can score in the opening ten minutes of the second half as they did against Argentina.
Just when you think things are finally clicking, the halftime whistle blows. Ally Sentnor gets the final look for the USWNT in the 44th minute. Her shot crosses the goal line, but is ruled offside, and that's pretty representative of how the first half has gone for the group in the first 45 minutes. There might be a locker room conversation about more patience in tempo.
42' It takes just a few seconds for Alyssa Thompson to make something simple look dangerous. With time on the ball, she takes on the backline directly and lets a shot rip from the top of the box, but Sheridan makes a diving save near post.
Arsena's Simi Awujo is subbed out of the match. The midfielder looked to be laboring a little bit, and now her day is done. Mimi Alidou comes on in her place. Awujo headed straight back to the locker room on the broadcast.
36' It could be part of Canada's defensive shape, it could be part of the final pass missing for the USWNT. Either way, not enough dangerous looks have been generated by the USWNT in the first half.
32' A half hour gone and ref gives advantage after Girma takes a foul, it's a good build up, led by Lavelle on the ball after receiving a pass from Girma. Her long-distance shot is deflected for a corner.
27' Rodman wins possession and gets the ball to Lavelle with some time and space in the box. Lavelle lobs a pass into the center, but Sam Coffey's aim is a bit off, and the header attempt pops up and wide over the bar.
Twenty minutes have gone by now, and there's some physical play coming into the picture. Not uncommon for this rivalry, but Viens delivers a hard tackle on Sonnett, and it seems like the game is resetting itself a bit now. More fouls are being called in the match.
16' Canada wins a corner, and it's another good test for the USWNT. The group has struggled on set piece defending in the past. Grosso's service creates some minor chaos, and after a few bounces, the ball is eventually cleared out of danger by the USWNT.
10' Opening ten minutes of the match have been pretty back and forth. Each team has looked in the others' final third so far. This time, Canada gets a second attempt on target, but Tullis-Joyce makes the save look easy as she reads it the whole way.
5' Ally Sentor exposes a huge gap between the defensive backs and her ball through gets to Rodman, she opts of a ball across the box instead of a shot and it goes out for a corner kick.
We're about to kickoff let's make a prediction. I'm rooting for penalties! 1-1, USA win on pens.
Trinity Rodman took a hard challenge through the back during the Argentina match and didn't return since it occurred in stoppage time. She's getting the start tonight against Canada after going through full training with the USWNT. She's making her 51st cap tonight alongside Naomi Girma.
Girma and Rodman earn their 51st caps together as Rodman just crossed the 50-cap mark on March 1 (Girma hit that mark in December). The pair are the 70th and 71st players, respectively, to earn 50 caps and two of the only 14 active players with more than 50 caps. The other 57 are retired.
Here's the starting XI for Canada
Here's the starting XI for USA vs. Canada
USWNT: 24-Phallon Tullis-Joyce, 2-Trinity Rodman, 4-Naomi Girma (Capt.), 9-Ally Sentnor,14-Emily Sonnett, 15-Claire Hutton, 16-Rose Lavelle 17-Sam Coffey, 20-Gisele Thompson, 21-Alyssa Thompson, 23-Emily Fox
Available Subs: 1-Claudia Dickey, 3-Emily Sams, 5-Tara Rudd, 6-Avery Patterson, 7-Lily Yohannes, 8-Jaedyn Shaw, 10-Lindsey Heaps, 11-Kennedy Wesley, 13-Olivia Moultrie, 19-Emma Sears, 22-Riley Jackson, 26-Jameese Joseph
Not dressing: Maddie Dahlien
The 2026 SheBelieves Cup is stepping into its next decade. The tournament is marking its 11th year and doing so with an added twist. In a change from previous editions, all 2026 matches tied after regulation will go directly to penalty kicks rather than two overtime periods. Teams that win the penalty shootout will earn an extra point.
The competition is still a round-robin style tournament, with teams getting three points for a win, one point for a tie after regulation, and an extra point for winning the penalty shootout. If teams are tied on points following the final matchday, the first tie-breaker will be goal difference, then most goals scored, then head-to-head result -- regardless of who wins the penalty kick shootout. The final tiebreaker is based on fair play rules if needed.
With Canada and the United States having key games decided by penalties in recent years, it's not hard to imagine SheBelieves' new tournament point system could come into play.
Canada head coach Casey Stoney is officially in year two of her tenure with the program, and the squad is eager to turn the page on a lackluster 2025 that featured plenty of growing pains.
Canada are 10th in the official FIFA rankings, their lowest since 2018, when they held fourth place. Despite the positive headlines Canada Soccer received upon hiring Stoney, following a drone scandal that led to the dismissal of Bev Priestman, the Canadians picked up a Pinatar Cup win and managed respectable wins in a string of friendlies. However, they closed out the year on a terrible skid, with losses to Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Stoney named a 24-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup, raising eyebrows with key players missing. Veteran players Adriana Leon, Shelina Zadorsky, Ashley Lawrence, and Sabrina D'Angelo were omitted, along with Jayde Riviere. Rising star attacker Olivia Smith had to withdraw following a concussion, and defender Megan Reid was called in. There are 13 players who play for NWSL clubs, six from European clubs, and four players represent the emerging Canadian league, NSL.
The group is looking ahead after a big 4-1 against Colombia to open the competition, with goals by Vanessa Gilles, Janine Sonis, Sydney Collins, and Nichelle Prince.
Take a look at Canada's complete roster:
Canada's 2026 SheBelieves Cup squad
Goalkeepers (3): Kailen Sheridan (North Carolina Courage), Emily Burns (Nantes), Melissa Dagenais (Ottawa Rapid)
Defenders (7): Jade Rose (Manchester City), Vanessa Gilles (Bayern Munich), Sydney Collins (Bay FC), Marie Levasseur (Montpellier), Gabrielle Carle (Washington Spirit), Brooklyn Courtnall (Bay FC), Megan Reid (Denver Summit)
The rivalry between the two North American giants dates back to 1986, with the United States leading the all-time series. The USWNT holds a commanding advantage through 67 previous meetings, with 54 wins, four losses, and nine draws, and has outscored the regional rivals 189-42.
Despite the lopsided record, recent versions of the rivalry have taken dramatic turns, often in tournament settings, with the sides getting the better of each other. From penalty shootouts in the 2024 Gold Cup and 2024 SheBelieves Cup to Olympic semifinal showdowns, the two nations are no strangers to high-stakes moments against each other.
In 2012, the USWNT's come-from-behind extra-time semifinal win over Canada in London paved the way for a fourth gold medal, and Canada's 1-0 semifinal win in the 2020 Tokyo Games secured their first-ever gold medal. The 2020 Summer Games remain the most recent win against the USWNT to date.
Head coach Emma Hayes and her squad get the perfect match to build on players' tournament experience, a theme Hayes wants replicated for a large portion of the roster. There are eight players from the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning team on the SheBelieves Cup roster, with plenty of others who are either experiencing their first or second SheBelieves Cup competition.
Following a 2-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday's opener, the USWNT now face a Canadian side that lead the tournament table after a 4-1 win over Colombia. With a final game against Colombia on Saturday, the match against Canada sets the stage for a meeting that will likely determine this year's champion.
The Americans are expected to have Trinity Rodman after an injury concern in the opener.
Hello and welcome to our CBS Sports live blog of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup match between the USWNT vs. Canada. I'm Sandra Herrera, and I'll be with you providing live updates and analysis of tonight's game.
