The U.S. women's national team welcomed Rose Lavelle in her first game back since December 2024 with an emphatic win, kicking off their three-game summer series on Thursday by beating Ireland 4-0 with goals from Avery Patterson, Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle, and Alyssa Thompson. The Stars and Stripes will wrap up a pair of friendlies against Ireland on Sunday, before closing out the international window against Canada on July 2.
Head coach Emma Hayes continued her common trend of issuing first-time debuts for first-time call-ups. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey earned her first start in goal and aided the team in a shutout, while fullback Lily Reale delivered an assist on Thompson's goal. Defender Jordyn Bugg also made her first-ever senior national team appearance after subbing into the game.
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The group needed a period of adjustment before finding the breakthrough. Patterson's stock has risen at the outside back position after notching an assist earlier this month against Jamaica, as the Houston Dash player scored the opening goal in the 18th minute, scoring her first-ever international goal.
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While the opening goal woke up Ireland a bit, the tempo slowed, and the Girls in Green nearly escaped into halftime down only a goal, but Coffey was the difference maker and extended the USWNT lead by two.
Lavelle's goal, the third of the night that came in the 54th minute, was an impressive team goal that began out of the back with center back Emily Sonnett and involved six total players, including Ally Sentnor, who led the final pass to Lavelle inside the box. It was Lavelle's 25th international goal, and the veteran midfielder recorded her 25th national team assist on the night for an epic return to the roster.
Thompson led the team in total shots (four) at halftime, and her relentless efforts were rewarded when she flashed her individuality on the ball. Reale connected with the winger up the flank, and Thompson shook off her defender before faking another on her run inside the box for her goal in the 63rd minute.
The USWNT had settled for more narrow scorelines in 2025, with some grace given due to so many new players getting acclimated. The expanded player pool experiences paid off Thursday, and with another match coming up against Ireland, there will be another opportunity for Hayes and company to continue their work on in-game rotations, and perhaps even more quick short corners.
The U.S. have now gone three games without conceding a goal, with the last coming in the 2-1 loss to Brazil in April.
What a win for USWNT! Patterson broke the deadlock after 18 minutes, and Coffey extended the lead just ahead of halftime. Rose Lavelle with her 25th national team goal and 25th international assist in her return to the national team since December 2024. Alyssa Thompson ices the game with a ridiculous video game-type of goal for a 4-0 victory to open the summer series.
Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears are in the game now for Alyssa Thompson and Ally Sentnor. Some like-for-like adjustments by Hayes, perhaps the coaching staff wants to see more attacking sequences.
Not quite, but almost. There is still a hydration break and Emma Hayes has already made four substitutions since going up a third and fourth goal. Lavelle and Patterson off for Olivia Moultrie and Gisele Thompson. Girma and Cooper off for Lynn Biyendolo and Jordyn Bugg
63' Alyssa Thompson, who led the team in shots (four) at halftime, finally has her goal on the scoresheet. Excellent individuality on the ball after Lily Reale finds the winger up the flank. Thompson fakes her defender with a cut to the right foot and finishes.
53' Rose Lavelle extends the lead to three! A nifty build-up by the USWNT that goes through six players. Starts with Emily Sonnett, ends with Ally Sentnor connecting with Lavelle in the middle of the box. The midfielder slots it home with her right foot for her first goal back since December 2024.
No changes to the lineup for Emma Hayes to start the second half. Five minutes into the new half, the USWNT are spending extensive time in Ireland's final third, quickly looking for dangerous opportunities.
49' The USWNT extends the lead in first-half stoppage time. She won the ball, played off to Lavelle, who passed to Thompson and back to Coffey. The midfielder cut wide and into the box for her third international goal and the USWNT now leads 2-0.
43' Just minutes away from halftime and stoppage to come, ball movement hasn't quite been as quick. Combined with a good save by Brosnan on Cooper's attempt, could give Ireland some more life into the locker room.
33' Offically past the half hour mark now, and there's been stoppage of play for a head injury to Michelle Cooper, a hydration break, and some more fouls in between on Avery Patterson and Lilly Reale. Eight fouls so far, with Ireland leading with five at the moment. There's sure to be some stoppage ahead of halftime.
18" Welcome back, Rose Lavelle! The veteran midfielder delivers pristine service off a short corner kick with Michelle Cooper, and Avery Patterson is there to head the ball into the goal! It's the first international goal for Patterson, following her first assist last window against Jamaica.
15' Thompson leads the team in shots with two through the opening 15 minutes. She is looking dangerous each time she's on the ball, and won the first corner for the team earlier in the match. She's getting the attention of defenders, and it could open things up.
8' Alyssa Thompson with a really good chance on goal, but is denied by Ireland's Courtney Brosnan. Sam Coffey with a great ball through for the forward to get on the end of and carry into the box for a chance on goal.
6' The USWNT have had some even play with Ireland, but are mostly in Ireland's half even when playing out of the back. Looks like the Girls in Green aren't going to just sit in a low block against USA.
Earlier this month, USWNT manager Emma Hayes marked one year on the job. It's hard to ignore her rapid success with the group after a 2024 Olympic gold medal, but there has been so much more influence by the skipper since her arrival. Not only has Hayes expanded the player pool, she revamped the U23 program, launched "The WNT Way" -- an overarching philosophy that centers women in U.S. Soccer culture, and set records for a coach with the most first callups and caps through 22 games.
I asked Hayes last month what her biggest lesson through one year has been, and she said it was about maximizing moments:
"I think the biggest thing I've learned is that you've got to maximize the moments you have with the players," Hayes said about her first year as USWNT manager.
"Because you have so few, and I've learned there's multiple ways you can maximize that, and not just when you've only got 10-day camps and big chunks in between. Be innovative about how you can accelerate learning. I've always enjoyed innovating ways of doing that, but I definitely think maximizing the moments is the thing I've learned the most."
Kickoff is roughly 15 minutes away, so let's have some fun with a prediction! Ireland are no strangers to bringing the physicality against the USWNT. Both squads have younger, less experienced players in the mix, and that might lead to stretches of the game with adjustments, but the USWNT will find a way. Pick: USA 2, Ireland 0
Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan earns her 50th start in goal for Ireland tonight. San Diego Wave FC's Kyra Carusa also gets a start tonight. Appears that North Carolina Courage's Denise O'Sullivan is not dressed for tonight's match.
Ireland Starting XI: 1-Courtney Brosnan (C), 2 -Jessie Stapleton, 4-Caitlin Hayes, 5-Chlose Mustaki, 6- Megan Connolly, 8-Ruesha Littlejohn, 9-Amber Barrett, 12-Anna Patten, 15-Lucy Quinn, 18-Kyra Carusa, 21-Emily Murphy
Two more debuts under Emma Hayes with Claudia Dickey in goal and Lily Reale as outside back, they are the 19th and 20th players to debut under Hayes. Rose Lavelle is back in her first starting lineup since December 2024 following games in Europe and ankle surgery. Only 23 players are named to gameday rosters, so no Angelina Anderson or Croix Bethune available tonight.
USWNT starting XI: 18-Claudia Dickey; 4-Naomi Girma (Capt.), 8-Avery Patterson, 9-Ally Sentnor, 12-Michelle Cooper, 14-Emily Sonnett, 15-Claire Hutton, 16-Rose Lavelle, 17-Sam Coffey, 21-Alyssa Thompson, 23-Lilly Reale
With a mix of starters away for this camp, Hayes will rely on more experienced players for leadership roles. Girma has been a staple with the team since 2022, though the most capped players in camp are Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, and forward Lynn Biyendolo.
Biyendolo has largely been a feature player off the bench for the coaching staff in 2025, perhaps a signal of things to come as the squad continues their prep for World Cup qualifiers. It's hardly a role that is viewed as a relegation; in fact, she's already scored three goals with the team this year. With such a less experienced forward core, she's quickly become a leader among the attack.
"You just wake up one day and you're like, 'Oh, I'm the veteran now.' And I feel like that's happened to me, but yeah, definitely I think that with so many new players, so much talent is in the pool, and so much talent is on this team right now, but there are things that I had to learn along the way from veterans as well, and so hopefully I can impart some wisdom and some experience on these younger players, and hopefully it sticks with them," Biyendolo said ahead of the matches.
"I think that anytime you can find yourself in a veteran seat, it means that you've been here for a while, and knowing that is an honor and exciting in itself. Anytime you put on the crest, it's an honor. But knowing I have been here long enough to be considered that, is, I don't know, like something you only dream of when you're younger. So it's an honor, but it's like a huge responsibility, and I don't take that lightly."
Ireland is considered underdogs in tonight's game, but that doesn't mean they'll be a simple foe. Head coach Carla Ward wants the squad to embrace the opportunity to face the No. 1-ranked team in the world. The girls in green are looking ahead to the UEFA Nations League, and going up against the USWNT will be crucial prep.
"The two games against USA are an opportunity for us to work together on a number of things – both on and off the pitch – as we build towards the UEFA Nations League playoff against Belgium in October. We will be coming up against the best team in women's football, so we will have a plan for those games, but it's also important that we make the most out of this camp as a whole," she said.
"When these games were first proposed to us, we knew that we would be without certain players, but that opens the door for others to step up. We are building, camp by camp, so we are looking forward to getting together again and putting in some extra work that will stand to us moving forward."
Here are two players to watch tonight if they see time on the pitch!
Avery Patterson, USWNT: The outside back has been putting together impressive performances in her short time with the national team. She's bright in decision making and relentless in covering ground, and she delivered an assist on one of Lynn Biyandolo's goals during the last window. She could get another shot to make an impact in front of the coaching staff to remain part of the core moving forward.
Courtney Brosnan, Ireland: The goalkeeper has been Ireland's No. 1 since 2020, after long stretches with Ireland youth programs. The Everton keeper is a clinical shot stopper, and isn't intimidated when games come to her, and if she has a strong showing in goal, she could frustrate the USWNT attack.
Lineups will be live soon, so let's have some fun with a little prediction on who will get the start tonight for both teams.
USWNT: Claudia Dickey; Avery Patterson, Emily Sonnett, Naomi Girma, Lily Reale; Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle, Croix Bethune, Michelle Cooper, Lynn Biyendolo, Alyssa Thompson
Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki; Denise O'Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Marissa Sheva, Kyra Carusa; Abbie Larkin, Amber Barrett
Speaking of their last meeting, let's quickly revisit the past. The two sides last met in a pair of friendlies in 2023. The USWNT were on the winning side of two narrow victories, a 2-0 win followed by a 1-0 result. The group was tested after Mallory Swanson sustained a torn left patellar tendon that also kept her out of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Lindsey Heaps, Emily Fox, and Alana Cook scored over the two matches, and each player is not rostered as part of the current camps.
Here's a quick overview on how to watch the match and the odds! Will Ireland deliver an upset tonight? The two sides played to a narrow scoreline (1-0, USA) the last time they met in 2023.
Hello and welcome to our live blog of USWNT vs. Ireland! Head coach Emma Hayes and the squad will try and extend their two-game win streak against Ireland, and the match will kick off at 9 p.m. ET, so stick with us as we provide live updates from tonight's game.
