USWNT vs Spain stock report: Risers and fallers from two friendlies

The USWNT faced Spain in two friendlies, both considered top-ranked teams heading into the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Spain took the lead early, with Patri Guijarro scoring in the third minute, followed by Salma Paralluelo doubling the lead in the 14th minute.

Spain's clinical finishing was the difference, as the USWNT had only six shots, three of which were on target. The USWNT's struggles in the first half led to chasing the game for the rest of the match. They had a few good attacking sequences but wasted chances when they had them.

Alyssa Thompson stood out, with her long-range blast putting Spain on the board and drawing a yellow card. Her performance was so impressive that she is expected to take the final frontline starting spot. Sophia Wilson also shone, showing her defensive intensity, speed, and playmaking. She was influential in every aspect of the match and led the USWNT in various statistics.

The central defense struggled, with Kennedy Wesley and Tierna Davidson not doing enough to stop Spain. Avery Patterson was also a concern, completing just 76% of her passes in the first half. Emma Hayes replaced her with Gisele Thompson in the second half, who immediately shone bright in the left side of the match. Trinity Rodman had a tale of two halves, shining in the second half after Thompson came on, applying even more pressure on Spain's backline.

On the negative side, Central Defense was a major issue, with neither Kennedy Wesley nor Tierna Davidson standing out. The midfield also struggled, with Emma Hayes opting for a non-traditional midfield of Rose Lavelle, Lily Yohannes, and Lindsey Heaps, leading to a lost balance in the middle of the park.