TThe U.S. Women’s National Team opened the 2026 calendar in strong fashion on Saturday, defeating Paraguay 6-0 with a dominant performance and a landmark moment for Trinity Rodman.
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After re-signing with the Washington Spirit in a landmark NWSL deal, Rodman returned to the USWNT and immediately assumed a leadership role, captaining the team for the first time in his career.
The 23-year-old forward earned his 48th international cap since his first appearance for the national team on April 5, 2025, when he scored in a 2-0 win over Brazil in Inglewood, California. Rodmund sent a statement: She is the present and future of Team USA.
most experienced player
Despite his young age, Rodman was the most experienced player on January’s squad, leading the team in both caps and goals in the 12 games he played in. And that’s exactly what the team needs as it prepares for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Wearing the captain’s armband, the Laguna Niguel, Calif., native guided a youthful U.S. lineup whose starters average just 9.6 caps and emphasized the team’s focus on growth early in the new cycle. This development needs to be realized by next summer.
The US controlled the game from the opening whistle, overwhelming Paraguay with pace, pressure and depth, ultimately scoring six goals to start the year on a high note. This result was a strong start to 2026 for the USWNT, combining the team’s outstanding performance with Rodman’s emergence as the next generation’s vocal leader.
Now that challenge is called Chili
The U.S. women’s national team will play Chile on Tuesday in a friendly in Santa Barbara, Calif., concluding its annual January training camp. Coming off a commanding 6-0 victory over Paraguay on Saturday, the USWNT enters its second game of the year with confidence and an opportunity to continue building momentum under a young and evolving roster.
This matchup will be an opportunity for the United States to improve on its strong performance. The USWNT has won five straight games since the end of 2025, with wins over Paraguay, New Zealand and Portugal, and two wins over Italy. Four of those wins were shutouts, during which the team outscored its opponents 20-1.
A win against Chile would be the team’s sixth straight win since 2024, when they won nine straight, including the Olympic gold medal campaign. Saturday’s victory against Paraguay was notable not only for the scoreline, but also for the number of milestones achieved. Raelyn Turner, Sally Menty and Maddy Darian all earned their first caps, becoming the 286th, 287th and 289th players to make their senior national team debut.
