The U.S. women’s national team kicked off 2025 on a winning note, beating Colombia 2-0 in the team’s first game of the SheBelieves Cup. Head coach Emma Hayes is using the competition to experiment with inexperienced players and new tactical ideas, with several rising to the occasion. The list includes goal scorers Catarina Macario and Ally Sentnor, two of 14 players who entered camp with 20 or fewer international appearances. Macario scored the game’s first goal in the 33rd minute, marking her first USWNT goal in three years after spending much of that time dealing with an ACL tear.
Sentnor, the reigning U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, nabbed her first senior international goal in the 60th minute. She did it in style, receiving the ball on the left flank before cutting in and scoring from distance.
Hayes also used the occasion to hand out first caps to defender Tara McKeown, who impressed as a starter, as well as substitutes Michelle Cooper and Gisele Thompson.
The USWNT return to play on Sunday against Australia at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., before wrapping up the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday against Japan at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.
Macario’s triumphant return
Macario played only her second USWNT game in three years on Thursday, making a long-awaited return after missing both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games with injuries. Even without the goal, though, her performance against Colombia offered a quick reminder as to why she’s one of the most hyped members of the USWNT’s player pool – her service was a particular highlight, putting together a showing that demonstrated her range. Her particular skillset also means she brings something a little bit different than her teammates, which could lead her to become a very important attacking option over the next few years if she stays fit.
New faces impress
While Macario’s impressive outing was a long time coming, some newcomers also left their mark on the game. Lily Yohannes was perhaps the standout of the day, excelling in the midfield alongside Macario and truly making a case that she can help restore a balance that’s been missing in the center of the park for a while. Sentnor, meanwhile, was very impactful up top and took advantage of the opportunities afforded to her with the absence of the “triple espresso” – Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson (formerly Smith). The same is true for Tara McKeown, who took a longer journey to win her first cap but stood out at center back alongside Emily Sonnett.
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