USWNT Players Shine in Japan Friendly Series

Gisele Thompson, Kennedy Wesley, and Claudia Dickey make strong cases for World Cup roster spots

Apr. 20, 2026 at 11:07am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting overlapping, fragmented scenes of a USWNT soccer match, with players and the field broken down into sharp, angular shapes in a vibrant color palette.The USWNT's friendly series against Japan showcased the depth and competition for roster spots ahead of the 2027 World Cup.Seattle Today

The U.S. women's national team recently completed a three-game friendly series against Japan, a key test ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup. Several players stood out, including fullback Gisele Thompson, centerback Kennedy Wesley, and goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, who made their cases for a spot on the USWNT's World Cup roster. However, questions remain about the performances of forwards Jameese Joseph and Ally Sentnor.

Why it matters

With the World Cup just 14 months away, the USWNT is working to finalize its roster and playing style. The Japan friendlies provided a high-level test against a top-ranked opponent, allowing manager Emma Hayes to evaluate her player pool and identify both strengths and areas needing improvement.

The details

The USWNT opened the series with a 2-1 win, dropped the second game 1-0, then closed with a 3-0 victory. Standout performances came from Thompson, who was electric at left back, Wesley, who scored and assisted a goal in the 3-0 win, and Dickey, who made several key saves in the 2-1 victory. However, forwards Joseph and Sentnor struggled to make an impact, raising questions about their readiness for elite international soccer.

  • The USWNT played the three-game friendly series against Japan during the April 2026 FIFA international window.
  • The 2027 Women's World Cup is just 14 months away.

The players

Gisele Thompson

A 20-year-old fullback for Angel City FC who has quickly risen from project to projected starter for the USWNT, starting two of the three matches against Japan and providing a match-saving tackle in the 2-1 win.

Kennedy Wesley

A 25-year-old centerback for the San Diego Wave who earned two appearances against Japan, including a 90-minute outing in the 2-1 win where she scored her first international goal and provided an assist.

Claudia Dickey

A 26-year-old goalkeeper who was given the nod to start two of the three matches against Japan, keeping the only clean sheet of the window in the 3-0 win and making several key saves in the 2-1 victory.

Jameese Joseph

A 23-year-old forward who was given limited playing time, with just one 11-minute substitute appearance in the 1-0 defeat, failing to record a shot or create a chance.

Ally Sentnor

A 22-year-old forward who appeared in all three matches against Japan, including one start, but struggled to impact the games and was not on the field for any of the USWNT's five goals scored in the window.

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What they’re saying

“It seems to me we have an obsession in football with finding a number one? My job is to develop at least two goalkeepers who will be contention for next summer. Without question, they [Dickey and Tullis-Joyce] are the two leading the way.”

— Emma Hayes, USWNT Manager

What’s next

The USWNT will continue to evaluate its player pool and finalize its roster in the lead-up to the 2027 Women's World Cup, with more friendlies and training camps scheduled over the next 14 months.

The takeaway

The Japan friendlies highlighted the USWNT's depth and competition for roster spots, with several players making strong cases to be included in the World Cup squad. However, the performances of Joseph and Sentnor suggest there is still work to be done to solidify the team's attacking options ahead of the tournament.