The U.S. Women’s National Team opened its 2026 calendar in emphatic fashion Saturday, rolling to a 6-0 victory over Paraguay in a dominant performance that also marked a milestone moment for Trinity Rodman.
Rodman made her return to the USWNT after re-signing with the Washington Spirit on a groundbreaking NWSL contract and immediately took on a leadership role, captaining the team for the first time in her career.
The 23-year-old forward earned her 48th international cap, her first appearance with the national team since April 5, 2025, when she scored in a 2-0 win over Brazil in Inglewood, California. Rodmand sent a statement: she’s the present and future of Team USA.
The most experienced player
Despite her young age, Rodman was the most experienced player on the January roster, leading the squad in both caps and goals with 12 entering the match. And that’s exactly what the team needs as they get ready for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
Wearing the captain’s armband, the Laguna Niguel, California native guided a youthful U.S. lineup that averaged just 9.6 caps across the starting XI, underscoring the team’s emphasis on development early in the new cycle. That development will need to come to fruition during the summer of next year.
The United States controlled the match from the opening whistle, overwhelming Paraguay with pace, pressure, and depth, and finishing with six goals to kick off the year on a high note. The result served as a strong start to 2026 for the USWNT, blending a commanding team performance with the emergence of Rodman as a vocal leader for the next generation.
Now the challenge is called Chile
The U.S. Women’s National Team will wrap up its annual January camp on Tuesday, when it faces Chile in a friendly in Santa Barbara, California. Coming off a dominant 6-0 victory over Paraguay on Saturday, the USWNT enters its second match of the year with confidence and a chance to continue building momentum under a young and evolving roster.
The matchup offers an opportunity for the U.S. to extend a strong run of results. The USWNT has won five consecutive matches dating back to the end of 2025, with victories over Paraguay, New Zealand, Portugal and two against Italy. Four of those wins have come by shutout, and the team has outscored opponents 20-1 during that stretch.
A win against Chile would mark the first six-match winning streak for the program since 2024, when the team won nine straight games, a run that included its Olympic gold medal campaign. Saturday’s win over Paraguay was notable not just for the scoreline, but for the number of milestones reached. Reilyn Turner, Sally Menti and Maddie Dahlien all earned their first caps, becoming the 286th, 287th and 289th players to debut for the senior national team.
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