'This is a performance-related business' - Emma Hayes' goalkeeper search continues, Mia Fishel makes comeback: Winners and losers from USWNT's April camp roster

Shortly after the USWNT roster was confirmed, a heartwarming post popped up on Patterson's social media. It showed a much younger version of Patterson sporting an American flag bandana, USA eye black and a USWNT shirt.

"She'd be screaming," she wrote. "So excited."

It's easy to forget sometimes, given the level the USWNT is so often expected to win, but there's something that remains special about these moments, too. A first call-up, a first goal, a real welcome-to-the-team moment - all are quickly forgotten by many who watch on, but those dream moments are never forgotten by those who actually lived them. That's what Patterson gets this month: the chance she's always dreamed of.

Now 22, Patterson has developed into one heck of a player for the Houston Dash, leading the team in minutes during her 2024 rookie season. She participated in the Futures Camp in January, but this is her first proper USWNT call-up and it's certainly deserved. Patterson will get her chance to make an impression at that left-back spot, which feels a bit open.

"We've seen Avery Patterson both in January and in the start she made for Houston, which I think has been a really, really good one," Hayes said. "She can play left back and right back. But she'll be competing as a left back in the squad for the upcoming camp."

Patterson may not be that little girl anymore, but you can bet she was screaming, too, when she got the alert that she was coming to camp for the first time.

Speaking of left-backs, Jenna Nighswonger is one of the most notable absences in this camp.

Since making her breakthrough in 2023, Nighswonger has been a regular with this USWNT, but it's hard not to say her stock has slipped a bit over the last year or so. Once seemingly a clear starter, Hayes hasn't ever really put full trust in her.

Crystal Dunn remains the regular, even as she heads into the final few years of her career, while Patterson is being given a look as a potential contender at that position.

What does that mean for Nighswonger? The pressure is on her to perform at Arsenal after making the big move to London recently. Joining the Gunners was a dream come true for the defender, but it's also a big step towards impressing Hayes, who, of course, comes from a WSL background herself. It didn't get her into the team this time and, for Nighswonger to push for that spot, she has to really get going at Arsenal.

Consider this a reminder, a warning shot or whatever else, but the message is clear: Nighswonger's spot isn't guaranteed. That message is particularly loud given the lack of other fullbacks in this camp, too.

She's not technically on the roster but, even if she's only a training player, it's worth recapping Mia Fishel circumstances. Just a year ago, Fishel looked like a real contender at an Olympic spot. She was scoring goals for the USWNT and making waves at Chelsea, giving the USWNT a legitimate, bonafide No. 9.

Then came an ACL tear, robbing Fishel of a chance at that major tournament while also depriving her of crucial development in her young career. The striker, though, returned recently with Chelsea and, while she may not be ready for a full USWNT return, she was deemed ready to train with the group. That's a huge step in her recovery and insight into how Hayes sees the 23-year-old forward.

Despite all of the success of the "Triple Espresso" attacking force that is Trinity Rodman, Sophia Watson and Mallory Swanson - the latter two of which are not in this camp - the USWNT still needs a legitimate No. 9 in the team. Fishel, at her healthiest, can be that.

She is, at worst, a good backup and, at best, a legitimate starting option who plays the position in ways the Espresso members can't. Either way, it's good to have her, even if she's not all the way back just yet.

It's been a few months since Alyssa Naeher's retirement, but we're still not much closer to figuring out who will be her full-time replacement as the USWNT goalkeeper. It seems Murphy isn't really in the running, though, after being left out of this squad.

With 20 caps to her name, Murphy has more experience than the rest of the goalkeeping pool combined and, at 28, she's still got her best soccer ahead of her. Still she was left out of the squad, with Hayes opting for Jane Campbell, Mandy McGynn and Phallon Tullis-Joyce. It's definitely a sign of where Murphy is and, realistically, where this goalkeeping pool is right now.

At the moment, there's no clear successor for Naeher. There isn't a world-class star ready to step right into the net and fill that void. There are good, capable players, but no obvious heir apparent, and that's something that Hayes is going to have to sort in this cycle. Every team starts from the goalkeeper and goes forward and, at the moment, there just isn't really one obvious standout.

Murphy may well be in the mix, particularly if she has a good NWSL season but, at the moment, she is one of many vying for a chance and.

"If you think about this, prior to when even Alyssa made the No. 1 her own, it takes a period of time to be able to solidify that," Hayes said. "And I think it's fair to say we've got a lot of really good quality goalkeepers. Who will emerge from that as the No. 1? I don't know, but they have to take their chances when they get them.

"This is a performance-related business, and each and every opportunity they get, they have to make the most of it, because, of course, that will impact my decision-making as we progress. This camp, there will be changes in goal again."

We'll group these two together because both have been in somewhat similar positions. Both have been right on the fringes, with both good moments and heartbreak on roster reveal days. They're two good players, but haven't quite solidified a consistent USWNT spot.

They're back now and have something to prove. Both Cook and Hatch will be desperate to show that they can do more than live on the fringes.

Regarding Cook, there's an obvious need for central defender help with Naomi Girma out, which at least partly led to the defender's return. The 27-year-old centerback is a veteran, one with a World Cup appearance under her belt. But as the USWNT approached last summer's Olympics, Cook fell out of the picture. An appearance here would be her first since 2023.

Hatch, meanwhile, hasn't played for the USWNT since 2023. By that point, she'd already had a start-stop USWNT career. After earning caps in 2016 and 2018, she didn't return to the U.S. until 2021, going on to make 20 of her 22 appearances between 2021 and 2023.

Unlike Cook, the striker doesn't have a major tournament under her belt, but it's clear that Hayes sees the Washington Spirit star as someone who could fill a need right now - and, perhaps, in the future.

"Cat Macario, holds the ball up extremely well - like Ashley Hatch. They can hold it, they can link," Hayes said. "They can allow others to join the play... they both have good finishing qualities and bring something to the team that allows others to join in."

It'll be a test for these two as they push for a return to this group.

This is a pretty strong USWNT group, but it's difficult to look at everyone included on the roster and not notice who isn't.

Many of the absences were expected. Wilson is out due to her pregnancy, while Girma's recent injury for Chelsea made that decision obvious. Same with Rose Lavelle, who continues to recover from ankle surgery. You can add in Lynn Biyendolo and Hal Hershfelt, too, as both recover from recent knocks.

And then there's Mal Swanson, who remains out of NWSL action for the time being due to personal reasons.

Many of those players have locked-in USWNT spots. Wilson, Girma, Lavelle and Swanson aren't going anywhere. Biyendolo likely isn't either - but, despite her presence on a Hayes-formed leadership group, she is still fighting for minutes in a crowded attack. That leadership piece works in her favor.

Hershfelt, meanwhile, is fighting for minutes in the midfield, but, unfortunately, won't get another opportunity this time around. It's unfortunate for the Washington Spirit midfielder, whose stock continues to rise when she does get onto the field with the USWNT.

The silver lining is easy to see, though: if there was a time to be missing all of these players, it's now. That doesn't make their absence any less frustrating, particularly against a very good Brazil team, but better to give Hayes a chance to evaluate others with the World Cup still two years away.