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Cat Macario, Mandy McGlynn, Lily Yohannes Getty/GOAL
Celia BalfApr 10, 2025AnalysisUSAFEATURESBrazilE. HayesC. MacarioP. Tullis-JoyceL. YohannesA. ThompsonWOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Catarina Macario and Alyssa Thompson impress, Phallon Tullis-Joyce makes strong debut: Stock up, stock down after USWNT and Emma Hayes split with Brazil

The USWNT took down Brazil in one Olympic gold medal rematch, but then lost late with a re-tooled starting IX

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The U.S. women's national team split a pair of friendlies with Brazil, winning the first match 2-0 Saturday in Los Angeles before falling 2-1 on Tuesday night in San Jose. Facing Brazil wasn't going to be easy, and that proved to be the case.

The games marked a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal match, so there was a lot on the line despite it being labeled a "friendly." Yet given that the 2027 World Cup is still two years away, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes made it very clear that once again she would be experimenting with players - because she can.

If the World Cup was this summer, perhaps not, but she used this opportunity to see players compete against a world-class team such as like Brazil - the USWNT is ranked No. 1 in the FIFA world rankings, and Brazil is No. 8.

"I don't want to wait another year for me to get a look at these less-experienced players against a top-level opponent," Hayes said after the second match. "I'm glad I made that decision, even if you feel a little bit of short term pain within it."

In the first meeting, the starting IX was generally as expected - a combination of young and new, with California natives Catarina Macario, Alyssa Thompson and Trinity Rodman leading the front line. Down the middle, Hayes had youngster Lily Yohannes holding down the 10, with captain Lindsey Heaps and Sam Coffey as defensive center mids.

The backline had veteran Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox outside, with Tara McKeown and Emily Sonnett as the two center backs. Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce made her first start for the USWNT in goal, and held it down, admirably.

The lineup proved solid, despite some shaky moments in transition. Tullis-Joyce earned a clean sheet, and proved to be a solid force in net. Up top, Rodman reminded everyone just how much she was missed, and Macario's hold-up game was beyond.

The second game was a completely different story.

Hayes started the youngest lineup in her 20-game tenure, with Avery Patterson and Michelle Cooper earning their first starts. The midfield combined to be just 57 years-old, with Yohannes (17), Claire Hutton (19) and Korbin Albert (21). The backline looked entirely different on the wing as well, with 19-year-old Gisele Thompson on the left and Avery Patterson, earning her first start, on the right.

The two had McKeown and Sonnett in the middle, although just for the first half, before McKeown was subbed out for Alana Cook. Mandy McGlynn started in goal, and earned her third cap in her third start.

While the USWNT got on the board first, and in the first minute at that, the game quickly got away as Brazil dominated possession and capitalized off of their inexperience in big moments - and Hayes lost for just the second time as U.S. coach as a result.

So who stood out? Whose stock rose against Brazil, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.

  • Imagn

    STOCK UP: Catarina Macario

    Catarina Macario is so back. It's been a long haul for Macario, who's still only just making her way back to the international stage after a long battle with injuries. She earned two caps against Brazil, the 22nd and 23rd of her career, and scored the seventh-fastest goal in USWNT history, 34 seconds into Tuesday's game.

    What made Macario's performance so solid was her ability to adjust to the role of the nine and hold the ball up exceptionally well for the USWNT. Despite lots of pressure on her back, she was able to control the ball and either lay it off, flick, or turn. As each game went on, her confidence to turn improved.

    “I think Cat's been really good this camp, really shown her qualities to hold the ball up and play,” Hayes said after Macario's performance on Tuesday. “In fact, I felt we just didn't get enough support around her. The longer the game went on, and once she went out of the game, it showed. We missed that ability to hold the ball up in the way she does. I think it's been really, really good progress for her.”

    Macario reflected on her goal and performance, saying she was just doing her job.

    "Personally, I think it just gives me a little bit extra confidence, you know, in knowing that I'm doing something right," she said. "And you know, that was my job, you know, as a nine, to be there and to score goals. And yeah, I think in whatever way that I can help the team, that's that's my job."

    Without a clear nine in the rotation, Macario has made a good case for herself as she continues to reach peak health and fitness with this team.

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    STOCK DOWN: Korbin Albert

    Korbin Albert earned a start against Brazil in the teams' second meeting and struggled to be the link between the two lines. Albert is natural playmaker, however the pace and pressure of Brazil throughout the middle proved to be a challenge for her to maintain any possession and flow.

    While there is an argument to be made that she didn't have much experience around her in the midfield, she was the oldest among Claire Hutton (19) and Lily Yohannes (17).

    Albert isn't out of question in rotation for the USWNT, but will have to make a stronger case if she's going to knock players like Lindsey Heaps, Sam Coffey, even Ally Sentnor and Lily Yohannes out of the rotation. Out of all the players on the pitch against Brazil on Tuesday night, Albert was the only one who actually played against Brazil in the gold medal match in Paris.

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    STOCK UP: Alyssa Thompson

    Alyssa Thompson combined for two very strong performances against Brazil. Despite not scoring, her impact was worth a nod. Thompson started in both matches and made a profound impact on the wing. She not only took Brazil players on one vs. one, but took the ball centrally creating absolute chaos for the other team.

    She was involved in the first goal on Saturday, thanks to a dynamic central run she made and a cheeky slip pass to Rodman, and the second game when she did all of the work to eventually set up Macario for an easy tap in finish in under a minute of play. Thompson, just 20, now has 17 caps with the USWNT.

    "I thought Alyssa Thompson, for sure, has taken another step," Hayes said when asked about players that stood out in the games.

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    STOCK DOWN: Tara McKeown

    This is a tough one, because Tara McKeown didn't play poorly, but she's also just no Naomi Girma or Tierna Davidson. She does a lot very well; she's strong, disciplined, and smart. Yet, with those players out with injury, what the USWNT backline is really missing is a ball-playing center-back.

    They need someone to complement Emily Sonnett's controlled chaos; someone that can posess the ball and make passes out of the backline. While McKeown makes hard tackles and goal-saving plays, she doesn't play to feet very often and tends to look long as opposed to through the six.

    McKeown put in a lot of minutes for the USWNT this past week, with the stronger performance certainly on Saturday. Tuesday, she struggled to keep up with the pace of Gio and even Kerolin when she'd make dynamic runs across the box. Hayes won't write McKeown off yet, and is clearly looking for the right pairing as the year goes on, but isn't in any rush to find it.

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    STOCK UP: Phallon Tullis-Joyce

    Phallon Tullis-Joyce made a statement about her ability to play at this level, earning a shutout against a very good Brazil side. Tullis-Joyce has been overlooked for quite some time, due to her quiet manner and just not being quite ready for this leap. Hayes gave here the option to sink or swim - and she swam.

    Tullis-Joyce made six saves and helped the USWNT earn a strong 2-0 win Saturday. While her feet have been a question mark for Hayes, she worked herself into the game and made smart and accurate passes out of the back. She went long perhaps a little too much for Hayes' liking, but it was calculated and Tullis-Joyce clearly knew Macario would be able to hold the ball up.

    As the keeper spot continues to be a question for Hayes, Tullis-Joyce did her part. After the second match against Brazil, Hayes said that she's "a lot clearer" on the keeper position, without actually confirming her choice for the No. 1 spot.

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    STOCK DOWN: Lily Yohannes

    It wasn't all bad for Yohannes. In fact, her limited minutes against Brazil in the first game were exceptional. She was fully responsible for playing a cheeky ball over top that would eventually draw a foul and penalty kick. In the second game, Yohannes struggled. She didn't have her usual spark and confidence on the ball, and lacked urgency.

    While she made some smart passes, her usual "to feet" play was off. She made some tough turnovers that helped Brazil capitalize on transitions. Yohannes only played the first half, and to her credit, the midfield didn't really improve after she left, either.

    Yohannes is just 17, and has a long way to go to become a constant 10 for the USWNT. But there hasn't been a young star like her in quite some time. Her potential is limitless and it will be interesting to see how Hayes uses her in the upcoming months.

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    STOCK UP: Claire Hutton

    Claire Hutton deserves a nod for her performance against Brazil. The young midfielder earned her second cap and second start for the USWNT. Hutton was tested early, trying to find cohesion with her fellow midfielders and teammates around her. Despite some frantic play, she took care of the ball.

    Hayes was complementary on Hutton's performance and said she was interested before the Tuesday's match to see how Hutton would handle this level of play.

    "I think she came to it really, really well," Hayes said. "And listen, for a 19-year-old to play like that against Brazil, it's a superb performance from her and one which I know she is ready to progress with us."

    Hayes added that she and Hutton had done considerable of film study before the game, and that the first goal came because of a small but crucial movement Hutton had been working on.

    "In fact, our first goal came as a result of something we'd been working on with her about not dropping onto the feet of the back four, but actually stepping stepping out to play," Hayes said.

    The midfield roles are tough to come by on the USWNT, but for just her second showing, Hutton performed.

  • STOCK DOWN: Mandy McGlynn

    At this stage in the game it’s not solely about results. Still, if you’re a goalkeeper and allow two goals, especially in the 95th minute, it's concerning. Mandy McGlynn did some really good things in goal – especially once she settled in. She made some sharp passes and solid saves, but unfortunately didn’t step up in big moments to make those game-changing saves.

    Another part of being a goalkeeper is making sure your defensive line is locked in, disciplined, and recovering to the correct spot. There were many times in which Gisele Thompson was out of position or the two center-backs were getting pulled too far apart.

    While this is never on just one person, communicating and rapport with the line in front of a keeper is essential. Hayes’ impression of McGlynn certainly wasn't' negative.

    “Maybe she didn't get them perfect in the first half, but she didn't crumble," Hayes said, "and she stuck with the game and produced big moments.”