The United States Women’s National Team opened the 2025 SheBelieves Cup with a victory over Colombia (2-0), beginning the year’s calendar with a shutout. The program is looking to win the annual invitational competition for an eighth time, but the road only gets tougher with each fixture. Next on the schedule is Australia, an opponent that is coming off of a best-ever fourth-place finish at the 2023 World Cup but an underwhelming showing in last summer’s Olympic Games. State Farm Stadium – a 63,400-seat venue located in the Phoenix, Arizona suburb of Glendale with a Tifway 419 natural grass surface and a retractable roof — hosts the fixture.
This is the 35th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USWNT holding a 28-1-5 advantage and triumphing (2-1) in the final group match of last summer’s Olympics. Ranked 15th internationally by FIFA, Australia finished in third place in Group B at the Paris Games with a loss to Germany (0-3), a frenetic victory over Zambia (6-5), and the aforementioned defeat to the eventual gold medalists. The post-tournament friendly slate involved a draw with Switzerland (1-1), a win against Germany (2-1), a pair of bad results while hosting Brazil (1-3, 1-2), and two successful matches versus Chinese Taipei (3-1, 6-0). The SheBelieves Cup opened with a drubbing from Japan (0-4).
Following the post-Olympics departure of Tony Gustavsson, Football Australia appointed Tom Sermanni to an interim role, his third tenure following stints from 1994 to 1997 and 2005 through 2012. The 70-year-old Scot is considered “the most successful coach in Matildas’ history after guiding the program to their only major silverware, the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup,” but bemoaned a lack of planning for the future. His lengthy résumé includes a variety of roles at several different clubs and countries, briefly taking charge of the USWNT in 2013 and 2014 and most recently leading New Zealand from 2018 to 2021.
Sermanni named a 23-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup, a “deep and balanced” squad “with the clear objective of winning this tournament.” The domestic A-League is home to seven of the call-ups, while 10 are on the books of Women’s Super League clubs and three compete in the National Women’s Soccer League. The massive absence from the group is captain and the program’s all-time leading scorer Sam Kerr, who “remains sidelined as she continues her recovery from a knee injury.” Clare Wheeler withdrew with a thigh issue and was replaced by Alana Murphy.
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GOALKEEPERS (3): Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns), Chloe Lincoln (Western United), Teagan Micah (Liverpool)
DEFENDERS (7): Ellie Carpenter (Lyon), Steph Catley (Arsenal), Charli Grant (Tottenham Hotspur), Winonah Heatley (Nordsjælland), Clare Hunt (Tottenham Hotspur), Alanna Kennedy (Angel City), Natasha Prior (Newcastle Jets)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal), Daniela Galic (Twente), Katrina Gorry (West Ham United), Emily van Egmond (Birmingham City), Tameka Yallop (Brisbane Roar), Alana Murphy (Melbourne Victory)
FORWARDS (7): Caitlin Foord (Arsenal), Mary Fowler (Manchester City), Laini Freier (Brisbane Roar), Michelle Heyman (Canberra United), Holly McNamara (Melbourne City), Hayley Raso (Tottenham Hotspur), Kaitlyn Torpey (San Diego Wave)
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Sermanni typically utilizes a 3-5-2 formation and is known as a tinkerer with his lineups and tactics, willing to make significant shifts while in a match. The wing-backs are given “the freedom to roam” with the expectation of being impactful figures in the attacking phase, while the front line looks to make runs behind the opposing defenders. The squad struggled with the “pace and aggression” from Brazil, but the manager has been attempting to implement a more “pragmatic” style that fits with the current player base. Due to his focus on the future, the manager could rotate the squad and grow his reputation as a builder of youth, but there is a focus on “playing the Australian way” of “aggressive, front-foot football” that is “always looking for ways to win.”
Mackenzie Arnold is likely to remain the number one for the foreseeable future, bringing strong work in the build-up and an eagerness to leave her line in order to combat the opponent. The 30-year-old Portland Thorns goalkeeper is an active presence who uses her five-foot-eleven frame and length to control the box while also getting down quickly to make saves on lower shots. Her performance during the World Cup helped lead Australia, stopping three penalty attempts during the shootout in the quarterfinal round. She displays equal adeptness on short- and long-range chances, using deliberate footwork to put herself into the right position to make saves.
Alanna Kennedy recently left Manchester City and signed with Angel City FC of the NWSL, bringing “experienced, leadership, a winning mentality,” and the physical prowess to cover large areas of ground. The 30-year-old centre-back will knock in the occasional goal, whether stepping forward in order to join the attack or serving as a productive figure on set pieces, having accumulated a delightful highlight reel of finishes. After one season in France, Clare Hunt made the jump to Tottenham and has put up some of the league’s best numbers at pass completion percentage, blocks, clearances, and successful aerial duels. She is a taller presence who can dominate the header game and is capable of taking an active role during the build-up, stepping up during the big moments in order to make the important goal-saving actions. The versatile Steph Catley can line up on the inside and outside of the defense, making her a suitable option for the third spot with excellent distribution. Observers praise her as “tough in the tackle and difficult to beat on the ground or in the air,” along with providing “accurate set-piece delivery” and benefitting from a lighter physical work load.
Lyon’s Ellie Carpenter has a devastating “combination of speed and stamina” that enables her to “sprint up and down the rate flank for 90 minutes at a time” while serving as a “strong chance-creator from wide areas.” She can also put in a solid shift on the defensive end with timely interventions that will quickly turn into transitions with her abilities to work out of chaos and read the crowd for a quick pass. Charli Grant of Tottenham could be utilized on the other side of the formation, described as having a high level of grit with confidence on the ball and a willingness to throw herself into challenges on the outside. While the 23-year-old fullback has “primarily played the role of an understudy,” observers believe that her time has come to step into a greater role for the program.
Arsenal’s Kyra Cooney-Cross serves as a “key pivot in the midfield,” who is “hugely influential both in and out of possession” by “providing defensive cover for the advanced fullbacks.” She takes control with the ball at her feet, demonstrating a willingness to carry possession into the attacking half with pacey solo dribbling runs or pinging connections with teammates. While some may have envisioned her international career waning, Tameka Yallop has rejuvenated her game with a return to the Brisbane Roar, scoring several goals and picking up multiple starts in Sermanni’s current tenure. The versatile 33-year-old midfielder was named the A-League Player of the Month for December and covers the entirety of the field with a driving style and expert passing that sees her create attacking opportunities from deeper areas and around the box. After a spell with the San Diego Wave, Emily van Egmond jumped to Birmingham and will hopefully provide her generalist profile that includes long-distance shooting, acrobatic finishing, and quick combinations with teammates. At five-foot-ten, her physical presence supplies “an additional aerial threat” along with a willingness to drop back and put in hard tackles in order to regain possession. There is also the possibility of Katrina Gorry contributing to proceedings, having “made the highest number of tackles and covered the most ground of any player during the 2023 World Cup.” The West Ham box-to-box is always a danger to finish from distance with a powerful strike and uses a combination of guile, agility, and strength from a low center of gravity to dart around opponents.
Mary Fowler of Manchester City is still the great hope for the future but also an influential figure in the present, with her game appearing on the verge of elevating to the next level with 10 finishes this season. The Queenslander boasts “a good range of passing” with “delicate through balls” but more importantly blasts shots from distance, opens up space with deft dribbling, and leaps high into the air in order to claim headers. Arsenal attacker Caitlin Foord can line up in a variety of positions and performs strongly when given a partner up top, taking the opportunity for link-up play, running into open space, and getting onto the end of crosses. Some observers believe that she is “losing her spark,” but her hard work and constant pushing of the tempo is an asset when the team breaks into transition and plays a more direct game. The well-traveled Hayley Raso presses defenders with speed and can drop deeper into the formation, if necessary, although her best moments come when drilling crosses or driving into the middle. Her one-on-one abilities are similarly strong when given the time to operate in isolation, although such situations could demand the deployment of a 4-3-3.
The SheBelieves Cup is a solid test to open the year for the USWNT and provides quality competition in a rapid turnaround. However, this is far from the strongest of Australia sides, as the program is in a transitional period both on and off of the field. Barring any surprise from the visiting opponent, Emma Hayes’ group should be expected to roll with another victory in the hopes of capturing an eighth title.
The match is scheduled for Sunday, February 23rd at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, 2:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TBS, Universo, Max, Peacock, and FUBO TV (free trial).
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