- Position
- D
- Pieces here
- 8
On the record
Called Shots →Kennedy Wesley starts for the United States against Spain at Audi Field on October 10.
Tierna Davidson does not start for the United States against Spain at Subaru Park on October 13.
Written about him
Hayes wants the details fixed against Spain, and the back line is the first one
The United States play Spain again at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, at 7 p.m. Eastern on October 13, three days after losing 2-0 at Audi Field. On Monday Emma Hayes asked her team to start earlier, said defending moments decided Saturday, and said players used to man-marking at their clubs need to defend zonally for the national team, which takes time after four months apart. Tierna Davidson and Emily Fox, two of Saturday's back four, both spoke on Monday. Spain are without Athenea del Castillo, sent off on Saturday, and have added Lucía García. None of the five uncapped players on the U.S. roster played on Saturday, and Tuesday is the last U.S. match before the Concacaf W Championship quarter-final against El Salvador on November 27.
Spain won 2-0, and the back four Hayes tried lasted one half
Spain beat the United States 2-0 before a sellout crowd of 19,220 at Audi Field on October 10. Patri Guijarro scored in the 3rd minute and Eva Navarro in the 14th. The United States had 13 shots, 10 of them on target, against Spain's six and three, and Adriana Nanclares saved Lily Yohannes's 70th-minute penalty. U.S. Soccer said it was the first start together for the back four of Emily Fox, Tierna Davidson, Kennedy Wesley and Avery Patterson. Gisele Thompson replaced Patterson at halftime. Mallory Swanson and Ashley Sanchez came on in the 66th minute. None of the five uncapped players on the roster played: Trinity Byars, Jordan Silkowitz and Evelyn Shores did not dress, and Pietra Tordin and Kate Del Fava were unused substitutes. The teams meet again at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, on October 13, the last U.S. match before the Concacaf W Championship.
Wilson was the best American against Spain, and Davidson had the hardest day
Player ratings for the 16 U.S. players who played in the 2-0 loss to Spain at Audi Field on October 10, 2026. Sophia Wilson rates highest after a shot tipped onto the crossbar, a goal ruled out for offside and a penalty won. Tierna Davidson rates lowest: U.S. Soccer's report has Salma Paralluelo isolated against her before Eva Navarro's 14th-minute goal. Lily Yohannes had her 70th-minute penalty saved by Adriana Nanclares.
Hayes has started six center backs since March, and three are in camp
The Spanish federation said on October 6 that goalkeeper Cata Coll had left Spain's squad for the matches against the United States and would return to Barcelona, replaced by Athletic Club's Eunate Astralaga; the federation gave no reason, and the news agency EFE reported quadriceps discomfort. Coll started seven of Spain's ten matches under Sonia Bermúdez, including all six against England, Germany and Sweden. Spain are also without Vicky López, Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmatí. The United States are without Naomi Girma, Emily Sonnett and Sam Coffey. Six players started at center back for the United States in its last eight matches: Sonnett, Girma, Kennedy Wesley, Tierna Davidson, Tara Rudd and Emily Sams. Girma and Sonnett are injured, Wesley, Davidson and Rudd are in camp, and Sams, who has started all 27 of Angel City's NWSL matches, is not on the roster. The teams meet at Audi Field on October 10 and Subaru Park on October 13.
The United States will face Spain without Naomi Girma or Emily Sonnett
Emma Hayes called up Utah Royals defender Kate Del Fava on October 4 to replace the injured Naomi Girma on the 26-player roster for the matches against Spain at Audi Field on October 10 and Subaru Park on October 13. Del Fava, 28, is uncapped, was already due in camp as an overage player with the under-23s, and is the fifth uncapped player on the roster. Girma was ruled out on October 1 with a muscle injury; Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor said on September 30 that she got a knock in training and would be unavailable for maybe a few weeks. Girma has not played in any of Chelsea's five Women's Super League matches or two Champions League league-phase matches. With Emily Sonnett also injured, the center backs on the roster who started any of the last eight United States matches are Kennedy Wesley, Tierna Davidson and Tara Rudd.