Wilson was the best American against Spain, and Davidson had the hardest day

Spain beat the United States 2-0 at Audi Field on Saturday, with both goals inside the first 14 minutes. The U.S. had 13 shots and 10 on target by U.S. Soccer's report and scored with none of them, and Adriana Nanclares saved Lily Yohannes's 70th-minute penalty. The ratings sort into a back line that gave up two early chances and an attack that did everything except score.

Starters#

Claudia Dickey, goalkeeper, 6/10 (90 min). Saved Alexia Putellas's shot from the center of the box just before halftime. Guijarro's goal went in from outside the box through traffic and Navarro's went into the roof first time; neither was a keeper's mistake. She did not face a shot in the second half.

Emily Fox, defender, 5/10 (82 min). Part of a back four starting together for the first time, and that line conceded twice in 14 minutes. Fox herself said afterward the defenders needed to react faster and get goal-side, by ESPN's account. Michelle Cooper replaced her in the 82nd.

Kennedy Wesley, defender, 6/10 (90 min). Started at center back and finished the match, one of two of the starting back four still on at the end. Spain did not put a shot on target after halftime, and Wesley won a free kick on the right wing in the 83rd.

Tierna Davidson, defender, 4/10 (90 min). U.S. Soccer's report has Salma Paralluelo isolated against her on Spain's left before the cross that Eva Navarro finished for 2-0. In the sixth minute of stoppage time she headed Trinity Rodman's cross from very close range, and Nanclares saved it.

Avery Patterson, defender, 5/10 (45 min). Started at left back in the half that decided the match, and Gisele Thompson replaced her at halftime. Neither the federation nor Emma Hayes gave a reason. Nothing in either report puts her at fault for a goal, and nothing has her adding going forward.

Lily Yohannes, midfielder, 5/10 (90 min). Set up two of Wilson's shots on target and volleyed just wide of the left post after the second goal. Then Nanclares guessed right on her 70th-minute penalty, with the U.S. two down and 20 minutes left, and she was booked moments later.

Lindsey Heaps, midfielder, 6/10 (66 min). The captain put both her shots on target: a low one in the 8th minute and a header from the six-yard box in the 38th, each saved by Nanclares. She also set up Rose Lavelle's chance in the 64th before Claire Hutton replaced her.

Rose Lavelle, midfielder, 6/10 (66 min). Assisted both Heaps attempts and won two free kicks in the first half. Her own shot from the center of the box in the 64th went straight at Nanclares. Mallory Swanson replaced her two minutes later. The cap was her 123rd, tying Julie Ertz.

Alyssa Thompson, forward, 6/10 (66 min). The federation's report says the U.S. chased an equalizer mainly through her on the right, with a give-and-go and a long run that each ended in a cross. Her cross set up Rodman's 58th-minute chance. Her one shot was blocked, and Ashley Sanchez replaced her in the 66th.

Sophia Wilson, forward, 7/10 (90 min). The most dangerous player on the field for either side. Nanclares tipped her 27th-minute shot onto the crossbar, a left-footer before halftime rolled inches wide, a 53rd-minute finish was ruled out for offside on VAR, and she was pulled down for the penalty. She was also caught offside three times.

Trinity Rodman, forward, 6/10 (90 min). Put both her shots on target, including one from inside the six-yard box that Nanclares saved. An early first touch on Thompson's cross popped up for the keeper. Booked in the 31st minute, and her stoppage-time cross gave Davidson the last chance.

Substitutes#

Gisele Thompson, defender, 6/10 (45 min). Replaced Patterson at halftime, and Spain did not have a shot on target in the half she played. One foul, in the 56th minute.

Claire Hutton, midfielder, 5/10 (24 min). Replaced Heaps in the 66th with the U.S. chasing two goals. Neither report records a shot, a chance created or a card for her, which is not enough from a midfielder sent on to change a 2-0 match.

Mallory Swanson, forward, 6/10 (24 min). Her first U.S. appearance in 710 days, by the federation's count, and the 19th mother to play for the team. She crossed for Sanchez's 87th-minute chance, the best of the late ones, and committed one foul.

Ashley Sanchez, forward, 5/10 (24 min). Back for her first U.S. appearance since October 30, 2024. Swanson's cross found her on the left in the 87th minute, and her sliding shot from close range went wide.

Michelle Cooper, defender, 6/10 (8 min). A short cameo on the back line in place of Fox. Athenea del Castillo was sent off in stoppage time for violent conduct after pulling Cooper's hair, by U.S. Soccer's report.

Ratings are out of 10. A 6 is a solid international performance.

Sources: U.S. Soccer, "U.S. Women's National Team Falls 2-0 to Spain in Washington, D.C.," match recap and report, October 10, 2026; U.S. Soccer, "USWNT vs. Spain: Starting XI & Lineup Notes," October 10, 2026; ESPN match summary and commentary, United States vs. Spain, October 10, 2026; Jeff Kassouf, ESPN, "Clinical Spain show USWNT what it takes to be world champions," October 10, 2026.