USWNT opens 2026 with 6–0 rout of Paraguay as new faces shine

The United States women’s national team opened its 2026 schedule with a 6–0 friendly win over Paraguay at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, using the match to showcase new combinations and emerging talent. The result offered an early marker of depth as the team builds toward a busy year of competition and longer-term qualification objectives.

Reilyn Turner scored in her first international start, giving the U.S. the breakthrough before halftime. After the break, the match turned into a wave of sustained pressure, with the U.S. pushing numbers forward, creating repeated chances, and keeping Paraguay pinned in its defensive third for long stretches.

Ally Sentnor scored twice in the second half, while Trinity Rodman—returning from injury and wearing the captain’s armband—added a goal of her own before coming off. Additional scoring came from Emma Sears and an own goal by Paraguay, rounding out a lopsided line that reflected the U.S. team’s territorial control and chance creation.

The match statistics underscored the one-way nature of play, with the U.S. controlling the ball and outshooting Paraguay by a wide margin. Coaches treated the friendly as a laboratory for player evaluation, giving opportunities to newcomers while testing how quickly the group can execute patterns of pressure, passing, and final-third movement.

The night also included tributes linked to Christen Press’ retirement in 2025, adding an emotional layer to a performance that otherwise focused on the next wave of players. The U.S. staff has emphasized that developing depth and flexibility is essential as the calendar fills with higher-stakes matches later in 2026.

Next, the U.S. is set to continue its run of friendlies, using results less as a final verdict and more as a way to build cohesion, sharpen roles, and identify which players can translate club form into international impact. The Paraguay match suggested that, at least early in the year, the team’s attacking pipeline is producing options—and that key leaders returning to health could raise the ceiling further.