NWSL leading goalscorer Ashley Sanchez will return to the United States women's national team for the first time in nearly two years next week as the Americans prepare for a pair of high-profile friendly matches against world No. 1 Spain. Sanchez has scored 20 goals for the North Carolina Courage this season, tying the league's single-season scoring record with four games left to play. She last appeared in a USWNT match in October 2024 and was last called into a training camp in January 2025.

Defender Naomi Girma and midfielder Sam Coffey also return to USWNT camp, having each last played for the USWNT in April. However, Hayes said on Tuesday that Girma picked up "a knock in training" and may need to be replaced. Coffey underwent a minor knee procedure in May. Gotham FC playmaker Jaedyn Shaw is a surprising omission by USWNT head coach Emma Hayes. Shaw has nine goals and five assists this season for Gotham, who leads the NWSL.

Shaw and Ally Sentnor will join the U23 USWNT for a simultaneous training camp in Atlanta next week, Hayes said. Hayes said that is part of each player's "prescribed journey" and that there is competition within their positions. Hayes also called in three players for the first time: versatile fullback Evelyn Shores and forwards Trinity Byars and Pietra Tordin. Uncapped goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz also joins the 26-player roster for the matches.

The upcoming pair of matches on Oct. 10 (Audi Field, Washington, D.C.) and Oct. 13 (Subaru Park, Chester, Penn.) will pit the world's top two teams against each other for the first time since October 2022, when Spain defeated the USWNT 2-0 in Pamplona. Spain is the reigning World Cup champion, and the United States is the reigning Olympic champion. The USWNT has played 17 matches featuring the world's top two teams and has not lost (11-0-6) in any of them.