Sánchez, esencial en la lista de Hayes

Welcome back to your weekly feature from Sports Illustrated that analyzes the women’s soccer weekend from a U.S. women’s national team perspective.

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Bienvenidos al análisis semanal de Sports Illustrated sobre el fin de semana del fútbol femenino visto desde la perspectiva de la selección nacional femenina de EE. UU.

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We’re one month away from the next international window (and probably three weeks away from the next USWNT roster drop). The heat is on, and the battle for places is only getting more exciting.

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A un mes de la próxima ventana internacional – y probablemente tres semanas del próximo recorte de la lista de la USWNT – la presión aumenta y la lucha por los puestos se vuelve más intensa.

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With the English Women’s Super League returning last weekend, all of Europe is now in action, joining the NWSL. It’s a great time to look around the world and see American talent thriving, and a tough time for U.S. manager Emma Hayes to narrow down her selection.

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Con el regreso de la Women’s Super League inglesa el fin de semana pasado, toda Europa está en marcha, sumándose a la NWSL. Es momento de observar el talento americano que brilla en el extranjero, y un reto para Emma Hayes al reducir su selección.

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Let’s take a look at who saw their stocks rise and fall this past weekend.

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Veamos quiénes subieron o bajaron de valor este fin de semana.

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Stock Up

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Suben

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Ashley Sanchez

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Ashley Sánchez

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Another week, another record broken by Ashley Sanchez. With her first NWSL hat trick in a 6–0 win for the North Carolina Courage over the Chicago Stars, Sanchez has become the first American player to score 18 goals in a single NWSL season. She is now two behind the league’s all-time single-season record of 20 goals, which Temwa Chawinga hit in 2024.

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Ashley Sánchez anotó su primer hat‑trick en la NWSL, liderando una victoria 6–0 del North Carolina Courage sobre Chicago Stars y convirtiéndose en la primera estadounidense en marcar 18 goles en una temporada. Le faltan dos para igualar el récord de 20 goles de Temwa Chawinga en 2024.

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All season, as Sanchez has led the Golden Boot race and rocketed into MVP contention, the narrative has been brewing that she is due a recall to the USWNT. There really is nowhere for Emma Hayes to hide now. It feels like a done deal; Sanchez has to be in the next roster and earn her first call-up since January 2025.

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Durante toda la campaña, Sánchez lidera la carrera al Botín de Oro y se perfila como candidata al MVP; la narrativa indica que su reincorporación a la USWNT es inevitable. En mi opinión, Hayes no tiene excusa para excluirla.

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No player is finishing chances as consistently and as emphatically as Sanchez is in the NWSL right now. The only question is whether she can maintain it. The 27-year-old is outperforming her expected goals by 6.28, more than any other player in the NWSL. She’s either going to have a record-breaking year for precision in front of goal, or there will be a correction to the mean on the horizon.

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Nadie finaliza ocasiones con la constancia y contundencia de Sánchez en la NWSL. La única incógnita es si mantendrá ese nivel. La delantera de 27 años supera sus goles esperados en 6,28, más que cualquier otra jugadora, lo que augura una temporada histórica o una corrección pronto.

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Yazmeen Ryan

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Yazmeen Ryan

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Quietly, Yazmeen Ryan has been making a real case for her recall to the USWNT since the summer break. After a goal and an assist in Denver Summit’s decisive 3–0 win over league-leaders Gotham FC last weekend, Ryan is up to four goals and an assist since the NWSL returned to action in July.

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Yazmeen Ryan ha construido un argumento sólido para volver a la USWNT tras el receso de verano. Con un gol y una asistencia en la victoria 3–0 de Denver Summit sobre Gotham FC, suma cuatro goles y una asistencia desde julio.

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Hayes will love the way Ryan ghosted into the open space on the edge of the box, beat the player and hit a sensible low shot into the corner. It wasn’t flashy; it was on the mark. Ryan is accurate and effective, and her free role to pop in different positions for Denver has made her a valuable all-around playmaker.

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A Hayes le encantará cómo Ryan se coló en el espacio al borde del área, superó al defensor y disparó bajo y preciso al rincón. No fue llamativo, pero sí certero. Su versatilidad para aparecer en distintas zonas la convierte en una creadora de juego valiosa.

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Izzy Rodriguez

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Izzy Rodríguez

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If you hit an Olimpico, scoring directly from a corner kick, your stock goes up. I don’t make the rules; these are just the facts. Izzy Rodriguez’s goal of the season contender in the KC Current’s 2–1 win over Bay FC was extraordinary and a reminder of how good her left-footed delivery is from wide areas.

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Anotar un olímpico eleva tu reputación; no lo digo yo, son los hechos. El gol de temporada de Izzy Rodríguez, en la victoria 2–1 del KC Current sobre Bay FC, mostró su potente zurda desde la banda.

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Rodriguez provides a crucial vertical outlet to go forward down the left wing for the Current, and she also held up the defensive side of the bargain, winning six of nine duels last weekend. With the fullback position, outside of Emily Fox, feeling quite open on the USWNT, there’s something to be said for Rodriguez getting another look due to her ability to send in crosses and hit shots.

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Rodríguez brinda una salida vertical clave por la banda izquierda del Current y también cumplió defensivamente, ganando seis de nueve duelos el fin de semana. Con la posición de lateral abierto en la USWNT, salvo Emily Fox, su capacidad de centros y disparos merece otra oportunidad.

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Stock Down

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Bajan

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Reilyn Turner

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Reilyn Turner

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It’s been a funny season for Reilyn Turner. At the start of the year, she looked primed for a breakout campaign with her aerial prowess and playmaking ability in the final third, in full flow. But a knee injury in the first game back after the summer break stunted some of that momentum.

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La temporada de Reilyn Turner ha sido curiosa. Al iniciar el año parecía lista para destacar con su juego aéreo y creación en el último tercio, pero una lesión de rodilla en el primer partido tras el receso frenó su impulso.

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Turner is back with the Portland Thorns now and started in their recent 2–1 home defeat to the Washington Spirit. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get things going and was subbed off after 63 minutes, taking zero shots and creating zero chances.

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Ahora con Portland Thorns, Turner debutó en la derrota 2–1 ante Washington Spirit, pero salió tras 63 minutos sin disparar ni generar ocasiones.

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Jordan Silkowitz

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Jordan Silkowitz

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Jordan Silkowitz is another player who has made huge strides in 2026 but was caught out in a tough performance over the weekend. The Bay FC goalkeeper faced just three shots in the club’s 2–1 defeat to the Current, and two of those hit the back of the net. Neither shot was from a particularly threatening place.

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Jordan Silkowitz ha progresado mucho en 2026, pero el fin de semana sufrió. La guardameta del Bay FC enfrentó solo tres tiros en la derrota 2–1 contra el Current; dos terminaron en gol.

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The first was Rodriguez’s Olimpico, which, while incredible, is a goalkeeper’s nightmare to see that swirling shot sail over your fingertips. The second goal conceded effectively won the game for Kansas City in the 89th minute. Rocky Rodríguez hit a rocket from outside the box, and it looked like Silkowitz predicted it a bit late, or didn’t expect it to be hit to her left post, and wasn’t able to take off to make the diving save as quickly as she would have liked.

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El primer gol fue el olímpico de Rodríguez, una pesadilla para cualquier arquera. El segundo, anotado por Rocky Rodríguez en el minuto 89, fue un potente disparo desde fuera del área que Silkowitz no anticipó a tiempo.

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Naomi Girma

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¿Veremos a Naomi Girma recuperar su puesto en la USWNT?

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After a great showing in the Champions League for Chelsea, Naomi Girma was an unused substitute on the opening weekend of the new WSL season. Chelsea assistant manager Camille Abily said Girma’s calf issues, which plagued her over the last two seasons, are something the club is actively managing at the moment.

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Tras brillar en la Champions League con Chelsea, Naomi Girma fue suplente sin usar en la apertura de la nueva temporada de la WSL. La asistente Camille Abily explicó que los problemas de pantorrilla de Girma, presentes en dos últimas temporadas, siguen bajo control.

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Chelsea were held to a 1–1 draw at home to Aston Villa. With Chelsea pushing hard to win, bringing Girma, a defender, off the bench wasn’t necessary as they chased three points.

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Chelsea empató 1–1 contra Aston Villa en casa. Con el equipo presionando por la victoria, no fue necesario introducir a Girma, defensa, desde el banquillo.

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«It’s more fitness,» Abily said about Girma’s limited minutes. «And also a decision, because we have many good players on the bench, and we know with her calf, we need to be careful. So for that, we didn’t want to take any risks.»

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«Es más cuestión de condición física», dijo Abily sobre los minutos limitados de Girma. «Además, tenemos muchas opciones en el banco y, con su pantorrilla, preferimos no arriesgarnos.»

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Chelsea continues to experiment with a three-back formation, with three center backs flanked by wing backs. Girma could suit this formation, but it certainly isn’t her most natural fit. Hopefully, her fitness and tactical flexibility improve.

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Chelsea sigue probando un sistema de tres centrales con laterales. Girma podría adaptarse, aunque no es su posición natural. Esperemos que mejore su forma física y versatilidad táctica.