5 things we learned from the USWNT's October games

It was an interesting set of games for the USWNT in October. The Americans opened with a surprising loss to Portugal, only to gain some redemption with a 3-1 victory over the same Portuguese team and a 6-0 drubbing of New Zealand.

If nothing else, that little bit of adversity helped us learn a lot about this team. That’s certainly good news for Emma Hayes, who is still trying to get the right pieces in place ahead of the 2027 World Cup. 

This team knows how to start fast

Getting off to fast starts isn’t necessarily sustainable and predictable, but it might be with the USWNT. In both games against Portugal, the U.S. scored in the first minute of the game. Against New Zealand, it only took until the eighth minute for Emma Sears to score the first of her three goals.

In the 13 games the USWNT has played this season, they’ve scored a first-minute goal in four of them. That’s an impressive record when it comes to early goals, even if they lost two of those games. In total, in seven of the 13 games, the USWNT scored within the first 15 minutes, and within the first 20 minutes in 11 of the 13 games. That kind of early scoring is almost uncanny, although it’s hard to deny that it's a strength of the team right now.

Rose Lavelle can still be elite

It was fair to have some doubt that Lavelle can still be a top-class international player after she missed the SheBelieves Cup and the first chunk of the NWSL season with an injury. But it’s safe to say Lavelle is back and still an elite player. She had a goal and an assist in limited minutes during the June and July friendlies.

She’s also been in great form for Gotham FC in the NWSL since the middle of August. She opened this window for the USWNT with a first-minute goal against Portugal, albeit from an offside position. Lavelle had a simple but impressive strike against New Zealand. Still just 30 years old, it’s clear that if she can stay healthy, Lavelle will still be a key component for the USWNT moving forward.

The kids (in the midfield) are all right

Lavella needs to remain in top form because there is a group of young midfielders who are coming up fast and trying to take spots away from her and Lindsey Heaps. Lily Yohannes, who is still just 18, and Jaedyn Shaw, who has 29 caps at age 20, both had strong showings during the October matches.

Even 19-year-old Claire Hutton showed that she might be able to push Sam Coffey as the squad’s top defensive midfielder. With over a year and a half left before the 2027 World Cup, those young players still have plenty of time to keep developing and improving, putting the USWNT midfield in excellent shape, which will force veterans like Lavelle and Heaps to maintain a high level of play to keep their starting spots.

Olivia Moultrie’s time has arrived

Moultrie is one young midfielder who warrants special mention. While she only played in one of the three matches, Moultrie stole the show with a brace during the 3-1 win over Portugal. She had just scored a brace for the Portland Thorns right before the International window, giving her eight goals on the NWSL season, including five in her last six games.

Barely 20 years old, Moultrie is in the midst of a breakout campaign in what is her fifth season in the NWSL. The Portugal game is evidence that her success is now starting to translate to the international level. As a young player with good technical skills and positional flexibility, Moultrie is the type of player Hayes will love to have at her disposal in a major tournament.

Avery Patterson is a keeper

It’s safe to say the audition process is almost over; Patterson is all but a core member of the USWNT right now. She’s become almost an automatic selection to the roster for Hayes, especially after registering a goal and an assist during the June and July window.

Patterson has been crushing it in the NWSL during the second half of the season and was one of the standout players across the two games against Portugal. At this point, she’s arguably the top option at left back, not to mention competition for Emily Fox at right back. Coming out of this set of games, it’s a safe bet that Patterson will be part of the equation at full back for the USWNT for the foreseeable future.