USWNT Futures Camp roster gets prime opportunity

The youth movement is here, and United States Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes is hoping to integrate some of them into the team’s identity and strategy. Today, U.S. Soccer announced a 24-player roster of U-23 players that will train in Carson, California at this year’s Futures Camp.

The Futures Camp’s purpose is to bring in some of those younger players not just for talent identification but also national team introduction. Hayes said yesterday in her press conference discussing the USWNT roster, which was announced yesterday, that she’s excited at the chance to work on the basics while also evaluating some of the younger talent and giving them opportunities to move up the ranks to potentially be on the senior team on the future. She also expressed her desire for the USWNT U-23s to operate regularly to give younger players more international opportunities, and this is the start of that process.

The Futures Camp roster is comprised of players under the age of 23 that are competing in the NWSL as well as college soccer. The hope for these players is that they can find themselves on Emma Hayes’ radar as potential inclusions on the senior national team. It represents an opportunity to be seen, and the players look to take advantage of the opportunity.

Combined with the USWNT January Camp roster, a total of 50 players will be training together in Carson. The youth national team coaches will organize the training schedule for the Futures Camp, but there is expected to be integration with the USWNT training throughout the week.

“This is an exciting group of young players who have shown their talents on various levels in the United States and there were certainly others deserving of a call-up to this camp,” said Hayes in a statement. “To bring them all together to compete in our first Futures Camp is an exciting step for the evolution of the U.S. Women’s National Team program and a great opportunity for them to show they have the qualities to play for the senior team. It’s a significant jump from college to the pro game and an even bigger jump to the elite international level, but we will be patient with all these players as we understand the process and want to help all of them reach their maximum potential.”

The Futures Camp roster:

GOALKEEPERS (3):Jordan Brown (Georgia Bulldogs), Mia Justus (Utah Royals), Neeku Purcell (Brooklyn FC)

DEFENDERS (7): Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign FC), Heather Gilchrist (Florida State Seminoles.), Savy King (Bay FC), Emily Mason (Rutgers Scarlet Knights), Makenna Morris (Washington Spirit), Lilly Reale (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Taylor Huff (Florida State Seminoles), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage), Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign), Yuna McCormack (Florida State Seminoles), Lexi Missimo (Texas Longhorns)

FORWARDS (8): Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Maddie Dahlien (North Carolina Tar Heels), Jordynn Dudley (Florida State Seminoles), Kate Faasse (North Carolina Tar Heels), Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Pietra Tordin (Princeton Tigers), Reilyn Turner (Portland Thorns)

The roster features 14 pro players – 13 from the NWSL and one from the USL Super League – and 12 who come from the college ranks. Each player is eligible for the USWNT U-23s, and 15 have played on U-20 Women’s World Cup rosters. Only goalkeeper Jordan Brown has zero experience with U.S. youth national teams. Now, each will have a chance to learn more about what it takes to be a USWNT player and get the opportunity to show the coaching staff that they are someone to watch as we fully leap into the 2027 Women’s World Cup cycle.