Trinity Rodman

Trinity Rodman Returns: Emma Hayes Names Youthful USWNT January 2026 Roster

The wait is officially over. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has named her 26-player roster for the January 2026 training camp, and the headline is exactly what fans have been waiting for: the return of Trinity Rodman.

The Veteran Anchor: Trinity Rodman’s Return

After an up-and-down 2025 defined by a long-standing injury and professional transition, Trinity Rodman is back in the fold. Despite her youth, Rodman enters this camp as an experienced leader relative to the “cumulative experience” of this green squad.

Coach Emma Hayes noted that Rodman has spent her offseason focused on developing her “resiliency and robustness”. While she hasn’t played in months, Hayes confirmed that Rodman is “good to go,” even joking about seeing a video of the winger in a foot race with tennis star boyfriend Ben Shelton recently.

“I have a maternal instinct to be quite protective of her,” Hayes admitted, noting that while Rodman is a veteran relative to this group, she will still be under a strict minutes-management plan as she builds back toward peak match fitness.

Trinity Rodman showing off her six-pack during USWNT vs Mexico Game — Trinity Rodman

The “Free Agent” Intrigue and NWSL Rules

Rodman remains listed as “Unattached” on the official roster, a status that continues to fuel speculation about her club future. Hayes confirmed that discussions regarding Rodman’s free agency are still ongoing, stating, “When Trin has something to say on that, then she will when the time’s right”.

Further complicating her professional status is the NWSL’s new High Impact Player rule, which uses USWNT minutes as a qualification metric. When asked if this would influence her lineup choices, Hayes was firm: “Nothing will change with me and the way that I’m doing things, regardless of any ruling that’s put in place”.

A Youth Movement: The “SoCal 9” and New Faces

With the January camp falling outside a FIFA window, Hayes has bypassed European-based stars to evaluate domestic depth. Notably absent are the stars of NJ/NY Gotham FC, as Hayes clarified that no players from the club were called up while they prepare for the Emirates Champions Cup in London.

Metric	Trinity Rodman	Roster Average (Rest of Squad)
International Caps	47	5.0
International Goals	11	0.77
World Cup Experience	Yes (2023)	No (Excluding Bethune)
2024 Olympic Gold	Yes	No
Pro Status	Free Agent	NWSL Contracted

The result is a roster featuring four players earning their first-senior call-ups: forwards Maddie Dahlien and Reilyn Turner, and midfielders Riley Jackson and Sally Menti. These aren’t just “participation” invites; Hayes emphasized that 2026 is the start of a new “succession planning” era. For standouts like Dahlien and Jackson, this camp is a direct audition for a permanent spot in the 2027 World Cup cycle.

SoCal Roots: The “Home Turf” Advantage

It’s a Southern California homecoming. Nine players, including Trinity Rodman (Laguna Niguel), are returning to the “sun and smog” of their home turf. Joining Rodman in the “SoCal 9” are local stars Tara Rudd (née McKeown), Kate Wiesner, Kennedy Wesley, Lo’eau LaBonta, Gisele Thompson, Jordyn Bugg, Reilyn Turner, and Olivia Moultrie.

The team will train at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson—a venue that has hosted more USWNT matches (21) than any other in the country. They will face Paraguay on Jan. 24 in Carson before heading to Santa Barbara on Jan. 27 to play Chile at Harder Stadium—the program’s first match on the Central Coast since 1991.

Rebuilding the Engine: The Youth Movement

The message is clear: the past is gone. This roster is strikingly green, with an average age of just 24.1 and a cap count of only 6.6 per player. Hayes isn’t just tinkering; she’s rebuilding the engine while the car is moving, having already handed out 27 first-ever caps in just 30 games at the helm.

“My job is to develop more leaders,” Hayes said. “If it’s not for ’27, it will be for ’28 and ’31”. So welcome to the new era, kids. Your tour guide is Trinity Rodman. Try to keep up.