USWNT stock watch: As 2027 World Cup pool expands, Alyssa Thompson and Claire Hutton step up

Here's who helped themselves and who didn't after the April friendlies vs. Brazil

Two friendly games in April for the United States women's national team didn't go exactly as planned, but those 180 minutes sure are valuable for this team's high-ceiling future for many reasons. Manager Emma Hayes and the group settled for a 2-1 loss on Tuesday, where the United States conceded a late-game goal in stoppage time. The coaching staff opted to get more looks with familiar tactics over the two games, and with a less experienced lineup in the second friendly, the high-pressure scenarios exposed the lack of experience throughout the match.

The duo of matches were utilized as part of a longer evaluation process for Hayes and the staff in a long build-up to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. Ahead of the game on Tuesday, Hayes hinted at the possibility of the USWNT program heading to Brazil next year for elevated team experiences ahead of the global tournament that the country will host. After the game, the head coach was as clear as ever -- matches in 2025 will remain a focal point of processes instead of flat-out wins and losses.

"It's been a really good camp. We mustn't always measure progress by outcome," Hayes said. "If I only prioritized short-term success, of course, I wouldn't make that many changes. But I'm not making decisions for the short-term; I'm prioritizing the progress from expanding the playing pool to getting to see what these players look like in a really difficult match."