Three Rising Stars Earn Their First USWNT Call-Ups

Emma Hayes is opening the door to another group of young players.

With the United States preparing for a pair of October friendlies against reigning World Cup champions Spain, Hayes has named four players who are still searching for their first senior cap: Jordan Silkowitz, Evelyn Shores, Pietra Tordin and Trinity Byars.

The quartet arrives at the USWNT after standout seasons in the NWSL, with each player bringing a different story and profile to a squad that continues to expand its depth ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The U.S. will face Spain on October 10 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., before meeting again on October 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. The matches will be the Americans’ final preparation before the Concacaf W Championship, which will serve as the region’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. 

Perhaps the most difficult player to leave out of this list is Trinity Byars.

The San Diego Wave forward has emerged as one of the most productive young attackers in the NWSL during the 2026 season. By early September, Byars had already reached 10 goals, becoming only the second player in club history to reach double figures in a single season after Alex Morgan.

She also produced one of the league’s most impressive stretches of the year, scoring twice against Racing Louisville before adding another two goals and two assists across her next two matches. That gave her six goal contributions over a two-game span, a feat only five players in NWSL history had accomplished at the time.

Hayes specifically pointed to Byars’ ability to play as a true No. 9. The USWNT head coach praised her combination of stretching defenses with her movement in behind while also being capable of coming toward the ball and combining with teammates.

That profile could make Byars an intriguing option for a national team that has traditionally demanded versatility from its forwards.

Her first senior call-up comes after a strong youth career as well. Byars was part of the U.S. team that finished third at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and has continued progressing through the federation’s pathway.

Now, the 23-year-old has a chance to make the jump to the senior level.

Pietra Tordin has taken a different route to the same destination.

The Portland Thorns forward was already one of the standout American attackers at the youth international level before establishing herself as an NWSL regular. At the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Tordin led the United States with four goals as the team won the bronze medal. 

Her professional career has followed a similar upward trajectory.

After three seasons at Princeton, where she scored 30 goals and earned multiple All-Ivy League honors, Tordin joined Portland ahead of the 2025 season. She made an immediate impact as a rookie and has taken another step forward in 2026. 

Through the 2026 NWSL season, Tordin has recorded seven goals and nine assists in 23 appearances, giving her 16 goal contributions. She has also shown an ability to operate in different attacking roles, something Hayes specifically highlighted when explaining her selection.

“She really has,” Hayes said of Tordin’s season. “She really has been exceptional.”

The coach also pointed to Tordin’s evolution beyond simply playing out wide, noting her ability to contribute as a No. 10.

For Evelyn Shores, the call-up represents recognition for a breakout season with Angel City.

The 21-year-old has become an important part of Angel City’s midfield while also contributing in the final third. Through 24 NWSL appearances in 2026, Shores has recorded three goals and seven assists, while playing nearly 2,000 minutes. 

Her development has also been closely connected to the U.S. youth national-team system.

Shores was part of the U.S. U-20 team that won bronze at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, alongside Tordin, and she continued her progression with the U.S. U-23s in 2026. She was part of the U-23 camp that traveled to Brazil in June to face Corinthians, giving her additional experience against professional opposition.

The fourth name is Jordan Silkowitz, although her situation is slightly different.

The Bay FC goalkeeper has already been called into a USWNT camp before, first receiving a senior call-up in November 2025 and later joining the January 2026 camp. However, she has yet to make her senior debut, meaning the Spain friendlies could potentially become the moment she earns her first cap.

Silkowitz’s rise has been built largely around her performances in the NWSL.

During her 2025 season with Bay FC, she ranked fifth among the league’s goalkeepers in saves, recorded four shutouts and earned four e.l.f. Cosmetics Save of the Week awards. 

Her inclusion also continues a theme in Hayes’ goalkeeping pool: giving younger players opportunities to train around the senior group and compete for future places.

With Alyssa Naeher having moved on from the international program, the goalkeeper position remains one of the areas where the USWNT is developing its next generation.

The four players arrive at an interesting moment for the USWNT.

The 2026 World Cup is already behind the program, and Hayes is now building toward the next cycle while simultaneously preparing for the 2027 World Cup. That has created room for players who have spent years progressing through the youth national teams to finally enter the senior environment.

Byars, Tordin and Shores are getting their first senior call-ups. Silkowitz is looking for her first appearance.

They also represent different stages of the same pathway: youth internationals becoming NWSL contributors, NWSL contributors becoming USWNT prospects, and prospects eventually pushing into the senior team.

Spain will provide the test.

For four players who have spent years working toward this moment, October could be the beginning of a very different chapter.