USWNT opens 2026 with a 6–0 rout of Paraguay in Carson, California

A fast start to a new year

The U.S. Women’s National Team kicked off its 2026 season with an emphatic 6–0 victory over Paraguay in a friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The match served as an early-year tune-up and an evaluation window, giving several newer players significant minutes while the team continues shaping its depth chart.

The U.S. controlled the overall rhythm, limiting Paraguay’s chances and keeping the ball for long stretches. The opening period featured sustained pressure, with the Americans probing for gaps and forcing Paraguay to defend deep. The breakthrough arrived late in the first half when Reilyn Turner scored on her debut, sending the U.S. into the break with a lead that felt smaller than the run of play suggested.

Second-half burst turns a lead into a rout

After halftime, the U.S. offense accelerated. Ally Sentnor scored twice as the match opened up, and the Americans capitalized on defensive mistakes, including an own goal. Trinity Rodman, returning from injury, also found the net and wore the captain’s armband, an added signal of her growing leadership role. Additional goals from Emma Sears and others completed the six-goal margin.

From a tactical standpoint, the U.S. benefited from quick switches of play and aggressive pressing that forced turnovers in favorable areas. With sustained territorial advantage, the Americans created repeated looks in the box and turned a manageable lead into a scoreline that reflected dominance in chances, possession, and tempo.

What the performance suggests

For head coach Emma Hayes, matches like this are about building a larger pool and testing combinations. Turner’s debut goal and Sentnor’s finishing provided immediate returns, while Rodman’s return offered a reminder of the threat she adds in transition. The U.S. will continue its camp schedule with the next friendly on the calendar, using these games to identify which newer players can carry responsibility against stronger opponents later in the year.

Even in a one-sided friendly, the main takeaway was breadth: the U.S. scored multiple ways, defended with intensity, and produced impact from players still carving out their roles. That mix of experimentation and ruthlessness is often exactly what coaching staffs want from the first match of a new season.