Lindsey Heaps leads USWNT to SheBelieves Cup win, Trinity Rodman injured in final minutesMelanie Anzidei and Tamerra GriffinMon, March 2, 2026 at 1:01 AM UTC·6 min readNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. women’s national team began its 11th SheBelieves Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Argentina, marked by goals from Lindsey Heaps in the 19th minute and Jaedyn Shaw in the 56th minute. It was the third straight victory for the U.S. after wins against Chile and Paraguay in January.
Though the score line was positive, two crucial USWNT players suffered injuries. Defender Lilly Reale’s second-half appearance was cut short after a tough tackle with an Argentinean player. Then, in stoppage time, forward Trinity Rodman went to the ground in pain and grabbed her back after challenging for the ball. Both players were later seen walking on their own on the sideline.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere were no debuts in the match, something head coach Emma Hayes had given plenty of in her short tenure, but she did mix up the lineup and shape in both halves.
Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey earned her seventh shutout for the USWNT, with three saves to preserve it. The match also featured the return of sisters Gisele and Alyssa Thompson for the first time on the national team since the last SheBelieves Cup. Gisele, the 20-year-old Angel City defender, earned a starting spot and played the entire match, while Alyssa, 21, subbed on in the 75th minute.
On Wednesday, the USWNT will meet Canada in Columbus, Ohio. Their northern rivals, currently ranked tenth in the world by FIFA, faced off against Colombia earlier on Sunday in Nashville, beating them 4-1 in their first victory since June 2025.
Trying new things
Hayes, clad in a bespoke hat from a local dealer for the game, employed an equally unique starting XI in the USWNT’s third international friendly of the year.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDickey, currently the most-capped goalkeeper of the three selected to this camp, earned a start, with center backs Tara Rudd and Kennedy Wesley in front of her. Gisele Thompson and Maddie Dahlien held down the defensive flanks, with Dahlien, a natural forward who plays for the Seattle Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), instructed to play as a wingback on the left and exploit space in the attack.
The second half began with only two changes to the lineup — Reale on for Dahlien, and midfielder Claire Hutton on for striker Jameese Joseph — and a slightly different shape for the U.S. Hutton slotted into the No. 6 position rather than the double pivot previously shared between Heaps and Lily Yohannes. Shaw and Emma Sears became the two forwards.
Amidst all the changes, Gisele Thompson’s performance was distinct. The younger of the two sisters was unbeatable in one-on-one duels in the first half, and added value to the U.S. attack in the second with her speed and technical ability on the right flank.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHeaps adds consistency with a goal and assist
U.S. captain Lindsey Heaps opened the scoring in the 19th minute, after Joseph won the ball at the top of their attacking third. The Chicago Stars forward, carrying her impressive form from January camp, passed the ball to Emma Sears, who cut the ball back after seeing Heaps open in the distance. The midfielder used her left foot to cleanly deliver the ball into the back of the net.
This was an important moment for the U.S., as the team struggled to find opportunities on net in the first half. “We’ve got to keep finding that right now, because we’re not having enough of it,” Heaps said during her halftime interview on TNT Sports. It was Heaps again in the second half who contributed to their second goal of the night.
Heaps, who played a full 90 minutes, continued her dominant form with a nifty back pass to Shaw in the 56th minute, who drove into an open space before tallying her 10th career goal with the U.S. This build-up also started with a cutback pass to Heaps, this time from Olivia Moultrie.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt was a promising evening for the veteran U.S. captain, who is set to make her return to the United States and NWSL later this year when she begins her journey with Denver Summit.
Not all good news for the U.S.
Both Reale and Rodman are typical starters for the U.S. when healthy. However, with an aim to switching things around, Hayes had both players on the bench to start the game. Both ended up playing less than 45 minutes.
The 2025 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Reale, entered the match at the start of the second half, but the 22-year-old was in visible discomfort when being evaluated by U.S. staff on the pitch following a tackle. She appeared injure her right foot as she tumbled to the ground. By the 62nd minute, she was subbed off.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA lasting injury would be devastating for the young defender, as she has been consistent both in the NWSL and on national team stage. For her club, Gotham FC, it would be a devastating blow to the reigning NWSL champions backline – although the club on Sunday announced the long-awaited return of center back Tierna Davidson. Reale filled a massive hole left behind at Gotham after Davidson suffered a season-ending knee injury in April last year. Her standout rookie season has made her a regular in Juan Carlos Amoros’ rotation, with their season opener in Boston just two weeks away.
Another concerning moment came in stoppage time, when an Argentinean player appeared to make contact with Rodman near her lower back during a tackle. Rodman fell to the ground with her screams audible on the match broadcast. The 23-year-old, fresh off a record contract with the Washington Spirit, was finally healthy, after spending most of 2025 recovering from a lingering back issue that has plagued her since her rookie season. A subsequent knee injury delayed her return to the pitch in the fall, but she made her return to the national team in January, representing a fresh start for the star. Rodman was seen on her feet on the sideline after a scary several minutes on the ground.
It’s unclear whether Reale or Rodman’s injury would limit their time on the pitch for the remainder of the SheBelieves Cup, or if they’ll remain in camp. Every team in the tournament was allowed to call up 26 players, with 23 dressing for each game.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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