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The United States Women's National Soccer Team is undergoing a lot of changes.
Still regarded as the top team in the world, coach Emma Hayes is making some major moves in the team lineup.
The triple Espresso scoring attack of Sophia Smith Wilson, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman is no longer in working order, at least for now. Wilson and Swanson are pregnant and will miss most of 2025. Rodman continues to recover from a lingering back injury, which has severely limited her play.
They will have to find a replacement for outstanding longtime goalkeeper Alyssa Naehrer, who retired at the end of 2024. The team has called in three keepers with a combined total of four appearances for the national team.
USWNT all-everything, first million-dollar transfer in women's soccer history, Naomi Gimma, will play in the national team friendly against Jamaica. Gimma is considered the best defender in the game.
Forward Catrina Macario is also on the roster after missing 2023 and the 2024 Olympics because of a knee injury. She has scored twice this season already for the national team.
The U.S. women will be taking on China at Alliance Field in a friendly on Saturday.
Captain Lindsay Horan Heaps, who was married in December, is back playing. She has had 165 national team appearances.
Maddie Dahlien, starter for the Seattle Reign as a rookie in the National Women's Soccer League, is playing with the U.S. U-23 team to gain experience before coming to the USWNT.
The U-23 squad has a number of players who have been with the USWNT roster. It will play two games in Germany against its U-23 national team. Hayes said it will give younger players meaningful experience.
Vent stands out
Hollidaysburg Area High School senior standout Bella Vent, who had a banner year in soccer, also went on to record an incredible basketball season.
As a result, she was named Altoona Mirror Senior Female Athlete of the Year.
Vent helped lead Hollidaysburg to a District 6 Class 3A soccer championship with a team-high 22 goals, adding eight assists, and finishing with 52 points. She was an Altoona Mirror soccer first-team all-star as a junior and senior and was Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference East honorable mention in soccer.
Vent went on to be a first-team Altoona Mirror all-star in basketball after being the player of the year her junior year. She was also a third-team Class 5A all-state selection. She has chosen to pursue her basketball career at Indiana University of Pa. in the fall.
Energy update
The FC 814 girls U-17 Team Energy, the only team playing at the United States Youth Soccer Premier 1 level out of our area, finished second in the conference with a 6-1-1 record.
The Energy won its bracket at the Blue Chip Showcase going, 2-1. Its premier competition consisted of teams from PA West, Minnesota, Indiana and four other teams scattered throughout Ohio.
The Energy traveled to the PDA Showcase over the Memorial Day weekend and will head to the USYS Eastern Regionals in Louden, Va. at the end of June.
Tom Schmitt writes a monthly soccer column for the Mirror.