Ashley Sanchez Recalled as USWNT Tests Offensive Identity

The United States women's national team has recalled attacking midfielder Ashley Sanchez for October friendlies against World Cup champion Spain, as The Guardian first reported. Sanchez, who plays for the North Carolina Courage, has not appeared for the national team since a friendly against Argentina in October 2024.

Sanchez enters the camp as the NWSL's top scorer, having recorded 20 goals in 26 matches. The Guardian reports that Sanchez has set a league record for goals in a season by an American player and is one goal away from breaking the overall scoring record held by Temwa Chawinga. While Sanchez was part of the 2023 Women's World Cup squad, she did not play during that tournament and has recently been sidelined in favor of players such as Croix Bethune, Rose Lavelle, and Jaedyn Shaw.

Sanchez's return coincides with the absence of Shaw, who has earned 17 caps in 2024 and 16 more since the start of 2025, per The Guardian. The recall serves as a test of whether Sanchez's role as the primary scoring threat and facilitator for the Courage can translate to the national team, where coach Emma Hayes already employs several players comfortable with those responsibilities.

Other notable returns in the 26-player squad include Mallory Swanson, who was involved in a June camp but last earned a cap in the 2024 Olympic final, and WSL standouts Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey. Head coach Emma Hayes stated that the camp is focused on reestablishing connections and evaluating players who have not been part of the current cycle.