The world No. 1 U.S. Women’s National Team made a strong statement on Thursday, cruising to a 4–0 victory over the No. 25-ranked Republic of Ireland in the first of two friendly matchups this week.
Veteran midfielder Rose Lavelle led the charge in her 2025 debut, scoring a goal and providing an assist. She was joined on the scoresheet by Avery Patterson, Sam Coffey, and Alyssa Thompson, as the U.S. controlled the game from start to finish.
Despite fielding a relatively young and evolving lineup, the USWNT took command early, dominating 68% of possession and preventing Ireland from registering even a single shot on goal.
The match also marked a milestone for several emerging players: Lilly Reale, Jordyn Bugg, and Claudia Dickey all earned their first senior caps, contributing confidently to the team’s clean sheet.
With head coach Emma Hayes still evaluating her player pool, the team continues to deliver consistent results on the pitch.
“Being able to trust my teammates around me, trusting Emma — she’s helped me a lot,” said Thompson after the match. “Just the coaching staff in general, I feel like I’ve learned so much.”
The USWNT will face Ireland again this Sunday as they look to continue building chemistry and momentum heading deeper into the 2025 season.
