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Emma Hayes didn't mince her words when it came to her approach for the upcoming USWNT April camp and the team's pair of friendlies against Brazil."I'm going to be really tough on them," the U.S. coach promised.And that would make sense. This is a perfectionist manager who, after going unbeaten in her first 17 matches in charge of the USWNT - including a gold medal at the Paris Olympics - watched that streak come to end in February in a<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/uswnt-player-ratings-vs-japan-disbelief-sloppy-defending-dooms-emma-hayes-to-first-loss-failed-attempt-at-8th-shebelieves-cup/blt84107b7cc8e7a069" target="_blank"> 2-1 loss to Japan in the final of the SheBelieves Cup</a>. <script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>The U.S. are back with a stronger squad - <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/trinity-rodman-s-return-highlight-emma-hayes-uswnt-squad-for-april-friendlies-vs-brazil-with-sophia-wilscon-mallary-swanson-and-naomi-girma-all-out/blt865676f3bcda5e76" target="_blank">the 24-player roster was announced Tuesday</a> - and the two friendlies against Brazil will certainly test their mettle. While the team won't be fully in "Triple Espresso" mode - neither Sophia Wilson or Mallory Swanson are in this lineup - the return of star winger Trinity Rodman to the fold, alongside an energized manager, would seem to have given this group a valuable boost. GOAL&nbsp;takes a look at the five big takeaways from Hayes' squad selection for the April camp.

'Absolutely not going to compromise' - Trinity Rodman returns, Emma Hayes promises 'hard camp' and five key takeaways from the USWNT's April roster reveal

Friendlies

Brazil

Rodman was named to the squad for the first time since the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 22-year-old has been dealing with back injuries since the tournament, and even began the start of the 2025 NWSL season on the sideline. However, she's played in consecutive matches off the bench for the Washington Spirit, and is now ready to make her return for the USWNT.Still, she will be handled with care. Hayes was quick to point out that Rodman's back injury could easily be aggravated. She declined to commit to any specific playing time for Rodman - or guarantee that the exciting winger would even start."She's had an ongoing back complaint," Hayes said in a news conference Tuesday. "And she's on the right road to that, but it can be easy to trigger it... So I have to try and find the sweet spot in camp to reintegrate her back into the team and also manage her because she has a long season ahead."Any display would seem to help. In 45 appearances, she has 10 goals and nine assists for the U.S.

Rodman's return

Part of the interest surrounding Rodman's return stems from gaps in attacking talent. Wilson will miss this camp <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/portland-thorns-fc-uswnt-star-sophia-wilson-posts-on-social-media-announcing-pregnancy/bltb1dbcddd905af75f" target="_blank">after announcing her pregnancy</a> and Swanson is on the sidelines to start the NWSL season, so Hayes will be looking for options through the middle. She admitted as much, and outlined that she might experiment."Cat Macario, holds the ball up extremely well - like Ashley Hatch. They can hold it, they can link," Hayes said. "They can allow others to join the play... they both have good finishing qualities and bring something to the team that allows others to join in."Two players who scored their first USWNT goals during SheBelieves Cup earned return engagements in forwards Ally Sentnor, the 2024 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year who scored twice in that tournament, and Michelle Cooper.The manager highlighted Sentnor, who impressed during her chance in SheBelieves Cup, saying "Someone like Ally Sentor can play as a 10 and a nine. If you look beyond that, there is a lack of experience of No. 9s that are coming through the program... we have to build some experiences with them."<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/sam-kerr-mia-fishel-included-chelsea-squad-winter-training-camp-portugal-recovery-acl-injuries/blt85545591ec6bf418" target="_blank">There is also the notable return of Mia Fishel</a>, who recently saw the field again for Chelsea after recovering from a long term knee injury. Fishel is planning on training with senior team, and then will scrimmage with U23s. Hayes pointed out she could be in the long-term plans, saying "Hopefully someone we can build back into the picture."

Developing a No. 9

There are very few obvious holes in the USWNT setup. But Hayes does have a concern at fullback. She has plenty of agreeable options, but no locked in starters. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/arsenal-and-uswnt-star-emily-fox-opens-up-amazing-olympic-campaign-after-gold-medal-win/blt33e2d9d9dc4e9325" target="_blank">Emily Fox, perhaps, is the closest thing</a>. But Crystal Dunn and Avery Patterson will be among those who can get a look."One of the areas that we feel is going to be quite experimental is the fullback spaces, because we've got Emily Fox," Hayes said. "But what I don't know is who else can do that."Patterson could be considered to play on the left."We've seen Avery Patterson both in January and in the start she made for Houston, which I think has been a really, really good one. She can play left back and right back. But she'll be competing as a left back in the squad for the upcoming camp," Hayes said.Since Alyssa Naeher’s retirement from the international game, questions have surrounded who would succeed the U.S. women’s national team’s longtime goalkeeper.&nbsp;The 2025 SheBelieves Cup was the first step toward providing some answers, as Jane Campbell and Mandy McGlynn received the call.Those two will be back for the Brazil matches, along with Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who returns to the roster after serving as a training player during the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. Hayes previously outlined <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/make-the-important-decisions-under-pressure-emma-hayes-outlines-expectations-as-goalkeeper-spot-remains-a-question-mark-for-uswnt-after-shebelieves-cup/blt3c3d89e2a2a0f23d" target="_self">what she's looking for at the position</a>, saying make good choices while under pressure is paramount.&nbsp;"I think for all the goalkeepers competing, they have to demonstrate they can make the important decisions under pressure on both sides of the ball," Hayes said after the SheBelieves Cup. "Of course [show] the qualities unique to play in goal for this team means that more often than not you've got to be absolutely ready to make a significant, big save in every game. You've got to be good with your decision making and execution in the deepest spaces to help the team progress up the pitch."

Fullbacks and goalkeeper

Hayes made headlines in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/uswnt-futures-camp-squad-emma-hayes-gisele-thompson-lexi-missimo-kate-faasse/bltfd218b797972c7e5" target="_blank">January when she announced the USWNT Futures Camp</a>, a window to run concurrently with the senior side and feature players that are availble for the U.S. U23 side. She mentioned, at the time, that the U23s could be a valuable opportunity for young talents to embed themselves within the U.S. program, and work their way into the senior side.One of the key omissions from the senior set up this time around is Angel City's Gisele Thompson, who was a part of the February SheBelieves Cup roster. Hayes said she will take part with the U23s this camp, but is very much in her plans long term."We thought she did really well, but we want to see her in the 23 program," Hayes said.

The U23 program continues

More broadly, though, Hayes promised that she will be challenging the team in this window. The USWNT under-delivered in the SheBelieves Cup, outplayed <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/we-ll-be-back-uswnt-coach-emma-hayes-both-disappointed-defiant-winners-and-losers-as-japan-win-shebelieves-cup/blt49d073064dd1a509" target="_blank">in a 2-1 loss to Japan in a competition they were expected to win</a>. Although these fixtures don't necessarily count for anything, Hayes admitted that she will be hard on the group."I think it's going to be a hard camp, two really, really tough games, and it's going to be one for sure where I'm really tough on them," she said. "And I'm looking forward to how the team react after a loss. There are things that I'm going to want to see from the team that I'm absolutely not going to compromise on."

Pressure to perform

'Absolutely not going to compromise' - Trinity Rodman returns, Emma Hayes promises 'hard camp' and five key takeaways from the USWNT's April roster reveal | Goal.com

In the first camp since the U.S. fell to Japan in SheBelieves Cup, Hayes is &apos;looking forward to how the team react after a loss&apos;

&apos;Absolutely not going to compromise&apos; - Trinity Rodman returns, Emma Hayes promises &apos;hard camp&apos; and five key takeaways from the USWNT&apos;s April roster reveal

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