The next great U.S. women’s national team is already taking shape, even if the final picture remains blurry. Emma Hayes has spent much of the current cycle widening the player pool, testing combinations and giving young players meaningful international minutes.
The most interesting USWNT future stars to watch are not all at the same stage. Some are already starting senior matches. Others are moving between the under-23s, youth national teams and professional clubs.
Why the next USWNT generation looks different
The traditional college-to-pro pathway still matters, but it is no longer the only route into the women’s national team USA setup. More American players are turning professional as teenagers and competing against experienced adults every week.
Hayes has also made depth-building central to her work. U.S. Soccer reported that she gave 44 players senior caps during 2025, the most by any coach in a single year in program history. Not every debutant will become a regular, but the USWNT future roster is being evaluated through a wider lens.
Young players already moving toward the core
Lily Yohannes
Lily Yohannes may be the clearest example of a player whose “future star” label is quickly becoming outdated. The midfielder already has meaningful senior experience and plays in a demanding European environment. She receives in crowded areas, turns away from pressure and sees forward passes before defensive lines can reset.
Yohannes can operate as a deeper connector or an advanced playmaker. The main question is no longer whether she belongs at this level, but which role will allow her influence to grow.
Claire Hutton
Claire Hutton offers a different midfield profile. She covers space intelligently, protects the structure and gives teammates a reliable passing option. In April 2026, she became one of the youngest players to captain a USWNT starting lineup, showing how highly the staff values her understanding and temperament.
Among the current group of USWNT young players, Hutton looks especially suited to tournament soccer. She can control transitions and maintain balance when matches become stretched.
Gisele Thompson
Modern fullbacks must defend wide spaces, support buildup and create attacking width. Gisele Thompson has the athleticism and technical confidence to handle all three responsibilities.
Thompson can operate as a traditional fullback, push higher as a wingback or move inside during possession. That flexibility could make her a major part of the next USWNT cycle.
The next wave pushing for regular senior minutes
Riley Jackson
Riley Jackson has progressed through the youth and under-23 pathway as a technically secure midfielder who rarely looks hurried. She was part of the United States team that finished third at the 2024 Under-20 Women’s World Cup and earned her first senior cap in early 2026.
Jackson can connect short combinations, escape pressure and help establish rhythm. Consistent professional minutes could make her a dependable possession midfielder.
Jordyn Bugg
Jordyn Bugg is one of the most compelling young defensive prospects in the pool. She combines mobility with comfort on the ball, two qualities needed in a team that asks its center backs to defend large spaces and begin attacks.
Bugg already has professional and senior international exposure, but defenders often need time to master positioning and risk management. The tools are present for her to become an important center-back option after the current World Cup cycle.
Maddie Dahlien
Maddie Dahlien brings directness. She attacks space, carries the ball at speed and can disrupt a defense before it becomes organized. Her performances at the 2024 Under-20 World Cup helped the United States secure third place, and her professional form later earned senior opportunities.
Competition among American forwards is intense, so production will matter. Dahlien must keep improving her finishing and final-third decisions, but her willingness to run behind defenders gives the national team a useful weapon.
Under-20 talents who could shape the following cycle
Kennedy Fuller
Kennedy Fuller is an attacking midfielder with the imagination to unlock compact defenses. She has been a central figure for the U.S. Under-20 team, contributing goals and assists while also wearing the captain’s armband. Her ability to find space between the lines makes her one of the most natural creators in the younger age groups.
The senior game will demand quicker decisions and greater defensive consistency, but Fuller is learning those lessons in the NWSL. A steady progression could position her for a major role once the current senior midfield begins to turn over.
Ainsley McCammon and Kimmi Ascanio
Ainsley McCammon and Kimmi Ascanio represent the value of early professional experience. McCammon is a progressive midfielder who can break lines with passing, while Ascanio is comfortable receiving in tight attacking spaces. Both earned bronze with the United States at the 2024 Under-17 Women’s World Cup and remained involved in the 2026 Under-20 program.
Neither is a finished product. Their appeal is the technical level they are developing before reaching their twenties. By the post-2027 cycle, that experience could make the jump to senior international soccer less intimidating.
What will decide who becomes a genuine USWNT star?
Talent alone will not determine the next generation. Regular club minutes, physical durability and the ability to perform multiple tactical roles will be crucial. Hayes values players who can absorb detailed instructions and solve problems during matches rather than relying only on individual strengths.
Timing matters too. Some prospects will surge quickly, while others may need a move, a positional change or a healthy season. The depth of the American pool means a highly rated teenager can return two years later as a far more complete player.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best USWNT future star to watch?
Lily Yohannes is the most advanced young candidate because she already has senior experience and high-level European club exposure. Claire Hutton is another strong choice because her midfield intelligence and leadership could make her a long-term starter.
Which young defender could become a USWNT regular?
Gisele Thompson is already building a senior role at fullback, while Jordyn Bugg has the profile to develop into a central-defensive regular.
Which U.S. youth player has the most creative potential?
Kennedy Fuller stands out as a creative attacking midfielder. Her movement between lines and final pass make her a prospect worth following through the Under-20 pathway.
Will all these players make the next World Cup roster?
No. Some may be ready for the 2027 tournament, while others are more realistic candidates for the cycle afterward. Injuries, club form, tactical needs and competition for places will influence selection.
A deeper future, not just a new starting eleven
The strongest sign for the United States is not that one young player looks ready to become a superstar. It is that several pathways are producing players with distinct skills. Yohannes and Hutton could shape midfield control, Thompson and Bugg may modernize the back line, and the younger attacking group offers creativity and speed.
The next version of the USWNT will emerge through camps, club seasons, youth tournaments and difficult selection decisions. That gradual competition is exactly why these future stars are worth watching now.
