NWSL-Sears Earns USWNT Call-Up for 2026 SheBelieves Cup
- Jonathan Turner
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Racing Louisville FC forward Emma Sears has been called up to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2026 SheBelieves Cup.
The United States will face Argentina on March 1 in Nashville, Tennessee (5 p.m. ET), Canada on March 4 in Columbus, Ohio (6:30 p.m. ET) and Colombia on March 7 in Harrison, New Jersey (3:30 p.m. ET).
Sears has earned 14 caps and scored six goals for the USWNT. During the team’s January camp, she scored in back-to-back matches against Paraguay and Chile. She also recorded a hat trick against New Zealand in October.
Sears, who turns 25 on Monday, was the highest-scoring American in the National Women’s Soccer League last season with 10 goals, setting a Racing Louisville single-season record. She helped lead Louisville to its first NWSL playoff berth.
“The SheBelieves Cup is a fantastic tournament which gives us the opportunity to replicate the group stage of a FIFA tournament,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said in a release. “Three quality games in quick succession also allow us to replicate conditions that will prepare us for the World Cup qualifying campaign this fall. As always, we want to keep developing our player pool to be more and more prepared. As we gain more experience, I expect our standards to keep improving.”
The 2026 edition marks the 11th SheBelieves Cup, held annually since 2016. The United States has won seven of the previous 11 tournaments, including five straight titles from 2020-24. Japan won the 2025 tournament.
Sears was also part of last year’s SheBelieves Cup roster. She started and played 62 minutes against Australia, her only appearance of the tournament.
The Columbus match could serve as a homecoming for Sears, who is from Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. She also played collegiately at Ohio State. The U.S. will face Canada at Lower.com Field on March 4.
The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with the team earning the most points crowned champion. Teams receive three points for a win. Matches ending in a draw will go to a penalty shootout, with the winner earning two points and the loser receiving one.
The first two U.S. matches will air on TNT and truTV, while the match against Colombia will air on TBS and truTV. All three games will stream on Max in English. Spanish-language coverage will air on Universo, with streaming available on Peacock.
All three matches will also be broadcast on radio in English on Westwood One and in Spanish on Fútbol de Primera.
U.S. Women’s National Team 2026 SheBelieves Cup Roster (Club; Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 7), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 5), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United; 4)
Defenders (9): Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign FC; 6/0), Emily Fox (Arsenal; 71/1), Naomi Girma (Chelsea; 50/2), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC; 6/0), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit; 10/0), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 113/2), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 5/0), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC; 3/0), Kate Wiesner (Washington Spirit; 3/0)
Midfielders (8): Sam Coffey (Manchester City; 42/5), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes; 170/38), Claire Hutton (Bay FC; 13/1), Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage; 1/0), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 116/27), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 13/5), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC; 31/9), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes; 13/1)
Forwards (6): Maddie Dahlien (Seattle Reign FC; 2/0), Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars FC; 2/1), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 49/13), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 14/6), Ally Sentnor (Kansas City Current; 15/6), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea; 26/3)** --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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