3 things we learned in the USWNT’s 2-0 win over Brazil | OneFootball

On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team played against Brazil in the first meeting since the Summer Olympics.  The two sides met in the Gold Medal game, which saw the Stars and Stripes take home the gold.

This time, the teams were meeting in back-to-back friendlies, with the first one on Saturday and the second on Tuesday.  The USWNT wanted to win to rebound from the SheBelieves Cup loss to Japan in February, their first and only loss under manager Emma Hayes, so the ladies were under pressure to end the California afternoon victorious.

They did, winning 2-0 against a threatening Brazil side that would've scored against most opponents. Superb work in the backline and a fantastic first start for Phallon Tullis-Joyce in goal kept Brazil out.  Then, goals from Trinity Rodman and Lindsey Heaps led the US to the win.

Here are three things we learned from the USWNT’s win over Brazil:

Trinity Rodman is back

After discussing her back injury and how she will have to be a different kind of player, there were not too many expectations with Rodman’s first game back with the USWNT since said injury.

Yet, she started the game and came out on fire, securing the national team’s first goal of the night in the fifth minute.

The winger made a perfect run toward the box, and Alyssa Thompson rewarded her with a perfect pass. Rodman took one touch to collect herself, then with the second poked a right-footed finish past the Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena and into the bottom-right corner, setting off a joyful celebration.

Overall, Rodman was spectacular in almost every aspect of her play.  She continued to attack for all 61 minutes she was on the pitch, and was arguably the most threatening player in the first half.  She was also not afraid to be physical, a really promising sign considering her back issues.  Her runs on the right side of the pitch looked unchanged from what fans are used to.

Rodman’s performance will make not just the USWNT happy, but her club, the Washington Spirit, as well.  This is a promising sign for the forward, and maybe she will play more like her usual self as the season progresses.

Phallon Tullis-Joyce might be the future USWNT No. 1

Apr 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; United States of America goalkeeper Phallon Tallis-Joyce (21) against Brazil at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bailey Holiver-Imagn Images | Bailey Holiver-Imagn Images

As mentioned, Tullis-Joyce made her first start for the USWNT, and the 28-year-old goalkeeper had a great performance.  She was swift with her reactions and was part of the solid defense that kept Brazil from scoring.  The keeper was not fazed by such an event and proved to Hayes and everyone else why she should be considered for future call-ups.

Tullis-Joyce had six saves and was 100% alert whenever Brazil had the ball.  She knew where she had to move in the box during the opposing side’s attacking sequences.  She also stayed on her toes, ready to maneuver from one side to the other on her line.

The goalkeeper’s awareness and ability to recognize what she needed to do highlights why Tullis-Joyce is a starter for Manchester United and how she has turned into a fantastic goalkeeper.  She also proves to older players that one can make their national team debut in their late 20s.

The USWNT highlight USMNT attendance woes

Saturday’s match was the first professional women’s sporting event at SoFi Stadium, and the USWNT and Brazil had plenty of fans in attendance.  Toward the end of the game, it was announced that over 32,000 fans were in the stadium, watching the entertaining friendly.

While SoFi can fit over double that number, it was a very strong showing for a friendly.  And it also was a stark contrast to the U.S. men's national team's visits to SoFi last month, played before a mostly empty seating bowl in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals and third-place game.

The comparison is tricky. On both games, the USMNT was playing the early game in a doubleheader that featured the Mexico men's national team in the late game. And the reality is the Mexico national team is more popular than the USMNT in many parts of the country, including Southern California. Those fans eventually filled the stadium, but many of them arrived after the USMNT had finished.

However, attendance for the USWNT shows that there are plenty of passionate American soccer fans in the area as well, and those fans weren't drawn out for the USMNT a month ago. That's a worrying sign with the 2026 World Cup less than two years away.