Sophia Wilson, forward for the United States women’s national team, is nearing full fitness and may participate in all three forthcoming matches against Japan, according to head coach Emma Hayes on Friday.
“I know she’s taking it one day at a time and ensuring she remains as focused as possible, but she appears to have seamlessly returned,” Hayes remarked about Wilson during a press conference.
Wilson was absent for the entirety of 2025 due to maternity leave following the birth of her daughter, Gianna “Gigi,” in September. She has featured in all five matches for the Portland Thorns in the current NWSL season, starting the last two and completing the full 90 minutes on Saturday.
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“I’m trying to approach it with — I always have, but I think more than ever — a goldfish mentality and it’s just [to] be present in whatever practice or whatever game I’m in, and it’s on to the next,” Wilson stated last week. “Take what I need and what I want to learn from and leave the rest behind.”
Wilson’s return to training with the USWNT coincides with defender Tierna Davidson’s first camp with the team in over a year following her ACL injury.
Davidson has seen limited action in four matches, all as a substitute, for Gotham FC in the current NWSL season. Hayes indicated that Wilson is “further ahead” in her recovery than Davidson, and the intention is for Davidson to come off the bench during this series against Japan, barring any injuries.
“I think for Tierna, I’ve spoken with her: She’s a little bit further behind, but she does need to increase her minutes at this stage,” Hayes noted. “I believe she’s been training consistently at club for a while, and her next step is to gain more regular playing time.”
Both Wilson and Davidson played crucial roles in the USWNT’s gold medal victory at the 2024 Olympics. Wilson netted three goals while starting all six matches, and Davidson was a starter in four of those games, including the semifinal and final.
Hayes recently emphasized that “it’s really important for us to start getting these players like Soph back into a rhythm in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers” scheduled for November.
play1:05Sophia Wilson, Tierna Davidson are back with the USWNT
Jeff Kassouf reports on Sophia Wilson and Tierna Davidson being back with the United States Women’s National Team.
The USWNT is set to face Japan on Saturday in San Jose, California, followed by a rematch on Tuesday in Seattle and a third encounter on April 17 near Denver.
Japan enters this three-match series after recently securing the AFC Asian Cup title last month, but will be without Nils Nielsen, the coach who led the team throughout the tournament. The Japan Football Association parted ways with Nielsen following the tournament.
The last encounter between Japan and the United States occurred in February 2025, where Japan won 2-1 against a less experienced U.S. squad to claim that year’s SheBelieves Cup. Hayes, who mentioned she has “always been like a secret fan of” Japan’s style of play throughout her career, stated that her team has made notable advancements since that match.
Hayes indicated that she will utilize two different lineups in the first two games, while her strategy for the third game remains undecided. No player will start more than two matches, she confirmed. The USWNT coach added that training has been “intense” and swift with all her players now in season.
“We are prepared for the unexpected,” Hayes stated. “But we also recognize we are competing against a world-class team.
“To disrupt their style of play, you must be intentional at the right moments, and unlike the last time we faced them, maintaining possession is crucial. If we fail to keep the ball, it will be a challenging match. And if we do not make the right choices to dominate and control, we will not be able to influence the game in the manner we desire.”
