The United States Under-23 Women’s National Team has announced its roster for the October 2026 international window, and the group includes several players already familiar to USWNT supporters.
Head coach Heather Dyche has selected 24 players, all from the NWSL, for a training camp running from October 5 through October 13 at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Among the most notable names are Jaedyn Shaw and Ally Sentnor, two players who have already earned senior USWNT caps.
The U-23 group will also train alongside Emma Hayes’ senior team during the week before remaining in Georgia for two matches against the Dominican Republic U-23 Women’s National Team.
That makes this more than a routine youth-team camp.
USWNT U-23 roster 2026
Here is the complete 24-player roster announced by U.S. Soccer.
Goalkeepers
Angelina Anderson — Angel City FC
Teagan Wy — Gotham FC
Defenders
Jordyn Bugg — Seattle Reign FC
Carolyn Calzada — Portland Thorns FC
Kate Del Fava — Utah Royals FC
Heather Gilchrist — Bay FC
Savy King — Angel City FC
Leah Klenke — Houston Dash
Ayo Oke — Denver Summit FC
Jayden Perry — Portland Thorns FC
Midfielders
Kimmi Ascanio — San Diego Wave FC
Gia Corley — San Diego Wave FC
Riley Jackson — North Carolina Courage
Ally Lemos — Orlando Pride
Ally Sentnor — Angel City FC
Jaedyn Shaw — Gotham FC
Forwards
Melanie Barcenas — San Diego Wave FC
Maddie Dahlien — Seattle Reign FC
Jordynn Dudley — Gotham FC
Mia Fishel — Seattle Reign FC
Caiya Hanks — Portland Thorns FC
Jameese Joseph — Utah Royals FC
Karlie Lema — Bay FC
Kat Rader — Houston Dash
Why are Jaedyn Shaw and Ally Sentnor with the U-23 team?
This is one of the biggest questions surrounding the roster.
Shaw and Sentnor have both recently been part of the senior USWNT setup. Shaw has 37 senior caps, while Sentnor has 23, according to U.S. Soccer.
Emma Hayes explained that the decision is part of the federation’s player-development approach.
Rather than having less-experienced players regularly sit on the senior-team bench, Hayes said she wants players to receive meaningful minutes and continue developing.
Hayes specifically said Shaw and Sentnor remain important to the USWNT plans, while their U-23 assignment is intended to support their development.
That distinction is important.
Being named to the U-23 roster does not mean Shaw or Sentnor have been permanently removed from the senior-team picture.
Instead, the two players will have another opportunity to play, train and remain under observation during the same international window.
The U-23 team is entirely made up of NWSL players
One of the most interesting details about the October roster is that all 24 players are currently playing in the NWSL.
That provides a useful look at America’s professional player-development pathway.
Seven players are in their first NWSL seasons, including Ayo Oke, Teagan Wy, Carolyn Calzada, Heather Gilchrist, Leah Klenke, Jordynn Dudley and Kat Rader. Several other players are entering their second or third professional seasons.
The group therefore mixes established young professionals with players who are still building their experience at the top domestic level.
Which U-23 players already have USWNT experience?
There are eight players on the roster with senior USWNT caps:
Jaedyn Shaw, Ally Sentnor, Jordyn Bugg, Jameese Joseph, Maddie Dahlien, Mia Fishel, Riley Jackson and Ayo Oke.
U.S. Soccer also reports that 10 players on the roster have trained with the senior USWNT.
That makes the October camp particularly interesting for fans tracking players who could move between the U-23 and senior teams during the coming cycle.
When does the USWNT U-23 team play?
The U-23 team will play the Dominican Republic U-23 Women’s National Team twice.
USA U-23 vs Dominican Republic U-23
October 9, 2026 — 5:30 p.m. ET
USA U-23 vs Dominican Republic U-23
October 13, 2026 — 12:00 p.m. ET
Both matches will be played at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Meanwhile, the senior USWNT will travel to face Spain twice during the same window.
Young NWSL players to watch
There are several players whose club form makes this roster particularly interesting.
Kat Rader enters camp after scoring 10 NWSL goals as a rookie, according to U.S. Soccer. Jaedyn Shaw has nine goals, Karlie Lema has seven and Melanie Barcenas has six. Fourteen players on the roster have scored in the 2026 NWSL season.
Rader and Jordynn Dudley are also identified by U.S. Soccer among the leading candidates for the 2026 NWSL Rookie of the Year award.
Caiya Hanks is another interesting name after returning to the Portland Thorns following an ACL injury and scoring a stoppage-time winner against the Orlando Pride in August.
What this roster tells us about the USWNT pipeline
The October U-23 roster gives fans a useful snapshot of the players sitting just outside—or moving between—the senior national-team picture.
The most important feature may be the connection between the two squads.
The U-23 players will train alongside the senior USWNT at the same national training center, allowing the coaching staff to work with a larger group during the international window.
For players such as Shaw and Sentnor, that creates an unusual situation: they are not traveling with the senior team to Spain, but they remain inside the national-team environment.
As the United States continues preparing its player pool for the years ahead, the U-23 program could become increasingly important for identifying which NWSL performers are ready for the next step.
Final takeaway
The 2026 USWNT U-23 roster is packed with NWSL talent, including eight players with senior-team experience.
Jaedyn Shaw and Ally Sentnor are the headline names, but the roster also contains emerging players such as Kat Rader, Jordynn Dudley, Melanie Barcenas and Caiya Hanks.
With two matches against the Dominican Republic U-23 team and training alongside Emma Hayes’ senior squad, the October camp gives these players an important stage during a busy part of the international calendar.
FAQ
Who is on the USWNT U-23 roster in 2026?
The October 2026 USWNT U-23 roster contains 24 NWSL players, including Jaedyn Shaw, Ally Sentnor, Savy King, Kat Rader, Melanie Barcenas and Mia Fishel.
Is Jaedyn Shaw on the USWNT U-23 team?
Yes. Jaedyn Shaw is included in the October 2026 U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team roster.
Is Ally Sentnor on the U-23 USWNT roster?
Yes. Ally Sentnor is included among the six midfielders on the October roster.
Who will the U.S. U-23 women’s team play in October 2026?
The U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team will play the Dominican Republic U-23 Women’s National Team on October 9 and October 13, 2026.
Are all USWNT U-23 players from the NWSL?
Yes. U.S. Soccer’s October 2026 roster consists entirely of NWSL players.