USWNT vs Paraguay score: Rodman’s captaincy debut and a youth-led 6–0 win sets the tone for 2026

The U.S. women’s national team didn’t just open 2026 with a win — it opened with a statement about who this year is for. A heavily rotated, January-camp group leaned into speed, pressure, and second-half ruthlessness to beat Paraguay 6–0 in Carson, California, with Trinity Rodman wearing the armband for the first time and a new wave of attackers turning a cautious first half into a flood. For fans tracking the post-Olympic evolution under Emma Hayes, the clearest takeaway was simple: the next core is arriving on schedule.

A night for new names — with Rodman setting the edge

The headline figures were familiar, but the feel was not. Rodman’s return and first match as captain carried the spotlight, yet the game’s tone was shaped by players fighting for future roster gravity. The U.S. spent long spells camped in Paraguay’s half, probing without panic, and then came out of halftime as if someone flipped a switch: faster ball movement, earlier runs, and more shots taken before the defense could reset.

Rodman’s influence showed up in the places captains matter most in transition — when the game can drift. Her goal arrived in the middle of the second-half surge, and the celebration had the loose, expressive energy that Hayes has been encouraging: play with edge, but don’t play tight.

For the newcomers, the night functioned like a tryout with a scoreboard. Reilyn Turner turned her first cap into a moment she’ll keep forever, and Ally Sentnor played like someone who wants minutes to become permanent.

USWNT vs Paraguay: goals, scorers, and the second-half burst

The U.S. led 1–0 at halftime and then scored five times after the break — including a rapid stretch that effectively ended the contest within minutes.

Scoring summary (USA 6, Paraguay 0):

• 45+3’ — Reilyn Turner

• 47’ — Ally Sentnor

• 53’ — Own goal (Fiorella Martínez)

• 56’ — Trinity Rodman

• 57’ — Ally Sentnor

• 72’ — Emma Sears

Turner’s opener in first-half stoppage time mattered beyond the goal itself: it released pressure in a match that had turned into a possession exercise, where the U.S. had control but not quite the final incision. Once the second half began, that incision became a theme — early shot attempts, quicker combinations, and more willingness to attack before Paraguay could form a second defensive line.

Sentnor’s brace was the loudest claim for attention, but Sears’ late finish did its own work: the kind of substitute impact that can swing future selections when staff are comparing like-for-like options.

What this performance signals about the 2026 build

January matches are never clean indicators of a team’s ceiling, but they are strong indicators of coaching priorities. This one looked like a deliberate test: can a young group keep structure, stay patient, and then accelerate without losing shape?

A few signals stood out:

• Tempo control: The U.S. didn’t force chaos early, then ramped intensity after halftime — a sign of coaching emphasis on game management, not just pressing for pressing’s sake.

• Finishing intent: The second-half shot selection shifted from “perfect chance hunting” to “punish the window” shooting — a change that often separates dominant possession from dominant scorelines.

• Role clarity: Rodman wasn’t used as a constant bailout option; the attack flowed through multiple channels, which is how deeper squads survive tougher tournaments.

It’s also worth noting what didn’t happen: the U.S. back line wasn’t stretched into emergency defending for long periods, which kept the match focused on attacking patterns rather than damage control. That’s helpful for development — but it also means the next opponent will be the better measuring stick.

Mini timeline: the January camp path from here

• Jan. 24: USWNT 6–0 Paraguay in Carson (Rodman captains; Turner scores on debut)

• Jan. 27: USWNT vs Chile in Santa Barbara

• Spring window: a three-match series against Japan is on the calendar

• Forward line: these January performances will matter most in April, when the opponents are sharper and roster competition gets real

USWNT schedule note: the next game

The U.S. closes this camp with Chile on Tuesday in Santa Barbara. If Paraguay was about rhythm and finishing, Chile should be about repeating the habits without the same margin of comfort — the kind of game where a young group learns whether its “second-half gear” is a tactic or a trait.

For now, the score answers the search question — 6–0 — but the bigger answer is about direction: Rodman’s leadership era is beginning, and the players behind her are making it hard to look away.