Rodman, Thompson shine for USWNT at SoFi Stadium

A budding local star shined, while an established star reintroduced herself on Saturday afternoon.

Making its debut at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the United States Women’s National Team impressed in front of the 32,000 who soaked in the pristine spring time SoCal weather. Facing Brazil for the first time since last summer’s Olympic Gold Medal match in Paris, the US showed not much had changed, as they asserted themselves early and kept going en route to the 2-0 win.

“I feel like our fans, fans of this team have always been tremendous, but I told some of the players, I’m so proud that we have a team that’s representative of the United States,” USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes said. “I look across the crowd, and there’s so many people that our looking at our team and going I can see myself down there and I love that about us and something we’re really proud of.”

Trinity Rodman, who had missed time for both club and country due to an ailing back, made her return to the USWNT with a early first half goal. However, it was the player that provided the assist that shined the brightest in Inglewood on Saturday. Alyssa Thompson, the local star from the San Fernando Valley currently playing her trade for local NWSL club Angel City FC, posed a threat to the Brazil defense for the 85 minutes she was on the field, getting three shots on goal and almost getting a second assist in the first half, clearly displaying the peak form that has gotten herself off to a torrid start to the 2025 NWSL season.

“It was amazing,” Thompson said about playing for the first time at SoFi Stadium. “I love playing in LA obviously, and being able to see all the fans from LA, my friends and family, I felt so much comfortable on the field.”

It took the US just five minutes to get on the board. Thompson made a cutting move on the inside that put her defender, Mariza, on the ground, Thompson dribbled forward, played a ball through the Brazil defense and Rodman perfectly timed her run to get behind the Brazil backline into the penalty area and slotted the right-footed shot past keeper Lorena near post to give the US the lead.

“I’m very happy to be back, back with a newer team, but same environment, same vibe and energy” Rodman said. “It was just me kinda being back into it, brining my level of competitiveness and energy, but also trying to learn a couple of new things and remembering the foundation of this team.”

Thompson continued to pose a threat for the USWNT throughout the match. Thompson’s first scoring chance came in the 17th minute, as she received a ball from Crystal Dunn, cut inside to her right, then fired a right-footed shot for the upper right corner, but Lorena parried the ball to her left and the ball was eventually cleared out. Four minutes later, Thompson again made the same cutting move and played a perfect ball forward, only this time, it was Ally Sentnor receiving the pass, and just like Rodman, she timed her run perfectly to get behind Brazil’s Angelina for a one-on-one with Lorena, Sentor tried to beat Lorena far post with a left-footed shot, but Lorena made herself big enough to redirect the ball away from goal and over the end line.

“I was excited before the game knowing I was going to be isolated 1v1 with and without the ball, so it was nice in transition knowing those spaces were open,” Thompson said of the space afforded against Brazil’s three-in-the-back line.

Even as the US enjoyed a two-goal lead, Thompson continued to impose her will on the match, getting two more scoring chances, the first in the 74th minute, as Yohannes played her into the penalty area, Thompson shot a ball that got through Lorena’s legs, but the keeper got enough of her hands on the ball to stop the forward momentum and evnetually scooped up the ball. Thompson’s final chance of the match may have been her most impressive, as Lindsay Heaps crossed into the penalty area, the bounced inside the six-yard box and Thompson one-timed a point-blank shot that was on target, but Lorena got her right hand on the ball, and parried it over goal.

Brazil soon started to assert themselves in the match. Brazil got its first scoring chance in the 25th minute, as Angelina played a long ball, Gabi Portilho timed her run to get behind Emily Sonnett for a chance at goal, the ball went off Sonnett and fell to the feet of Portillo, but keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce made herself big to deny the shot and the ball was eventually cleared out. Another chance for Brazil came in the 30th minute, as Isadora Haas sent a long ball into US terriroty, Adriana brought the ball down, played Portilho into the penalty area, Portilho played a short cross towards the penalty spot for Amanda Gutierres, but she didn’t put enough on the shot attempt, and Tullis-Joyce made the easy save.

Brazil continued to keep the pressure on as the second half got under way. Brazil came within inches of leveling the score just 52 seconds into the half, as Adriana, already inside the penalty area, switched a ball to Ludmilla, who brought the ball down, then attempted a right-footed shot aimed at the upper right corner, but the ball bounced off the crossbar, and the USWNT breathed a sigh of relief. Anther chance for Brazil came in the 51st minute, as Giovana fought off aggressive defending from Tara McKeown to dribble into the penalty area, fired a shot at goal, but Tullis-Joyce get her right hand on the ball, and redirected the ball over the end line.

The US soon got its chance to put the match away. It started in the 64th minute, as Catarina Macario played Lily Yohannes into the penalty area, Yohannes made a cutting move in an attempt to evade both Angelina and Ludmilla, Yohannes got past Angelina, but Ludmilla made contact with Yohannes, bringing her to ground, and referee Katia Itzel García deemed the contact harsh enough to award the US the penalty. Heaps stepped up to the spot, and even as Lorena guessed right, Heaps powered the shot past her to her left to double the match.