The race for a spot on the United States Women's National Team roster just got a little more competitive. Croix Bethune and Ashley Sanchez both turned in performances strong enough to land them on the NWSL Team of the Week, as selected by the Attacking Third crew — and in doing so, they've sent a clear message to USWNT head coach Emma Hayes: they're ready.
The Attacking Third team, which regularly highlights the best performers from each week of NWSL action, named their best XI from the latest round of matches and it carried a distinctly red, white, and blue flavor. Both Bethune and Sanchez are American players with USWNT ambitions, and performances like the ones that earned them this recognition are exactly how you stay on the national team's radar.
Croix Bethune, the young midfielder who has been quietly building a strong case for herself in the NWSL, continued to show the kind of creativity and technical quality that makes her an intriguing option for Hayes as the USWNT continues to evolve its roster following the 2023 World Cup cycle. Her ability to impact games in the attacking third is precisely the kind of versatility the national team staff values.
Ashley Sanchez, meanwhile, is no stranger to the USWNT conversation. The midfielder has earned caps for the national team before and her latest showing serves as a timely reminder that she belongs in that discussion. Consistent NWSL performances are the surest pathway back into Hayes' plans, and Sanchez appears to be doing everything right.
For American soccer fans, this is exactly the kind of domestic competition that makes the NWSL so valuable to the broader US Soccer ecosystem. The league isn't just a proving ground — it's the engine that keeps the USWNT pipeline running. When players like Bethune and Sanchez step up week after week, the national team benefits from a deeper, more competitive talent pool.
With the USWNT facing a packed international calendar and Emma Hayes still fine-tuning her preferred roster combinations, performances like these carry real weight. Hayes has shown she's willing to reward form over reputation, which means every NWSL weekend is essentially an audition.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see whether either player earns a call-up in the coming roster cycles. If their recent form is any indication, both Bethune and Sanchez have made the selection conversation a whole lot harder — and that's a very good thing for the future of American women's soccer.