Gisele Thompson earns more responsibility under Emma Hayes in SheBelieves Cup

U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes made 10 lineup changes from the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, opener against Argentina on March 1 to the March 4 match against Canada. Only one name remained on the start list: Gisele Thompson.

The 20-year-old defender played the full 90 minutes in both matches, marking just her sixth and seventh appearances with the USWNT. She also played the entire game in the 6-0 win over Paraguay in January.

“Gisele knows that my goal with her is that I need her to be more durable,” Hayes said post-game. “So, I told her, ‘You’re playing 90 minutes.’ That is what she is going to need to compete for this team on a regular basis, and she did a fine job.”

One of Hayes’ key themes over the past year has been giving younger players more opportunities on the field, with Thompson being one of the 32 debutants for Hayes since she took over as head coach. Thompson, alongside her Youth National Team teammates like Ally Sentnor and Claire Hutton, is among the group that Hayes is looking at to give more responsibility to develop the depth heading into World Cup qualifyinglater this year.

“I always rewind back to the Olympics,” Hayes said. "I felt really clear about 14 players. The gap was much bigger in terms of experience. If the Olympics were tomorrow, I think we’re in a better place. Our goal is closing that gap between now and qualifying.” 

Against Canada, Thompson was deployed at left back with a license to attack, though she also had to do some serious defending throughout the night. The Under-17 and Under-20 Women’s World Cup veteran controlled the flank, contributing to the backline that allowed the Canadians only one shot on target en route to the USA’s seventh consecutive clean sheet. 

Thompson often combined on that left flank with her older sister, Alyssa, who played on the wing in both matches of the tournament. In just over a year since Gisele made her senior team debut, the Thompson sisters have competed in five USWNT matches together. In three of those games, they were in the starting lineup together.

Like most older sisters, Alyssa was the first into the limelight, and she made a name for herself on both the club and international levels. Her debut with the senior National Team came in 2022 when she was just 17 years old. The sisters played professionally together at Angel City FC in the NWSL before Alyssa signed to English club Chelsea FC in September 2025 for a record fee. She has recorded six goals and an assist in her 14 appearances with the Blues and is currently the team’s leading scorer.

Both sisters, who play much bigger than their small statures might indicate, are known for their tremendous speed, but as they become more adjusted to the highest levels of the game, their high soccer IQs also continue to push them forward.

Alyssa has earned more consistent call-ups over the past year than Gisele, but Hayes spoke to the dedication of both players and their imminent futures with the team.

“When you’re the baby sibling and you’ve got Alyssa Thompson as your sister, that’s tough,” Hayes said. “[Gisele] is having to live a little bit in the shadow of her sister, but her time will come.”