The U.S. Women’s National Team returns to action this month for three must-watch matches against 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup champions Japan across three different cities. Set in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) home venues, the matches carry added significance as each location holds personal ties to players on the April roster – turning every game into more than just a matchup, but a homecoming of sorts.
The camp starts in San Jose, Calif., ahead of the April 11 match at PayPal Park, the home venue of Bay FC. Midfielder Claire Hutton signed with the Bay Area team in February in a transfer with Kansas City Current for $1.1 million, one of the highest transfer fees between two NWSL clubs.
“[Claire] excelled at the Youth National Team level, and coming to the senior National Team, you can see with the minutes I’ve given her, I place a huge amount of trust in her,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said. “She's a real student of the game, and I know that for her, moving to the Bay Area was an important next step for her, one that I know she's thoroughly enjoying.”
San Jose is also the hometown for USWNT and Chelsea FC defender Naomi Girma. Before Girma’s professional career, she competed collegiately in the Bay Area with the Stanford Cardinal from 2018-2021. Girma won the 2019 NCAA National Championship at Stanford alongside fellow National Team defender Kennedy Wesley and forward Sophia Wilson, who was recently named to her first USWNT roster since October of 2024. Other Stanford alumni making their returns include 2017 NCAA champion Tierna Davidson and goalkeeper Jane Campbell, both rejoining the U.S. squad for the first time in over a year.
The second leg of the April series will take place in Seattle, Wash., where the USWNT will face Japan at Lumen Field on April 14. With natural grass being laid down at Lumen Field ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the USWNT will play in Seattle for the first time since July 27, 2017, a 1-0 loss to Australia.
“This is one fixture I’m really looking forward to,” said Hayes. “I know how passionate soccer fans are in both Portland and Seattle, so I think this is a great moment for us, having not been there for a period of time.”
Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey will have a chance to compete in her club’s home stadium as Lumen Field is the site for Seattle Reign FC’s home matches. Also competing in the Pacific Northwest with the Portland Thorns are Wilson and midfielder Olivia Moultrie.
Wilson also has ties to the third location of the April camp as well. The final fixture of the April window takes place in Commerce City, Colo., at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on April 17. The striker hails from Windsor, Colo., and will have the opportunity to compete in her home state for the first time following the birth of her daughter and since June 2024 when she recorded an assist in a 4-0 win against Korea Republic.
“Anytime I get to go back and play in Denver, I have all the feels because that’s a place where I really grew into who I am as a soccer player and as a person, too,” Wilson said. “I love Colorado. My family is still there. I have so many friends still there, so getting to go back and play with the National Team at this point in my career now with my little girl, it’s just a dream come true.”
USWNT captain and midfielder Lindsey Heaps is also a Colorado native and will get the chance to compete in what will be her future home stadium, as she will join Denver Summit FC this summer.
With familiar places and high-level competition, the stage is set for a memorable stretch where the USWNT will have the chance to turn heartfelt homecomings into proud performances that carry momentum through the rest of the year.