USWNT Faces Colombia in SheBelieves Cup Opener February 20

HOUSTON, Texas — The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) begins its 2025 campaign Thursday, February 20, against Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, at Shell Energy Stadium. Scheduled to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET, the highly anticipated match follows the USWNT’s gold medal triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics and marks their first competitive outing of the new year.

Head coach Emma Hayes brings a blend of experienced players and promising newcomers to the tournament. Following a January training camp in Florida, the USWNT is set to face off against strong competition, including Japan and Australia, as they seek to extend their dominance in this annual invitational event.

The USWNT has historically excelled in the SheBelieves Cup, securing victories in seven of the tournament’s previous nine iterations. With a flawless 13-0-0 record in Houston and a perfect 10-0-0 at Shell Energy Stadium, they appear poised to take control from the outset.

The upcoming match is significant as the USWNT has met Colombia 13 times, recording 11 victories and two draws. Their last encounter was memorable, with the US winning 3-0 during the Concacaf W Gold Cup quarterfinals in March 2024, thanks to goals from Lindsey Heaps (formerly Horan), Jenna Nighswonger, and Jaedyn Shaw.

Colombia, positioned at No. 21 in FIFA’s latest world rankings, is on the rise, evidenced by its quarterfinal finishes in both the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. Under head coach Ángelo Marsiglia, the team adopts a possession-based 4-3-3 tactic, featuring an array of domestic and international talent.

During their recent campaigns, Colombia recorded a mix of results, including a 1-1 draw with Brazil and a penalty shootout loss to Argentina. Emphasizing the importance of this match, the Colombian team is eager to challenge the reigning Olympic champions.

The USWNT roster for the SheBelieves Cup reflects a commitment to fostering young talent while retaining essential experience. With an average age of 24.9 years and an average of 33.2 caps per player, the squad includes three teenagers: Lily Yohannes (17), Claire Hutton (19), and Gisele Thompson (19). Notably, Hutton and Cooper received their first USWNT call-ups following standout performances during the Futures Camp in January.

Among the new faces, Yohannes, a 17-year-old standout at Ajax, will look to make her competitive debut in the SheBelieves Cup after being part of the roster in 2024. Meanwhile, Ally Sentnor, the 2024 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, also joins the team after already making an impact in matches against England and the Netherlands.

As the tournament progresses, fans can expect an engaging round-robin format where each of the four teams competes against one another. The USWNT will aim to solidify their dominance, and victory over Colombia will serve as a crucial first step. Fans can watch the match live on TBS, Universo, Max, and Peacock.