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We’re still in shock over No. 7 UConn ending No. 4 South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak on Sunday.

Speaking of the Gamecocks, did you know head coach Dawn Staley and U.S. boss Emma Hayes are “two of a kind” with a years-long mutual admiration? Emily Olsen here with Meg Linehan and Jeff Rueter — welcome to Full Time!

SheBelieves Cup Is Back

Trying things out

It’s time to believe again!

In its 10th year, the SheBelieves Cup provides a rare chance for the U.S. to get some competitive minutes in 2025 — especially important for a young group of players. Hayes has named a 23-player roster with an average age of 24.9 years.

The U.S. coach called up 10 players to their first SheBelieves tournament, four of whom are still teenagers. Here’s what else you need to know:

Decaffeinated: For the second consecutive camp, Hayes has left Trinity Rodman, Mal Swanson and Sophia Wilson (née Smith) off the roster. Triple Espresso is likely getting extended time in the NWSL preseason as Hayes tests new talent.

Tryouts: Hayes also called up three uncapped training players: goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United), Savy King (Angel City) and Hannah Bebar (Bay FC). We wrote about Tullis-Joyce, who went from marine biology to United’s No. 1 goalkeeper, in December.

Who’s that?: Midfielders Lindsey Heaps (née Horan) and Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams) will play their first minutes for the U.S. with their married names on their jerseys. Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn (formally Haught) is returning to her previous surname.

Back again: Midfielder Emily Sonnett returns for a record 10th SheBelieves Cup, having been part of seven winning rosters. She’ll break a tie with Alyssa Naeher, who retired last year, if the U.S. wins again. Crystal Dunn is close behind with a ninth call-up, as is Heaps with eight.

The U.S. opens its tournament against Colombia on Thursday at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston at 8 p.m. ET — available to watch on TBS and stream on Max, Universo and Peacock.

🎧 Listen to last week’s “Full Time” episode to see which players you should keep an eye on.

Welcome back, Macario

With new faces getting a chance to impress in front of Hayes, it’s important not to overlook one crucial return. Chelsea’s Catarina Macario had to withdraw from the Olympic roster last summer due to injury — she also missed the 2023 World Cup — but is back for her fourth SheBelieves Cup.

Now, she has a chance to make another triumphant return. We asked Jeff Rueter a couple of questions about the midfielder.

What has Macario been up to since the Olympics? 

The 25-year-old has started four consecutive league matches for Chelsea. She has yet to play a full 90 minutes this season, with shifts ranging from a 77-minute showing against Arsenal to a 51-minute deployment on Sunday against Everton. She hasn’t assisted in that span, but scored the opener in a 5-0 demolition of West Ham. Macario is lining up in her preferred spot as a central attacking midfielder, and Chelsea hasn’t missed a beat for easing her back into action, winning all four of her starts this year.

How much has the U.S. missed Macario on the field?

When she debuted in 2021, she was arguably the most promising part of a rising generation that included Wilson, Rodman and Naomi Girma, who are now established program regulars. Macario has been limited to just 19 caps over the last four years — for comparison, Sam Coffey repped the United States on 21 occasions in 2024 alone. Still, it’s better late than never to get her playing under her former club coach.

Meg’s Corner: SheBelieves Cup expectations 

From the coziness of my couch, with my dog DeWitt by my side, here are two quick things I’d like to see at SheBelieves Cup and one big question.

Macario getting a statement game or goal.

Massive rotation. This year isn’t stakes-free, but it’s the closest the USWNT gets to having the pressure off. It’s real “stick ‘em on the field and let ‘em cook” hours for a lot of young talent. I want to see who steps up to the challenge.

As for the question: Are we going to see any sort of larger, off-the-field statement from the USWNT?

SheBelieves — especially with games in Texas — has been a key platform for protesting for equal pay and protecting trans kids. With leaders like Becky Sauerbrunn and Megan Rapinoe retired, I have no idea what to expect on this front, but I’ll certainly be watching for it.

Powerful Photo: Shaw stands up

The most powerful image of the weekend came during Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Liverpool in the Women’s Super League on Sunday — though it had little to do with the game on the pitch.

Khadija “Bunny” Shaw held her right black-gloved fist to the sky as she bowed her head — a symbol of Black Power — after scoring the opening goal. It was the first start for Shaw, considered one of the best strikers in the world, since sitting out City’s League Cup semifinal against Arsenal because of racist abuse she received online.

The image hearkens back to photos of U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos doing the Black Power salute on the medalist podium at the 1968 Olympics to protest racial injustice.

Shaw’s teammates celebrated with her after the goal, but she was alone in the Black Power salute.

Notables

Kelly ready to fight for her spot

Chloe Kelly finally made her debut for Arsenal in the 61st minute of Sunday’s 5-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur as a substitution for Caitlin Ford at Emirates Stadium. The 27-year-old winger has come to her new club ready to fight for her new shirt.

Kelly joined Arsenal on loan earlier this month after her minutes were limited at Manchester City.  reported game time was a priority for the England international as she vies for a spot in Sarina Wiegman’s squad for this summer’s European Championship.

Kelly was left off Wiegman’s initial roster for this month’s Nations League fixtures, but was added along with Lucy Parker after injuries to Beth Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy.

A surprise baby announcement

Maybe I’m just “at that age,” but my social media is filled with baby announcements these days. Still, it came as a joyful surprise to see one from Washington Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan.

Sullivan, 29, has been in the U.S. midfield rotation for the past few years and has led the Spirit on and off the field since 2018, when she was selected at No. 1 in the NWSL Draft. She and her husband Drew Skundrich announced the pregnancy on social media this weekend. Meanwhile, the Spirit shared the moment she told the team.

🍼 We can’t choose between Rodman or Hal Hershfelt for the best response:

Sullivan missed the last two months of the 2024 season, including the NWSL championship, due to an ACL injury. She will now likely miss much of the 2025 season but for a happier reason.

Full Time First Looks

“Girls can have short hair. Get over it”: A youth team in York, England, fought back against stereotypes, prejudice and accusations from opposing parents questioning the eligibility of an under-12 player. Katie Whyatt tells the story of a community standing up against hate, and selling shirts.

Trial updates: After nine days of testimony over two weeks, the trial of Luis Rubiales, former head of the Spanish football federation, and three co-accused members of the federation, has finally come to a close. The verdict is now up to Judge Jose Manuel Clemente Fernandez-Prieto and could come later this week.

Meanwhile, Australia captain and Chelsea forward Sam Kerr has been found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer following a seven-day trial and is now slowly making her way back to playing following an ACL injury over a year ago.

Winning the lottery: In 2019, Patrick and Frances Connolly hit the jackpot when they won $120.6 million in the EuroMillions. Now, they are using their winnings to help their favorite club, Durham Women FC, hopefully reach the Women’s Super League.

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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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