USWNT returns: Key takeaways from Emma Hayes' latest pre-World Cup roster

"I think Ashley's had an extraordinary season," Hayes said. "She was a player that was always tipped for great things as a youth national team player so I'm happy to see her fulfilling her potential.

"Full credit to her. She's done a great job with herself. I had a conversation with Mak [Lind, Sanchez's coach] who was so complimentary about her maturity this season, her desire to really want to get back into the national team, and she's demonstrated that with her behaviors."

Two key veterans are (maybe) returning to the fold

When the USWNT traveled to Brazil in June, it was without two of its coolest and most experienced heads: defender Naomi Girma and midfielder Sam Coffey. The two England-based players missed the camp due to injury concerns and their absence was keenly felt.

Don't hold your breath for Girma: She has yet to start for Chelsea in the Women's Super League this season and may fall off of this roster in the coming days after picking up a knock in USWNT training. 

Coffey, though? Expect her to slot right back into the USWNT midfield for these key matches against Spain. She played a full 90 minutes for Manchester City in its 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic last weekend and looks to be ready to go.

The U-23 squad remains an important part of Emma Hayes' player development plans

Hayes has always been a big proponent of youth squads. She leverages her U-23 roster as an extension of the wider USWNT program and insists that being a part of it is a privilege, not a downgrade. Her U-23 roster for this camp has yet to drop — expect it to hit the wires Wednesday — but Ally Sentnor and Jaedyn Shaw, two key USWNT figures, will be on it.

Shaw and Sentnor are regular senior USWNT players, but their inclusion on the U-23 roster isn't a demotion: It's a chance for them to get more minutes in a national team setting. Both made the senior USWNT squad in its June matches against Brazil but neither were able to get serious minutes on the field. 

"I want to prioritize the development of players, and I don't want less experienced players always sitting on the bench and playing few minutes," Hayes said. "So for Ally and for Jaedyn, the decision was taken for them to go to the 23s. They're still central to our plans. 

"This is part of their prescribed journey and I don't think anything of this decision being a negative."

The USWNT will take on world champion Spain in Washington, DC on Saturday, Oct. 10.

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.