By OkayGoal 
The previous goalkeepers who have come through the USWNT program are legends. From Brianna Scurry to Hope Solo and most recently with Alyssa Naeher, the USWNT hasn’t had to worry about the goalkeeping position for nearly 30 years. America has always produced great goalkeepers, and there have been numerous keepers who have auditioned for the job. Casey Murphy, Aubrey Kingsbury, and Claudia Dickey are all fantastic keepers who have been called in and played for the national team over the last few years. However, these three have not been as involved with the USWNT under Emma Hayes. Hayes has given three other keepers a few chances to see how they might do as the new No. 1. There’s no way of knowing exactly what direction Emma Hayes will go with her choice, but these three keepers are the ones who I believe have the best chance of winning the job.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Phallon Tullis-Joyce truly came out of nowhere in terms of making the USWNT. The Manchester United keeper had a career year that caught Emma Hayes’s eye and led to her making her debut in 2025.
Not only did Hayes give Tullis-Joyce the start in the first friendly against China, but she also gave her a second consecutive start against Jamaica. That’s rarely been done within the USWNT because Alyssa Naeher held the job for so long. If Naeher ever got a break, it was usually never more than one game. Hayes giving PTJ back-to-back games shows that the manager has complete confidence in her goalkeeper. Considering Phallon Tullis-Joyce is the most recent keeper to start two straight games, she has to be the frontrunner for the No. 1 job.
It sounds crazy to say with this next keeper waiting in the wings, but it’s possible that PTJ could be the starter; she’s earned it.
Jane Campbell
Before Phallon Tullis-Joyce entered the fray, it seemed as though Jane Campbell was the clear replacement to be the new No. 1. Campbell managed to outlast Casey Murphy and Aubrey Kingsbury with consistent call-ups under Jill Ellis, Vlakto Andonovski, and now Emma Hayes. The Dash goalkeeper has made ten appearances for the senior team and is likely the safest choice to be the lead goalkeeper in a major competition.
The issue Campbell might have is that when she has gotten the chance to play for the national team, she hasn’t been at her best. The USWNT is rarely outmatched in terms of talent, and the goalkeepers aren’t as busy making saves throughout the entire game. Team USA keepers don’t get much action, so mistakes are magnified even more.
The bottom line is that in her ten appearances, Campbell has only six clean sheets. Usually, that would be an excellent record. Still, the standard is higher at the national team, and each one of her 10 appearances is more of an audition for how she does on the international stage, and her NWSL success might not translate at a higher level. Campbell is one of the NWSL’s best goalkeepers, there’s no disputing that, but she hasn’t helped herself when given the opportunities, and could be a backup if this trend continues when playing for the Stars and Stripes.
Mandy McGlynn
Mandy McGlynn is the third keeper in the mix for the USWNT. McGlynn went from being a backup in Gotham to taking over the starting job and never letting go of it. That same year, she helped lead the team to the 2023 NWSL Championship with outstanding performances in the net. McGlynn followed that up in 2024, earning a Goalkeeper of the Year nomination for the Utah Royals.
This was enough to bring her into the USWNT camp, where she’s made three senior team appearances. Considering McGlynn earned a start during the SheBelieves Cup, it indicates that Emma Hayes wanted to see how she’d perform in a game with real stakes.
All three of these highly talented goalkeepers have been in the mix for the USWNT recently. Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s receiving back-to-back starts could be a sign of things to come. The bottom line is that the job was seemingly within Jane Campbell’s grasp, but she hasn’t secured it yet. Will it be Phallon Tullis-Joyce or Jane Campbell? Emma Hayes’ decision might be tougher than we might have thought.
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