USWNT vs. Colombia: Top Storylines and Predictions for 2025 SheBelieves Cup

The United States women's national team kicks off play in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup on Thursday against Colombia.

Thursday's contest in Houston is part of an opening set of games for the 10th annual SheBelieves Cup. Japan and Australia are the other participants.

The USWNT has won seven of the nine SheBelieves Cups and it has won five in a row against some of the best teams from across the globe.

Emma Hayes' side for the competition is made up of a mixture of veterans, mostly in defense and midfield, and some players looking to take the next step in their international careers.

USWNT vs. Colombia Info

Date: Thursday, February 20

Start Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: TBS

Live Stream: Max

Game Preview

Thursday's clash with Colombia in Houston is the first game of 2025 for Emma Hayes' USWNT.

The Americans have eyes on the future with their roster for the SheBelieves Cup.

Only three players on the roster have more than 100 international appearances and just six in total have over 60 caps.

The majority of that experience comes in the back line through Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson and Emily Fox.

Lindsey Heaps will anchor the midfield and Lynn Biyendolo carries the most appearances and goals among the forward group.

The USWNT prided itself on defense in 2024, as it recorded 14 clean sheets, including one in the Gold Cup quarterfinals against Colombia.

The back line will be vital once again in 2025, and it could have some extra importance at the start of the SheBelieves Cup.

Longtime starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher retired from international duty at the end of 2024. Jane Campbell and Mandy McGlynn, who have nine caps between them, will get the first shots to start in goal in 2025.

The combination of an experienced back line and Heaps controlling the midfield should help the Americans stay in control of Thursday's contest.

Colombia enters the SheBelieves Cup as the lowest-ranked team in the FIFA women's world rankings among the four participants at No. 21. The USWNT is No. 1, Japan is No. 8 and Australia is 15th.

Some of the best young American attacking talent will be on display to test the Colombian back line.

Jaedyn Shaw, who had six international goals in 2024, will be a focal point of the attack all tournament long, as should Catarina Macario and Alyssa Thompson.

The USWNT isn't as deep as forward for this specific tournament, but Shaw, Macario and Thompson are more than capable of carrying the team through three games.

Thursday's game is the first of three in six days for the USWNT. The SheBelieves Cup is a round-robin tournament in which the team with the most points at the end wins the competition.

Prediction

USWNT 2, Colombia 0