Swanson's late goal salvages draw for USWNT vs. No. 1 Spain - ESPN

CHESTER, Pa. — United States women's national team coach Emma Hayes praised the «fearlessness» of her second-half subs Tuesday after her team turned around a two-goal deficit at halftime for a 2-2 draw with World Cup champions Spain at Subaru Park.

Hayes made five changes around the hour mark and another three with 10 minutes left to play. Forward Ashley Sanchez had gotten a goal for the U.S. just after halftime, and Mallory Swanson — who came off the bench in the first wave of substitutions — struck the equalizer in the 86th minute.

«They were fearless,» Hayes said of the group in the second half. "[We] need that sometimes. Sometimes it's easier when you're coming into a game like that, too. Job's really clear and you've got nothing to lose. So, I really admired the fearlessness of the performance of the second half."

Swanson had not scored for the United States since her gold-medal-winning strike at the Olympics in August 2024. She was on maternity leave throughout 2025 and returned to the field for the United States for the first time last Saturday.

«I'm just honestly super grateful,» a smiling Swanson said after the match. Defender Kate Del Fava and midfielder Pietra Tordin each made their United States debuts when they came off the bench in the 80th minute.

Del Fava played the long ball to Michelle Cooper — another reserve whom Hayes praised — that led to Swanson's goal.

Hayes added: «The strength is in the size of our pack.»

Hayes shifted the team to a 3-5-2 formation in the second half, with Cooper and Alyssa Thompson eventually coming on as wingbacks.

«Emma just said the game's not over, and we just need to come on and change the game as subs,» Thompson said of the instructions she received. «We know what we want