ASPACH, Germany (May 30, 2025) – The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team defeated Germany 2-1 in the first of two matches between the teams. Lilly Reale scored in the first half, and Evelyn Shores tallied in second-half stoppage time.
The match marked the first international game for the U.S. U-23s since Feb. 20, 2023, a span of two years, three months and 11 days, as USWNT head coach Emma Hayes looks to kickstart the U-23 program as an important part of the player pool for the full U.S. Women’s National Team. For the first time in USWNT history, the U.S. U-23s started a game featuring 11 professional players.
The U.S. roster for this trip featured 15 players under 23 years of age, and, per an agreement with Germany, this is standard for Women’s U-23 internationals in Europe. Each squad had five “overage players,” none of whom were born before January 1, 1999.
The young Americans had most of the play in the match and opened the scoring off a corner kick just before halftime. Jadeyn Shaw, owner of 26 senior team caps, crossed on the ground from the left side. Chelsea FC forward Mia Fishel, who has three senior team caps of her own, dummied the ball, and it skidded through to outside back Lilly Reale, who knocked the ball off a German defender and in from close range. It was Reale’s first goal at the U-23 international level. She has one goal this season for Gotham FC in the NWSL.
The USA looked to be cruising to a win, but the Germans – who featured San Diego Wave attacker Gia Corley in its starting lineup – equalized in the 86th minute as Mara Alber latched onto a cross from the right wing that flew through the U.S. goal mouth and smashed home her shot from a very tight angle on the left side of the penalty area.
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, five minutes of stoppage time were added, and the USA won it with 29 seconds left on the clock.
The USA attacked down the right wing via Portland Thorns winger Caiya Hanks, but Germany was able to poke the ball free. Seattle Reign forward Maddie Dahlien did well to dig the ball out and win it in the right side of the penalty area. She whirled toward goal, avoided a few defenders with a nice dribble and was able to poke the ball back to Seattle Reign center back Jordyn Bugg, who floated a perfect cross to the far post. Midfielder Evelyn Shores ran under the ball and struck a spectacular full volley that soared between the near post and the German goalkeeper to give the USA the win.
Shores is the only college player on the roster, along with 19 professionals. She won an NCAA title last year at North Carolina and now has netted her first goal at the U-23 international level.
Additional Notes:
- Players born in 2002, 2003 and 2004 are age-eligible for this year’s U-23 WNT, and this U.S. roster also includes four players born in 2001 -- GK Angelina Anderson, F Mia Fishel, M Samantha Meza, D Kennedy Wesley and one in 2000 -- GK Jordan Silkowitz.
- Ten players named to the roster have scored in the NWSL this season: Jordyn Bugg and Maddie Dahlien for the Seattle Reign FC, Lilly Reale and Sarah Schupansky for Gotham FC, Kennedy Wesley for the San Diego Wave, Riley Jackson for the North Carolina Courage, Caiya Hanks for Portland Thorns FC, Jameese Joseph for Chicago Stars FC, Makenna Morris for the Washington Spirit and Riley Tiernan for Angel City FC.
- Almost all of the NWSL players got significant minutes with their clubs last season, as did Korbin Albert in France with Paris-Saint Germain and Abi Brighton, who helped Juventus FC win the Serie A Femminile this season.
- Ten players on the roster were at the USA’s first U-23 camp of the year in February in Los Angeles.
- Seven players on the roster were on the USA’s 2025 Futures Camp Roster in January in Florida, but four players from that camp – F Michelle Cooper, F Gisele Thompson, M Claire Hutton and D Avery Patterson – were called up to the USWNT for this latest FIFA window and matches against China PR and Jamaica.
- The roster features players from six different birth years – 2001 through 2006.
- Bugg, Jackson and Dahlienwere all a part of the U.S. team that took third at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
- The roster for the USA’s most recent U-23 match before this one back in 2023 also featured Albert, Fishel, Lauren Flynn and Reale and as well as three players on this month’s USWNT roster for its friendlies vs. China PR and Jamaica, Michelle Cooper, Avery Patterson and Alyssa Thompson.
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| GER |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| USA – Lilly Reale (Jaedyn Shaw) | 41st minute |
| GER – Mara Alber | 86 |
| USA – Evelyn Shores (Jordyn Bugg) | 90+5 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Angelina Anderson; 7-Makenna Morris (2-Emily Mason, 82), 4-Jordan Bugg, 5-Kennedy Wesley (19-Lauren Flynn, 75), 3-Lilly Reale; 20-Samantha Meza, 6-Riley Jackson (16-Sarah Schupansky, 63), 8-Korbin Albert (18-Evelyn Shores, 75); 10-Jaedyn Shaw (14-Riley Tiernan, 63), 9-Mia Fishel (Capt.) (17-Abi Brighton, 63), 11-Maddie Dahlien (13-Caiya Hanks, 63)
Substitutes not used: 12-Jordan Silkowitz,15-Jemeese Joseph
Head Coach: Heather Dyche
GER: 1-Rafaela Borggrafe; 3-Sarah Mattner-Trembleau (2-Chiara Hahn, 46), 4-Vanessa Diehm (15-Camilla Kuver, 46), 5-Alina Axtmann (14-Jella Veit, 46), 6-Lisanne Grawe (16-Meret Felde, 46), 7-Vivien Endemann, 8-Mathilde Janzen (18-Selina Vobian, 46), 9-Shekiera Martinez (10-Gia Corley, 46), 11-Tuana Mahmoud (21-Mara Alber, 46), 13-Julia Mickenhagen (22-Nia Szenk, 46), 19-Sophie Weidauer (17-Marie Steiner, 46)
Substitutes not used: 12-Anneke Borbe, 23-Laura Dick
Head Coach: Kathrin Peter
Stats Summary: USA / GER
Shots: 6 / 7
Shots on Goal: 4 / 2
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 4 / 2
Offside: 0 / 1
| USA – Emily Mason (Caution) | 83rd minute |
Officials:
Referee: Davina Lutz (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jana Oberländer(GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Sabrina Sickl (GER)
Fourth Official: Marie-Theres Mühlbauer (GER)
