USWNT Win Over Japan Highlighted by Kennedy Wesley Performance Off the Bench | OneFootball

The U.S. Women’s National Team was knocking on the door the entire first half of the match on April 17 against Japan in Commerce City, Colo. From a close-range, acrobatic shot by forward Sophia Wilson to Claire Hutton smashing a shot from the top of the box that clanged off the crossbar, the USWNT was showing urgency in the final third that head coach Emma Hayes implored from her side ahead of the matchup.

Despite going into halftime scoreless, the crowd of 17,589 at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park felt a breakthrough on the horizon. They didn’t have to wait long as defender Naomi Girma scored the opener just 155 seconds into the second half. Midfielder Rose Lavelle doubled the lead less than 10 minutes later, and defender Kennedy Wesley put the exclamation point on the game soon after.

Wesley entered the match at halftime in a planned sub for fellow center back Tierna Davidson, earning just her sixth USWNT cap. Her goal was the first of her international career and it came off a corner kick from midfielder Jaedyn Shaw. She grabbed her first international assist on Girma’s goal following another corner kick, and Wesley’s interception started the counterattack that led to Lavelle’s goal.

“I think you could feel that there was a goal coming,” Wesley said. “We had a lot of good chances. We were in their box a lot. So, coming in the second half, I know I really only find myself up there on set pieces, so I just needed to execute my role, and I did that for the most part, at least I tried my best. The team has been working so hard to wrap this camp up on a good note and show all the details that we have been working on, so it was a great showing from the group.”

The 3-0 victory was a strong rebound for the U.S., which was held scoreless for the first time in over a year in the 1-0 loss to Japan in Seattle on April 14. The win in Colorado was the first by a three-goal margin over Japan since 2017. By netting the third goal of the night, Wesley became the 27th player to score under Hayes and the 12th different player to score for the USWNT in 2026.

Wesley’s assist to Girma was a little sweeter considering the two spent three years together playing collegiately for the Stanford Cardinal, winning an NCAA championship in 2019. Wesley and Girma started their first USWNT match together on April 11 in San Jose, and the two instantly reconnected to open the scoring in Colorado.

“I knew that my role was to be on the back post, and the ball was coming into that area,” Wesley said. “So, to be there and to see [Naomi] on the end of it is so awesome. It's a very full circle moment for both of us together.”

Wilson, who also played at Stanford with the two defenders, applauded Wesley’s performance post-game.

“I was so happy for Ken,” Wilson said. “I've seen her pathway to this team, and it's been so fun to watch. I think she's a great player. She puts in the work when nobody's watching. The goal and assist are well deserved.”

Wesley now returns to the San Diego Wave, which currently sits at the top of the NWSL standings following a 4-1-0 start to the season. In a week’s time, she will be back in the same venue as the Wave faces Denver Summit FC, looking to carry the momentum from her stellar international performance into league play.

“I'm excited, now this field has good memories,” Wesley said. “The crowd was amazing. The atmosphere was great, so we're excited to keep going.”