Rose Lavelle Marks Her 100th Start With a Goal and Assist, and the USWNT Is Coming to Seattle

Rose Lavelle just turned her 100th start into something special. The midfielder scored and set up another goal to power the U.S. women's national team past Japan 2-1 on Saturday in San Jose, and now the Americans are bringing the heat north for a Tuesday matchup in Seattle. This is the kind of performance that reminds you why Lavelle is one of the most dangerous midfielders in the world right now.

Lavelle Takes Over Early, Sets the Tone

In her 119th match for the USWNT, Lavelle opened the scoring in the 9th minute off a set piece. Sophia Wilson drew the foul, then Trinity Rodman floated a ball to the middle of the box. Lavelle used her left foot to flick it past Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita for her 28th goal with the national team. That's the kind of clinical finishing that wins friendlies and builds momentum heading into a three-match series.

The real damage came after halftime. Gisele Thompson's pressure forced a turnover, and she sent Lavelle down the left wing. When Lavelle's service into the box got blocked, the ball bounced right back to her. She found Lindsey Heaps on the run in the 48th minute, and Heaps slotted it home with her left foot for her 40th goal with the team. Up 2-0, the Americans looked like they were cruising.

Japan Breaks a Historic Scoring Drought, But It's Not Enough

Japan got one back in the 61st minute when Riko Ueki headed home a pass from Honoka Hayashi. That goal ended the USWNT's scoreless streak at 865 minutes, and it was the first goal allowed by the Americans in nine matches. Ueki nearly tied it later with an 8-yard shot that forced goalkeeper Claudia Dickey into a strong save, but the U.S. held on.

There was something special about Wilson's return to the field, too. She played her first USWNT match since October 27, 2024, and made her first start since the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Wilson gave birth to a daughter in September 2025, so getting back on the pitch and playing a full match is huge for her comeback.

Next Up: Seattle Hosts the USWNT

The series continues Tuesday in Seattle, then wraps up Friday in Commerce City, Colorado. If you're in the Emerald City and love women's soccer, mark your calendar. Lavelle and the USWNT are rolling right now, and there's nothing better than watching world-class soccer at home.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.