NWSL superstar Yazmeen Ryan is all but guaranteed to make a huge impact on the USWNT over the coming years. The pacy midfielder has already garnered a good resume of performances in the NWSL for Portland Thorns and NJ/NY Gotham since breaking into professional soccer in 2021.
The Oklahoma native has since been rewarded with her first appearance on the international scene, coming on as a substitute for Mallory Swanson. The fixture finished favoring the USWNT as they looked comfortable in a 3-1 victory over Iceland. The match was a friendly fixture making up part of the Olympic gold medal victory tour.
MORE: USWNT player ratings vs Iceland
When did Yazmeen Ryan join the NWSL?
The now-abolished college NWSL draft was still in effect when Ryan transitioned into the USA’s elite professional women’s soccer league in 2021. Portland Thorns had designated Ryan as their ‘top target’ and after a juggling of draft picks, Portland were finally able to land their target.
Portland Thorns manager at the time, Mark Parsons, wasn’t shy of elaborating on why he felt Ryan was a necessary addition to his squad. “[Ryan is] fantastic with the ball at her feet, great at receiving in tight areas,” assured Parsons.
“The distribution is superb, but something that makes her unique for someone who can play in the midfield or even out wide is on the dribble she is special and she strikes the ball with both feet like someone I haven’t seen in a while.” The manager summarized.
What has Yazmeen Ryan won in her career?
The fresh UWNST international already has a medal collection the most senior players in the NWSL would be envious of. Since her first appearance in the NWSL, the midfielder has won something every single season she has played.
Ryan first won the NWSL Shield in 2021 in her first season at Portland Thorns, followed by two consecutive NWSL Championships, the first with Portland Thorns and the most recent with Gotham.
NJ/NY Gotham FC announced the signing of Ryan in 2023 in a complicated trade involving four NWSL sides. Ryan joined from Angel City, who acquired her from Portland for $200,000 in allocation money. The Californian team then traded Ryan to Gotham in exchange for the first draft pick in the 2023 draft.
Not only did Ryan stand out for Gotham as a star player during the 2023 NWSL season, but she also made the most appearances for the club out of all her teammates. As Ryan now enters her mid-twenties, there’s no question she will dominate the NWSL as a standout midfielder for years to come.
When did Yazmeen Ryan get called up to the USWNT
It’s not a shock to either the casual fan or devout viewer of the NWSL that Ryan has finally broken into the international set-up under Emma Hayes. The positional versatility that Ryan possesses is a characteristic Hayes has always valued in her players, and with Ryan able to play in center midfield, attacking midfield, and on both wings, Ryan fits the mould perfectly.
Ryan surprisingly didn’t feature much for the USWNT youth ranks, only playing twice for the U18s and just the three appearances for the U21 team. It’s fairly safe to assume that Ryan will be a mainstay in the USWNT under Hayes should her form in the NWSL continue.