The report says Claudia Dickey has strengthened her standing with recent international starts, while Phallon Tullis-Joyce remains firmly in the same conversation. That matters because Hayes has often valued form and conviction in key positions over established hierarchy.
In defence, Emily Fox still looks like the safest bet in the group. Around her, the competition appears more fluid.
A coach shaping a tournament squad needs solutions, not just starters. That is why players such as Kennedy Wesley reportedly matter: form, versatility and comfort in build-up all travel well to major tournaments.
This is where Hayes may face the hardest calls. Availability can change the entire structure of the team. The report says Sam Coffey, Catarina Macario and Rose Lavelle are all part of that uncertainty, which naturally increases the importance of players who are healthy and playing regularly.
That opens the door for Claire Hutton, Lily Yohannes, Lindsey Heaps, Olivia Moultrie and Jaedyn Shaw. Different profiles, same theme: minutes matter.
Up front, the shape appears more settled. Alyssa Thompson looks increasingly central to Hayes’ plans, Sophia Wilson is reportedly back in the lead striker role, and Trinity Rodman remains a major piece of the first-choice front line.
Behind them, the pressure is useful. Ally Sentnor, Michelle Cooper, Emma Sears and Mallory Swanson all give Hayes different options, and that kind of competition usually sharpens the final squad.
The next camps will matter more than any early pecking order. Between now and 2027, the biggest storyline is simple: who keeps producing every week, and who turns club form into an international role Hayes cannot ignore?