Lo'eau LaBonta Becomes Oldest USWNT Debutant in 3-0 China Win

Lo'eau LaBonta made history as the oldest player to debut for the U.S. women's national team at 32 years and 74 days during a 3-0 friendly win over China, entering the match in the 70th minute. She broke the previous record held by McCall Zerboni and has been a key figure and captain for the Kansas City Current, leading the NWSL standings with significant contributions this season. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes praised LaBonta's perseverance, maturity, and consistent high-level performances despite not being previously called up to the national team, emphasizing that age is just a number. The match featured goals from Catarina Macario, Sam Coffey, and Lindsey Heaps, with Macario continuing her strong international form and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce achieving clean sheets in her first two USWNT starts. LaBonta expressed that her debut was a validation of her efforts and highlighted her positive attitude and resilience both on and off the field. The USWNT will continue its schedule with upcoming matches against Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, and Canada to build momentum and evaluate team dynamics.