The U.S. women’s national team’s three-match slate with Japan got underway with a win on Saturday.Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Heaps both scored as the USWNT edged their intercontinental rivals 2-1 at PayPal Park in San Jose. Lavelle also picked up one assist in the match while Sophia Wilson earned her first minutes since October 2024 following the birth of her daughter. The result extended the USWNT’s current winning run to 10 matches dating back to last fall. “I think 12 months ago, we might have drawn this game,” Hayes said in her postmatch press conference. “I think the progress is in staying in the game and not conceding a second goal.”Lavelle opened the scoring for the Americans after nine minutes, finishing off Trinity Rodman’s looping pass into the bottom-left corner. Sam Coffey’s free kick flew to Rodman, whose one-time pass allowed Lavelle to race into the box and deliver the finish. In her 100th career start, Rose Lavelle gets her 28th career goal! USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/Q8vi8IULLP— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 11, 2026Three minutes into the second half, Lavelle went from scorer to distributor, teeing up Heaps for her 40th career international goal. A frantic play inside of the Japan 18-yard box eventually led to Lavelle laying off a pass for Heaps to slot home into the bottom corner.Lindsey doubles our lead USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/5OMALSFyWd— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 11, 2026Japan trimmed the deficit after the hour mark through Riko Ueki’s headed finish, but it would be the closest that the visitors would come to a comeback. USWNT goalkeeper Claudia Dickey registered five saves in the win, finishing the match as the busier of the two keepers. Claire Hutton, Emma Sears, Ally Sentnor, and Michelle Cooper all featured off of the bench while Naomi Girma, Lavelle, and Coffey were among those to play the full 90 minutes in the match. The USWNT-Japan series will next shift to Seattle’s Lumen Field on Tuesday night.