Its primary role is the development of players in preparation for the senior national team, as well as bridging the development between the youth competition levels of the U-15 and the U-17.

The U-16 team initially had no international competition and was used to prepare players for the U-19 level, at which the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship was originally played.

[1][2] The current incarnation of U-16s was re-instituted in February 2015 under coach Tricia Taliaferro.

[3][4] The team competed in the first women's edition of the Tournament of Nations (Torneo delle Nazioni) in Gradisca d'Isonzo, Italy, in April 2016.

This tournament included the first-ever women's soccer game between the United States and Iran at any level, a 6–0 win for the United States with a hat trick from Summer Yates.