maaxx.ca

Reigning Olympic champions Canada have announced their women’s football squad for Paris 2024, with 13 of the 18 players selected from the team that won gold in Tokyo three years ago.

Bev Priestman has named six players – Janine Beckie, Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Nichelle Prince and Quinn – who will be competing at their third consecutive Olympics, having also won bronze at Rio 2016.

Kailen Sheridan, Vanessa Gilles, Jayde Rivière, Julia Grosso, Jordyn Huitema, Adriana Leon and Evelyne Viens are also part of the list of gold medalists in Tokyo.

Three Olympic debutants have been included in midfield Simi Awujo, 20, defender Sydney Collins, 24, and forward Cloé Lacasse, 30.

Goalkeeper Gabrielle Carle, defenders Lysianne Proulx and Shelina Zadorsky and forward Deanne Rose have been named as the four “alternates” who will travel and practice with the team and could be available in the event of injury.

This is the first Olympics Canada will compete at without star Christine Sinclair after she retires from international soccer in 2023. Sinclair, whose 190 goals in 331 caps for her country make her the all-time leading scorer in international soccer, represented her country in four Olympics. Canada did not qualify for the women’s Olympic soccer tournament until 2008.

Along with Sinclair, midfielder Sophie Schmidt is also retiring from international football in 2023. The two are two of six players not included in the 18-man roster that is part of Priestman’s 2023 World Cup squad, alongside Rose, Zadorsky and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Olivia Smith and Houston Dash defender Allysha Chapman, who just gave birth in February.

Beckie, a two-time Olympic medalist, missed the 2023 World Cup with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury but returned for the Paris Games after making 14 appearances in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the Portland Thorns in 2024.

Collins, Prince and Quinn, who all struggled with injury before the Olympics, were also included.

Priestman said: “It was a very difficult task, which shows the incredible talent in this program. However, I think we have a team that combines experience and youth, has a balance of positions and has tremendous athleticism and football talent.
Indonesian:
“With back-to-back matches, scorching heat and top-class opponents, it is essential to build a balanced team that can handle these important factors for the tournament ahead.
​​
“We know how rich a history this program has in the Olympic Games. There have been many inspiring moments for the young players in this group, not only in what they have accomplished but also in how they have accomplished it. These values ​​and behaviors will continue to be important factors in the success of this team.

Canada opens its Olympic campaign against New Zealand on July 25. They are also in the same group as France and Colombia in Group A.

Priestman’s team won gold in Tokyo after a penalty shootout victory over Sweden in the final, having knocked out world champions USWNT in the semi-finals.

However, they were eliminated from last summer’s World Cup in the group stages, becoming the first Olympic champions to do so. Canada has faced off-field issues leading up to the tournament after announcing in February a dispute with Canada Soccer over program budget cuts.

List of Canadian Olympic women’s soccer players

Goalie: Sabrina D’Angelo (unattached), Kailen Sheridan (San Diego Wave)

Defender: Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea), Sydney Collins (North Carolina Courage), Vanessa Gilles (Lyon), Ashley Lawrence (Chelsea), Jayde Riviere (Manchester United), Jade Rose (Harvard Crimson)

Midfielder : Simi Awujo (USC Trojans), Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns), Julia Grosso (uncommitted), Quinn (Seattle Reign)

Player before: Janine Beckie (Portland Thorns), Jordyn Huitema (Seattle Reign), Cloe Lacasse (Arsenal), Adriana Leon (Aston Villa), Nichelle Prince (Kansas City Current), Evelyne Viens (Roma)

(Naomi Baker/Getty Images)