Team Canada’s Paris 2024 women’s soccer team unveiled
TORONTO (July 1, 2024) – Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the roster of Team Canada women’s soccer athletes nominated to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The athletes are:
Goalkeepers:
Sabrina D’Angelo (Welland, Ont.)
Kailen Sheridan (Whitby, Ont.)
Defenders:
Kadeisha Buchanan (Brampton, Ont.)
Sydney Collins (Beaverton, Oregon, USA)
Vanessa Gilles (Ottawa, Ont.)
Ashley Lawrence (Caledon East, Ont.)
Jayde Riviere (Markham, Ont.)
Jade Rose (Markham, Ont.)
Midfielders:
Simi Awujo (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)
Jessie Fleming (London, Ont.)
Julia Grosso (Vancouver, B.C.)
Quinn (Toronto, Ont. )
Forwards:
Janine Beckie (Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA)
Jordyn Huitema (Chilliwack, B.C.)
Cloé Lacasse (Sudbury, Ont.)
Adriana Leon (King City, Ont.)
Nichelle Prince (Ajax, Ont.)
Evelyne Viens (L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que.)
Alternates:
Gabrielle Carle (Lévis, Que.)
Lysianne Proulx (Boucherville, Que.)
Shelina Zadorsky (London, Ont.)
Deanne Rose (Alliston, Ont.)
Canada qualified for the Olympic Games in September 2023 by defeating Jamaica across a two-match series in the 2023 Concacaf W Olympic Play-In.
Thirteen members of Canada’s 18-player roster were part of the Olympic champion team from Tokyo 2020. Six players –Janine Beckie, Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Nichelle Prince, and Quinn – will all participate in their third consecutive Olympic Games, after winning bronze at Rio 2016 prior to the gold at Tokyo 2020. Olympic champions Kailen Sheridan, Vanessa Gilles, Jayde Riviere, Julia Grosso, Jordyn Huitema, Adriana Leon, and Evelyne Viens will make their second Olympic appearance. Also making her second Olympic appearance is goalkeeper and Olympic bronze medallist Sabrina D’Angelo, who was a member of the Rio 2016 roster. Simi Awujo, Sydney Collins, Cloé Lacasse and Jade Rose are making their Olympic debuts.
In addition to the roster of 18 players, four alternates will travel and train with the team and be available in case of injuries to the main roster. The alternates include goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx, defenders Gabrielle Carle and Shelina Zadorsky, and forward Deanne Rose.
Fleming will assume the captaincy for the team. Since making her debut for Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team at just 15 years old in 2013, Fleming has amassed 132 international appearances, starting 117 times, scoring 19 goals, and providing nine assists for the squad. The two-time Olympic medallist scored several critical goals in Canada’s quest for gold at Tokyo 2020, including the game winner in the semifinal and the game-tying goal in the final. She currently competes for Portland Thorns FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.
“It is always an honour to be a part of this team and an even bigger honour to represent the wider Team Canada in Paris,” said Fleming. “We have grown a lot in the last year as a team and are confident we can repeat the success we have had historically in this tournament.”
Rose, one of the four players making their Olympic debut this summer, is the 2023 Canada Soccer Young Player of the Year. Currently playing at Harvard University, she quickly became a crucial part of Canada’s defence since her debut for Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team in 2021 at the age of 18, amassing 21 appearances, including 20 starts and one assist.
“It is truly an honour and a privilege to be named to the squad and to get to play in my first Olympics,” said Rose. “When I think back to 2012, it was this very team that inspired a 9-year-old girl to strive for greatness. And to have those dreams turn into reality 12 years later is beyond anything I could possibly describe.
“We speak on this often but the connection and trust amongst this team is unmatched. I believe it’s allowed us, over the past year, to become more and more adaptable, whether that’s adding variety to our style of play, players in different positions or the younger generation stepping into big moments.
Overall we’ve been able to create an environment in which players can be brave, brave in challenging themselves day to day in practice, brave in their choices on the field and brave in trusting themselves to bring what they do best. And it is that bravery that will get us where this team was 3 years ago. I can’t wait to get started, let’s go Canada!”
Canada has successfully reached the knockout stage in all four of their previous appearances at the Olympic Games, securing two bronze medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016, and gold at Tokyo 2020. Canada is the only nation to have reached the podium in women’s soccer at each of the last three Olympic Games.
“I’m extremely excited to finalise the group of players who will represent Team Canada at Paris 2024,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “It was a very difficult task, which speaks to the immense talent in this program. However, I believe we have a squad that blends experience and youth, is positionally balanced, and possesses incredible athleticism and football talent.
“With back-to-back games, intense heat, and Tier 1 opposition, it was really important to build a balanced team that could handle these critical factors for the tournament ahead of us.
We know the rich history this program has at the Olympic Games. Many moments have inspired the young players in this group, not just in what was achieved but in how they achieved it. Those values and behaviours will continue to be critical factors in this team’s success.”
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games soccer tournament will feature 12 participating nations divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout rounds, which include the quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, and final.
The soccer tournament will take place July 24 to August 10 (Day -2 to 15) and will be held in several iconic cities in France. Canada’s group stage schedule includes matches against New Zealand on Thursday, July 25 (Day -1) and France on Sunday, July 28 (Day 2) at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne, and Colombia on Wednesday, July 31 (Day 4) at the Nice Stadium.
“Canada women’s soccer team stands out on the international stage with remarkable collective and individual achievements. Their ambition and boldness have revolutionized the game, inspiring a new generation of young girls to pursue their dreams,” said Bruny Surin, Team Canada’s Paris 2024 Chef de Mission. “I look forward to cheering on the soccer team as they look to defend their Olympic title in Paris.”
Team Canada’s women’s soccer team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games also includes the following coaches and support staff:
Coaches
Bev Priestman (Consett, ENG) – Head Coach
Jen Herst (Warrington, ENG) – Goalkeepers & Set Plays Coach
Joey Lombardi (Brampton, Ont.) – Analyst
Jasmine Mander (Delta, B.C.) – Assistant Coach
Andy Spence (Liverpool, ENG) – Assistant Coach
Neil Wood (Manchester, ENG) – Assistant Coach
Support Staff
Dr. Mariah Bullock (Huntington Beach, USA) – Mental Performance Coach
Adam Burrows (London, ENG) – Operations Support
Claire Eccles (Surrey, B.C.) – Equipment Manager
Melanie Evens (Toronto, Ont.) – Athletic Therapist / Massage Therapist
Marianne Gagné (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.) – Media Attaché
Marie-Claire Holland (Fredericton, N.B.) – Physiotherapist
Nicole McInnis (Hazelbrook, P.E.I.) – Team Manager
Dr. Lee Schofield (Wallaceburg, Ont.) – Team Physician
Dr. Melissa Tancredi (Hamilton, Ont.) – Chiropractor
Joseph Vecchione (Toronto, Ont.) – Sports Science Support
Chloe Werle (Winnipeg, Man.) – Sports Science Lead
Mallory White (Vancouver, B.C.) – Lead Therapist
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.
The latest Team Canada Paris 2024 roster can be found here.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Marianne Gagné, Women’s National Team Communications Manager
Canada Soccer
C: 613-402-3869
E: mgagne@canadasoccer.com
Tara MacBournie, Program Manager, Sport Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca