Canada women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman pauses while responding to questions after an announcement, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Canada women’s soccer coach Bev Priestman has named an 18-player roster for a camp in advance of the SheBelieves Cup, with reinforcements expected to arrive once the FIFA international window opens.
The camp will run Feb. 8-12, with Priestman slated to announce her tournament roster ahead of Canada’s opening match Feb. 16 against the top-ranked U.S. in Orlando.
The sixth-ranked Canadians then play No. 9 Brazil on Feb. 19 in Nashville and No. 11 Japan on Feb. 22 in Frisco, Texas.
The camp roster predominantly features players from out-of-season leagues like the National Women’s Soccer League and Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.
It does not include such English-based players as goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo (Arsenal), defenders Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea) and Shelina Zadorsky (Tottenham), midfielder Jessie Fleming (Chelsea) and striker Adriana Leon (Manchester United) or France-based fullback/midfielder Ashley Lawrence (Paris St-Germain).
This is Canada’s second trip to the tournament.
The Canadian women also played there in 2021 in Priestman’s first outing as coach. Canada defeated Argentina 1-0 but lost 1-0 to the U.S. and 2-0 to Brazil.
Canada lost only one more match the rest of that year, finishing 2021 with a 7-3-7 record and the gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics.
Priestman and the Canadian women are preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer. Canada plays No. 45 Nigeria on July 21 in Melbourne before facing No. 23 Ireland on July 26 in Perth and No. 12 Australia on July 31 back in Melbourne.
CANADA
Goalkeepers: Lysianne Proulx, SCU Torreense (Portugal); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave FC (NWSL).
Defenders: Gabrielle Carle, Washington Spirit (NWSL); Allysha Chapman, Houston Dash (NWSL); Vanessa Gilles, Olympique Lyonnais (France); Quinn, OL Reign (NWSL); Jade Rose, Harvard University (NCAA); Bianca St-Georges, Chicago Red Stars (NWSL).
Midfielders: Simi Awujo, University of Southern California (NCAA); Victoria Pickett, NJ/NY Gotham FC (NWSL); Sophie Schmidt, Houston Dash (NWSL); Christine Sinclair, Portland Thorns (NWSL).
Forwards: Amanda Allen, NDC-CDN Ontario; Janine Beckie, Portland Thorns (NWSL); Jenna Hellstrom, Dijon Football Cote d’Or (France); Jordyn Huitema, OL Reign (NWSL); Clarissa Larisey, BK Hacken FF (Sweden); Evelyne Viens, Kristianstads DFF (Sweden).
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 1, 2023.
