ANALYSIS – The CanWNT SheBelieves Cup roster was revealed. There were a lot of expected names as seen in the CanWNT’s Concacaf W Gold Cup roster. There were also some new players as well as some players not seen for a fair amount of time.
CanWNT SheBelieves Cup Roster Was Revealed for April
Miss us? We're backkkkk… 👀
Your 2024 SheBelieves Cup Roster 🍁@CANWNT x @CIBC
— CANWNT (@CANWNT) March 28, 2024
Notable Players
READ MORE: Cloé Lacasse: A Rising Star With The CanWNT
The four players to note here are Kailen Sheridan, Cloé Lacasse, Olivia Smith, and Adriana Leon. Leon led the Concacaf W Gold Cup with six goals, while both Lacasse and Smith also played exceptionally well. Lacasse has shown an ability to not just create scoring chances for her teammates, but also score, while Olivia Smith scored her first-ever goal in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. Also, one should not forget Sheridan, who played a huge role in Canada’s win over Costa Rica in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup quarterfinals matchup.
Other notable players in the roster includes Ashley Lawrence, Kadeisha Buchanan, and Vanessa Gilles.
Returning/New CanWNT Players
The two players returning from lengthy injuries are Janine Beckie and Desiree Scott. This is what CanWNT head coach, Beverly Priestman, said about Beckie returning (source: Neil Davidson of The Canadian Press):
“I think Janine’s looked superb,” said Canada coach Beverly Priestman.
There is also Desiree Scott, who unfortunately had a recent family tragedy as she gets back with the national team as Priestman said about this about Scott in the same Davidson article:
“There is the reality as to what she might have in the tank to come in. I know that. I know what I’m getting into with that,” Priestman told a virtual availability. “But I also know what I’m getting with Desiree Scott.”
Janine Beckie said we’re not done yet!! pic.twitter.com/3DPZANLiB6
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 16, 2024
Beckie came back from a lengthy injury absence and scored two goals for the Portland Thorns FC in a wild 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Current. Also, Beckie is also seventh-all time in assists and fifth all-time in goals scored with the national team with 36, just behind Leon, who is fourth with 37 goals scored for the national team and Lawrence, who has 19 assists. This is while Scott has made the fourth most appearances of any player with the national team, with 185 total appearances being made.
READ MORE: The CanWNT Concacaf W Gold Cup Roster Revealed
There has not been any other major changes to note, as newer national team players like Sydney Collins and Lysianne Proulx, also made the national team just like with the Concacaf W Gold Cup roster.
Injured Players/Players That Missed Out
Of course, to note, notable players missing included Nichelle Prince, Jayde Riviere, and Sydney Collins. When the CanWNT learned about the Olympic group about a week ago, this is what head coach Priestman said about Prince, which makes the omission not really surprising:
“I don’t think it’s anything like seriously long term. Whether she can make a back for a SheBelieves that possibly could could be too tight.”
Also to note, Riviere and Collins will also be sidelined because of injuries.
The most notable player not to feature on this roster is Marie-Yasmine Alidou. She has scored six goals in only 14 games for Benfica, and is a midfielder in top form, who has recently taken a more attacking role with Portugal. This is a player Canadian soccer fans should note as she recently switched her position to attacker, as Priestman said this back in January (source: Brendan Dunlop of the Canadian Soccer Daily):
Based on what Priestman said in Dunlop’s article, it seems that the competition for the forward positions are quite tough, especially with both Leon and Lacasse playing at such a high level. Also, it seems to be the case that if Alidou makes the national team in the near future, she would most play in the midfield position.
How to Watch The CanWNT in The SheBelieves Cup
ADRIANA LEON CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT AND SENDS THE GAME TO PENALTIES 😱 pic.twitter.com/pAnCWkapTV
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) March 7, 2024
READ MORE: Adriana Leon: The Prolific CanWNT Striker
Overall, there were not that many surprises with the roster, with the headlines being Beckie and Scott returning to the CanWNT roster.
The CanWNT has two games in this tournament. The first one will be on April 6, 2024 at 3:30pm ET. That game will be shown live at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia as well as the USWNT and Japan game, which will take place on April 6, 2024 at 12:30pm ET. The loser of both games will face each other in the third-place playoff at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on April 9, 2024 at 4:00pm ET. This is while the winner of both games, will play on the same date, venue, and time as the third-place game, but it will take place at 7:00pm ET instead of 4:00pm ET.
All the CanWNT games will be shown live on OneSoccer as well as Telus and FuboTV Inc.
Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports, of a Janine Beckie Headshot, on February 19, 2023.
