Whitby, Ajax, Courtice represented on 18-player Olympic women’s soccer roster

There was one surprising local omission from Bev Priestman’s 18-player squad who will wear Canada’s colours in the 2024 Olympic Women’s football tournament but Durham Region is still well represented with three local athletes on the team.

Starting in goal for the defending Olympic champions is Whitby’s Kailen Sheridan, who played two games in the 2021 Olympics subbing for an injured Stephanie Labbe and has earned 50 caps for Canada. Sheridan plies her trade in the NWSL for the San Diego Wave.

Helping anchor the defence is Jayden Riviere of Manchester United, who recently had a soccer field named in her honour in Pickering. And coming back from injury in time to make the squad is Nichelle Prince of Ajax, ho plays for the Kansas City Current of the NWSL but hasn’t played since suffering a calf injury for Canada in this spring’s Gold Cup.

Not making the squad in a bit of a surprise is Whitby’s Olivia Smith, the 19-year-old scoring sensation who was named MVP in Portugal’s top league in her debut pro season. Smith just inked a deal to join Liverpool in the English Super League.

Also missing the cut is Allysha Chapman of Courtice, who had taken time off to have a baby in January. The 35-year-old has 99 caps for Canada.

“I’m extremely excited to finalize the group of players who will represent Team Canada at Paris 2024,” said Priestman, Canada’s 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.”

Priestman said the back-to-back games in intense heat and top-level opposition made it extra important to build a “balanced team” that could handle the pressure of the Olympic tournament.

“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.”

Thirteen members of the women’s soccer squad named on Canada Day won gold in Tokyo. Six – newly minted captain Jessie Fleming, Prince, Janine Beckie, Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, and Quinn — also earned bronze in Rio in 2016.

The six veterans have a combined 717 caps, ranging from 149 for Buchanan to 97 for Prince.

Nichelle Prince of Ajax

Sheridan and Riviere will each be making their second Olympic appearance.

“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, who has 132 international appearances for Canada on her resume and assumes the captaincy from retired legend Christine Sinclair. “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.”

Canada qualified for the Olympic Games in September 2023 by defeating Jamaica in a home-and-home series vs Jamaica in the 2023 Concacaf W Olympic Play-In.

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.

The Olympic soccer tournament will feature 12 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 quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, and final.

Canada’s group stage schedule includes matches against New Zealand on Thursday, July 25 and France on Sunday, July 28 at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne, and Colombia on Wednesday, July 31 at Nice Stadium.

The tournament will run from July 25 to August 10. Canada’s group stage schedule includes matches against New Zealand on Thursday, July 25 and France on Sunday, July 28 at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne, and Colombia on Wednesday, July 31 at Nice Stadium.

Whitby’s Kailen Sheridan

The full roster:

Goalkeepers

• Kailen Sheridan
• Sabrina D’Angelo

Defenders

• Kadeisha Buchanan ​
• ​Sydney Collins
• Vanessa Gilles
• Ashley Lawrence
• Jayde Riviere
• Jade Rose

Midfielders

• Jessie Fleming
• Simi Awujo
• Jessie Fleming
• ​Julia Grosso
• ​Quinn

Forwards

• Janine Beckie
• Jordyn Huitema
• ​Cloé Lacasse
• Adriana Leon ​
• ​Nichelle Prince​
• Evelyne Viens

Alternates

• Gabrielle Carle  ​
• Lysianne Proulx ​
• ​Shelina Zadorsky
• ​Deanne Rose