CHICAGO (July 23, 2024) – U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team head coach Amy Griffin has selected 15 players for the team’s summer training camp to be held from July 28-August 2 on the campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The camp will conclude with a friendly against the University of New Mexico Women’s Soccer Team at 7:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, Aug. 2 at the UNM Soccer Complex.
As the team continues to prepare for the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Griffin has summoned a squad mixed with experience and emerging talent as the Deaf WNT continues to broaden its player pool. Veteran Gracie Fitzgerald (Georgetown, Ind.) leads the list of seven players that helped the U.S. claim the 2023 DIFA World Deaf Football Championship, while eight uncapped players will also make their first Deaf WNT camp appearances this month.
“This training camp will be essential in continuing to develop our group while increasing the talent pool for the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team,” Griffin said. “Ensuring our depth chart evolves and improves consistently is vital to the program’s success now and in the future. Inviting a group of new talent will help players experiencing ‘Deaf Soccer’ for the first time to feel more comfortable and I am confident the veterans will integrate them into the culture that is the team’s DNA and simultaneously set the expectations for excellence.”
The camp marks the first time the Deaf WNT will reconvene since its historic doubleheader with the U.S. Women’s National Team on June 1, which saw the USA earn a resounding 11-0 win against Australia in Commerce City, Colo. All seven veteran players appeared in that match, with defender Paige Beaudry (Riverview, Mich.) and midfielder Sabina Shysh (Tucson, Ariz.) both collecting their first international goals to help the team improve its all-time international record to 38-0-1.
GOALKEEPER (1): Taegan Frandsen*^ (Centerville, Utah; 9/0)
DEFENDERS (6): Paige Beaudry*^ (Riverview, Mich.; 12/1), Josephine Blazic (East Tawas, Mich.; 0/0), Gracie Fitzgerald*^ (Georgetown, Ind.; 18/4), Chelsey Tumey (Peoria, Ariz.; 0/0), Ella Wylie (Decatur, Texas; 0/0), Faith Wylie*^ (Decatur, Texas; 11/6)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Erin Cembrale*^ (Oyster Bay, N.Y.; 11/5), Tia LaBrecque (Raynham, Mass.; 0/0), Melia Lenert (Long Beach, Calif.; 0/0), Briahnna Munoz (Richmond, Texas; 0/0), Sabina Shysh (Tucson, Ariz.; 2/1)*
FORWARDS (3): Giselle Larraga (Los Fresnos, Texas; 0/0), Sophie Post*^ (Murray, Utah; 12/6), Mikaela Stein (Las Vegas, Nev.; 0/0)
Out of the five disciplines that make up U.S. Soccer’s ENT programming, Deaf Soccer holds the closest resemblance to the standard game, with only two main rules that differentiate it. First, the sport is contested by Deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, with qualifying players needing to have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their “better ear”. All players competing in Deaf matches must remove all hearing aids before playing.
Secondly, referees have a flag which they raise along with blowing their whistle to provide a visual cue for players to know when play has stopped. Aside from those two adaptations, Deaf Soccer follows the standard 11-a-side Laws of the Game governed by the International Football Association Board.
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer has been the official governing body of the sport in the United States for more than 100 years. As U.S. Soccer looks toward the future amid an unprecedented moment of opportunity, it has aligned its efforts around five strategic pillars: Grow the game by increasing youth and adult participation and accessibility to the sport; Foster best playing environments through quality of referees and coaches, and commitment to participant safety; Develop winning teams through solidified pathways and success of professional leagues; Grow the soccer economy to fuel reinvestment by increasing membership, fandom and commercial success; and Create a world-class organization through revitalized structure and culture, best-in-class talent, progress in DEIB, and more. For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.