CHICAGO (Sept. 19, 2024) – U.S. Women’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team head coach Tricia Taliaferro has named an 11-player roster for the team’s participation in the 2024 CP International Friendlies Series from Sept. 23-29 in Dublin, Ireland.
Continuing U.S. Soccer’s mission to develop winning teams and celebrate the game in all of its forms, the Series will see the CP WNT play its first-ever international friendlies and get a preview of two opponents at November’s IFCPF World Cup when it faces the Republic of Ireland on Sept. 28 (10 a.m. ET) and Denmark on Sept. 29 (8 a.m. ET). Both matches will be played at the Athletic Union League Complex in Dublin.
The two friendlies will serve as the team’s final preparation matches before heading to Salou, Spain for the 2024 IFCPF World Cup where it will look to defend its 2022 title. The tournament opener on Nov. 15 will see the USA again take on Ireland, before facing Australia in a re-match of the 2022 World Cup Final (Nov. 16). The USA will then round out group play against Denmark (Nov. 17) and Japan (Nov. 18).
“As our final preparation before the World Cup, this camp allows us to fine-tune and further develop team chemistry in a competitive environment while gaining experience at the international level,” Taliaferro said. “The matches also provide the coaching staff a critical opportunity to assess players’ performances against teams we will encounter in Spain, ensuring that we are in the best possible position as we move forward into the tournament.”
Seven of the 10 players from the 2022 World Cup triumph are part of this roster, with veteran midfielder Catarina Guimaraes (Cranford, N.J.) and defender Annie Wickett (Frederick, Md.) taking part in their first camps of 2024. Guimaraes, who led the team with 10 goals at the 2022 World Cup, comes back to the squad after representing the U.S. in Track and Field at the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris, while Wickett, who contributed four goals in 2022, returns after recovering from a recent knee procedure.
The five other World Cup veterans are goalkeeper Rebecca Ostrander (Carson City, Nev.), defender Michelle Cross (Mission Viejo, Calif.), midfielder Cassidy Leake (Murrieta, Calif.), and forwards Jesslyn Kuhnel (Panama City, Fla.) and Leah Glaser (Montclair, N.J.).
GOALKEEPER (1): Rebecca Ostrander* (Carson City, Nev.; 5/6)
DEFENDERS (3): Michelle Cross* (Mission Viejo, Calif.; 5/2), Emeril Gordon (Austell, Ga.; 0/0), Annie Wickett* (Frederick, Md.; 4/4)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Catarina Guimaraes* (Cranford, NJ; 5/10), Cassidy Leake* (Murrieta, Calif.; 2/0), Kaia Spencer (Seattle, Wash.; 0/0), Isabella Stankunas (Trappe, Pa.; 0/0),
FORWARDS (3): Leah Glaser* (Montclair, N.J.; 4/2), Madison Hahs (Kennett Square, Pa.; 0/0), Jesslyn Kuhnel* (Panama City, Fla.; 5/6),
The U.S. CP Women’s National Team is for eligible qualifying players with Cerebral Palsy, stroke or traumatic brain injury. If you or someone you know qualifies for the Women’s CP National Team and plays at a high level, you can contact us via email at ExtendedNT@ussoccer.org for more information on potential playing opportunities.
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