Christine Sinclair and her 153 international goals highlight the list of 23 players named this week to the Canadian national team’s FIFA Women’s World Cup roster.
The Portland Thorns star (above, left) and member of Canada’s bronze medalist team from the 2012 London Olympic Games is one of 11 NWSL players named to head coach John Herdman’s squad. Sinclair will captain the host country’s side in the tournament that starts in early June.
“Today marks the culmination of three years of dedicated work from the team and we are pleased with the final selection,” Herdman said in a statement. “After the Olympics, we challenged the players to shed an old skin and strive to be even better as a team, and as individuals. They all committed wholeheartedly to this vision and competition for each position was fierce. Ultimately, we feel that this group of 23 makes us the best team we can be across our four corners of the game. They fully deserve this honor.”
The roster includes national-team veterans in goalkeeper Erin McLeod of the Houston Dash, midfielders Diana Matheson (Washington Spirit), Desiree Scott (Notts County Ladies) and Sophie Schmidt (unattached) and forward Melissa Tancredi (Chicago Red Stars).
The youngest member of the squad, 17-year-old midfielder Jessie Fleming of London NorWest SC, will compete in her third FIFA tournament in two years after being a part of Canada’s U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cup teams.
“We’ve got a fantastic group of players here that are ready to step up and proudly represent their country on the biggest stage,” Herdman added. “It’s now up to Canadians to show them they are not alone on this journey and that they’ve got the strength of an entire country with them.”
Here is Canada’s complete roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Stephanie Labbe (unattached), Karina LeBlanc (Chicago Red Stars), Erin McLeod (Houston Dash)
DEFENDERS (8): Kadeisha Buchanan (West Virginia University), Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash), Robyn Gayle (unattached), Carmelina Moscato (unattached), Marie-Eve Nault (unattached), Lauren Sesselmann (Houston Dash), Rhian Wilkinson (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Zurrer (unattached)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Jessie Fleming (London NorWest SC), Selenia Iacchelli (unattached), Kaylyn Kyle (Portland Thorns FC), Ashley Lawrence (West Virginia University), Diana Matheson (Washington Spirit), Desiree Scott (Notts County Ladies/ENG), Sophie Schmidt (unattached)
FORWARDS (5): Josée Belanger (unattached), Jonelle Filigno (Sky Blue FC), Adriana Leon (Chicago Red Stars), Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns FC), Melissa Tancredi (Chicago Red Stars)
