Canadian women’s national team announces training camp roster ahead of 2021 SheBelieves Cup

TORONTO, Canada—Canada Soccer announced today its 29-player women’s national team roster ahead of a two-week preparatory camp leading into the 2021 SheBelieves Cup presented by Visa.

Canada’s final roster for the 2021 SheBelieves Cup will be trimmed down to 23 players and released in the days leading up to the opening match of the tournament, which is set to take place Feb. 18-24 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando during the upcoming FIFA international window.

The training camp roster is, of course, still headlined by the world’s leader in international goals, Christine Sinclair, but also includes top-flight talent such as reigning Canadian Players of the Year Kadeisha Buchanan (2020) and Ashley Lawrence (2019). Former No. 1 goalkeeper Erin McLeod, 37, who has battled through a variety of tribulations, also earns her first call-up since returning from injury in 2019.

The camp will also seek to provide an opportunity to some up-and-coming Canadian names, as of those invited, six have yet to make their first international “A” appearance, including 2020 Canadian Youth International Player of the Year Jade Rose.

The occasion will also mark the first time that newly-appointed head coach Bev Priestman takes charge of Canada’s international camp. Priestman was put in charge of the Canadian women in November and is expected to make her debut on the touchline at the SheBelieves Cup later next month.

“The pre-competition camp is designed to provide any players not in season with the chance to get in valuable preparation heading into the SheBelieves Cup,” said Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach, in a press release. “It also provides us with an opportunity to see where players are ahead of selecting our final 23-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup. The tournament will provide us with a great platform to start our short journey towards Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where we can introduce some new concepts and operate in a tournament setting which replicates the schedule of an Olympic tournament. We’re all really excited to get together and get to work as well as to see some new faces amongst the squad.”

The women have not participated in an international camp since last March.

ICYMI: Benedict Rhodes predicted the Best Starting XI for the Canadian Women’s National Team last week.

CANADA - 2021 SheBelieves Cup Training Camp Roster

GK - Rylee Foster | ENG / Liverpool FC
GK- Stephanie Labbé | SWE / FC Rosengård
GK - Erin McLeod| USA / Orlando Pride
GK - Kailen Sheridan | USA / Sky Blue FC

CB - Kadeisha Buchanan | FRA / FCF Olympique Lyonnais
CB - Vanessa Gilles | FRA / FC Girondins de Bordeaux
CB - Jade Rose | CAN / Super REX Ontario
CB - Shelina Zadorsky | ENG / Tottenham Hotspur

FB - Gabrielle Carle | USA / Florida State University
FB - Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash
FB - Ashley Lawrence | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
FB - Bianca St-Georges| USA / Chicago Red Stars
FB - Jayde Riviere | USA / University of Michigan

M - Samantha Chang | USA / University of South Carolina
M - Jessie Fleming | ENG / Chelsea FC
M - Julia Grosso | USA / University of Texas at Austin
M - Jordyn Listro | USA / Orlando Pride
M - Diana Matheson | USA / Kansas City NWSL
M - Quinn | USA / OL Reign FC
M - Sophie Schmidt | USA / Houston Dash
M - Desiree Scott | USA / Kansas City NWSL

F- Janine Beckie | ENG / Manchester City FC
F- Jordyn Huitema | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
F- Adriana Leon | ENG / West Ham United FC
F- Nichelle Prince | USA / Houston Dash
F- Deanne Rose | USA / University of Florida
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
F- Olivia Smith | CAN / Super REX Ontario
F- Evelyne Viens| USA / Sky Blue FC