Update: According to USWNT athlete Cassie Sumfest’s Instagram account, USA Field Hockey hasn’t officially departed the United States due to inclement weather in Texas. The team is scheduled to be in New Zealand from Jan. 8 to 23.
The U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey training team is back at work and trying to capitalize on the momentum that was sparked by last year’s squad.
The 22-athlete roster, announced two weeks ago, is in Auckland, New Zealand for some training and friendly competitions. The women will be in the southern hemisphere until Jan. 23.
It is the first formal return to the pitch since the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and after hosting Germany in November 2024, according to USA Field Hockey.
“This is an exciting time for the program and after a successful trial and training series against Germany in Charlotte before Thanksgiving – everyone is excited to start the buildup to Nations Cup, potential World Cup qualification, and of course with one eye on LA28 in the future,” women’s head coach David Passmore said in a USA Field Hockey press release. “That said, it is important we manage athletes carefully and a number of athletes were not considered for the trip based on careful athlete management and injuries.”
USA will use their time in New Zealand to test new strategies, formations and positionings, due to a number of new players being added. The players were invited based upon their performance at a recent USA trial, during the Germany practice game, and throughout the 2024 college season, the statement said.
The United Eagles is scheduled to play Friday, Jan. 17 at 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. And, then again on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. The No. 13 ranked USWNT is using the New Zealand tour to prepare for the FIH Hockey Nations Cup. The Cup runs from Feb. 24 to March 2 in Santiago, Chile.
“It will be good to see how the group matches up against New Zealand, who will be keen to avenge the defeat in the Olympic Qualifier last January,” Passmore said. “Being named to the New Zealand Tour squad does not guarantee that an athlete is on the U.S. Women’s National Team. The tour will allow for further evaluation and a new squad will be named in 2025.”
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USWNT Tour Roster
Lucy Adams, Andover, Mass.
Carter Ayers, Wilmington, Del.
Sanne Caarls, Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands
Jans Croon, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Katie Dixon, Cary, N.C.
Phia Gladieux, Oley, Pa.
Fusine Govaert, Bedford, N.Y.
Ally Hammel, Duxbury, Mass.
Ryleigh Heck, Ocean City, N.J.
Josie Hollamon, Delmar, Del.
Kelee Lepage, Honey Brook, Pa.
Daniela Mendez-Trendler, Reistertown, Md.
Caroline Ramsey, Morristown, N.J.
Kealsie Reeb, Seaford, Va.
Hope Rose, Dauphin, Pa.
Mia Schoenbeck, Langrange, Ky.
Meredith Sholder, Fleetwood, Pa.
Annabel Skubisz, Houston, Texas
Cassie Sumfest, Lewisburg, Pa.
Makenna Webster, St. Louis Mo.
Beth Yeager, Greenwich, Conn.
Maddie Zimmer, Hershey, Pa.
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Photo: Katie Dixon gives U.S. women’s assistant coach Tracey Fuchs a fist bump. USA Field Hockey
