The U.S. Women’s Field Hockey team, ranked No. 16 in the world, starts its 2023 Pro-League season in New Zealand and Australia.
At the conclusion of a 12-day training camp at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in California earlier this month, the team’s head coach and staff recently named the 24-athlete roster traveling to compete in February and March. Team USA hasn’t had an international match since June 2022.
Competition in the southern hemisphere is expected to be intense. The team’s experience will gauge where the US team stands prior to the Pan American games, where head coach David Passmore is hopeful his squad will qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
“We have made steady progress over the past couple of months, although acutely aware the standard and intensity of recent [FIH Hockey] Pro League matches will provide a big jump in standard and intensity,” Passmore told USA Field Hockey.
His statement continued: “I have been massively impressed by the attitude and mindset of the group.” The team, a mixture of new and veterans, worked on developing a “strong and robust team culture, along with tactical playing frameworks.”
“There is a clear desire from the team to improve and perform and some of the younger athletes have really stepped up in this respect, which is reflected in the young age of the squad,” Passmore said. “The match schedule will be challenging with long travel, large time differences, and finishing with four matches in five days against the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the world.”
The US women are scheduled to play eight matches, according to USA Field Hockey. The schedule consists of two games each versus No. 2 Argentina, No. 3 Australia, No. 9 New Zealand, and No. 10 China. The first four matches are being played in Wellington, New Zealand. The remaining four will be played in Hobart, Australia.
While 24 athletes travel, only 18 are selected to play prior to each game. Academic restrictions didn’t allow a few athletes to attend the training camp.
Here is the USWNT FIH Hockey Pro League Traveling roster:
Olivia Bent-Cole, Philadelphia, Pa.
Kelsey Bing, Houston, Texas
Sanne Caarls, Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands
Leah Crouse, Virginia Beach, Va.
Brooke DeBerdine, Millersville, Pa.
Amanda (néeMagadan) Golini, Randolph, N.J.
Danielle Grega, Kingston, Pa.
Ally Hammel, Duxbury, Mass
Ashley Hoffman, Mohnton, Pa.
Josie Hollamon, Delmar, Del.
Karlie Kisha, Hamburg, Pa.
Kelee Lepage, Honey Brook, Pa.
Jenny Rizzo, Hershey, Pa.
Megan Rodgers, San Diego, Calif.
Ashley Sessa, Schwenksville, Pa.
Meredith Shoulder, Fleetwood, Pa.
Cassie Sumfest, Lewisburg, Pa.
Julianna Tornetta, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
Jillian Wolgemuth, Mount Joy, Pa.
Beth Yeager, Greenwich, Conn.
Maddie Zimmer, Hershey, Pa.
EmmaDeBerdine, Millersville, Pa., Charlotte deVries, Malvern, Pa., and Hope Rose, Dauphin, Pa., will join the USWNT for the second leg in Australia. The trip will be Hollamon’s and Emma DeBerdine’s first international cap.
