The United States U17 women’s national team will meet in Chula Vista, California, from August 18-23 for a final training camp before selecting the squad for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
U.S. coach Katie Schoepfer named 26 players to the starting lineup, 11 of whom were already in the squad for the 2024 CONCACAF U17 Women’s Championship last February. The U.S. won the tournament by winning all five of its games in Mexico, including a 7-1 victory over Haiti in the semifinals to qualify for the World Cup and a 4-0 win over the hosts in the title game.
Missing from this training camp roster are four players from the Concacaf champions who are currently on NWSL rosters: midfielders Melanie Barcenas and Kimmi Ascanio of the San Diego Wave, midfielder Ainsley McCammon, who recently signed with the Seattle Reign, and midfielder Kennedy Fuller, who has logged plenty of quality minutes with Angel City FC. Two other players from that World Cup qualifying team, defenders Katie Scott and Trinity Armstrong, will also miss camp as they are in preseason training with their college teams, Penn State and North Carolina, respectively. The absence of these players will give several others a chance to earn a spot on the World Cup roster.
The 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be held at two stadiums in the Dominican Republic from October 16 to November 3, will see the United States face Spain, Colombia and Korea Republic in Group B. The United States will open the group stage on Wednesday, October 16, at the Félix Sánchez Stadium in Santo Domingo against reigning champions Spain. The United States will then face 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup runner-up Colombia on Saturday, October 19, at the Félix Sánchez Stadium and close the group stage against Korea Republic on Tuesday, October 22, at the Cibao University Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros.
Twenty players on the roster were born in 2007, four in 2008. The players on the roster come from 16 different youth clubs, two are in college – strikers Maddie Padelski from Alabama and Mary Long from Duke – and goalkeeper Molly Vapensky plays for Carolina Ascent in the new USL Super League. The players come from 12 different states, with nine players from California.
US U-17 WOMEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM (Club; Hometown)
Domestic Training Camp – Chula Vista, California.
Goalkeepers (3): Wicki Dunlap (North Carolina FC; Raleigh, NC), Evan O’Steen (Solar SC; Grapevine, Texas), Molly Vapensky (Carolina Ascent FC; Evanston, Ill.)
Defenders (7): Anna Babcock (Crossfire Premier SC; Sedro-Woolley, Washington), Edra Bello (San Diego Surf SC; San Diego, California), Lexi Coughlin (Legends FC; Corona, California), Kiara Gilmore (FC Dallas; Allen, Texas), Jordyn Hardeman (Solar SC; Midlothian, Texas), Daya King (Legends FC; Moreno Valley, California), Jocelyn Travers (Bay Area Surf SC; Santa Cruz, California)
Midfielders (6): Scottie Antonucci (Legends FC; Rancho Cucamonga, California), Sofia Atehortua (IMG Academy; Trumbull, Connecticut), Riley Cross (Players Development Academy; Chatham, New Jersey), Y-Lan Nguyen (Virginia Development Academy; Fairfax, Virginia), Jaiden Rodriguez (San Diego Surf SC; San Diego, CA), Paige Thompson (Mountain View Los Altos SC; Walnut Creek, CA)
Strikers (8): Ryder Ajeto (Legends FC; Henderson, Nevada), Carrie Helfrich (Virginia Union FC; McLean, Virginia), Micayla Johnson (Michigan Hawks; Troy, Michigan), Mary Long (Duke(f); Mission Hills, Kansas), Avery Oder (Beach FC; Calabasas, California), Maddie Padelski (Alabama(f); Nolensville, Tennessee), Leena Powell (Tudela FC; Culver City, California), Mya Townes (The St. James Football Club; Aldie, Virginia)
