FORM GUIDE: How CanWNT 🇨🇦 players are performing ahead of 2026 SheBelieves Cup
This past week, Casey Stoney named her first squad of the year ahead of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup.
Canada kick off the action on Sunday, March 1, against Colombia (2 p.m. ET), take on the United States on Wednesday, March 4 (6:45 p.m. ET) before closing out the tournament against Argentina on Saturday, March 7. All matches will be available live on OneSoccer.
The North American contingent of Canadian players are out of season – but with several of them moving clubs over the past few months, these first competitive matches of 2026 offer a crucial opportunity to begin the year on a high note.
With several national team veterans, including Ashley Lawrence and Adriana Leon, not called up for this camp, it could provide an intriguing opportunity for other players to stake their claim for further inclusion.
Here is a look at the form of the 24 players Stoney called up for the tournament:
Goalkeepers
Emily Burns, FC Nantes
Burns is having a strong season for Nantes in France, as the club currently sit a surprising second in the table, ahead of traditional power PSG. With 62 saves in 16 matches, Burns has been a key reason why. As both Sabrina D’Angelo and Lysianne Proulx miss out on this camp through injury, this could be a big chance for Burns to earn her first national team cap in one of these matches.
Melissa Dagenais, Ottawa Rapid
The 25-year-old quickly established herself as one of the NSL’s top goalkeepers in the league’s first season with the Ottawa Rapid. After a solid collegiate career at Miami, and having made her pro debut in Portugal, she kept seven clean sheets in 19 matches in her return to Canada this past year. Dagenais is one of several up-and-coming young keepers looking to push into this Canadian side consistently, and this camp is an excellent opportunity.
Kailen Sheridan, North Carolina Courage
Sheridan is one of multiple Canadian players in the NWSL who switched clubs during the off-season, joining the North Carolina Courage after four seasons with the San Diego Wave. At 30, the former NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year is looking to prove she is still among the league’s best, while also solidifying Canada’s number one spot ahead of a vital year for the national team.
Defenders
Gabrielle Carle, Washington Spirit
One of the most reliable players in this group over the past year for both club and country, Carle suffered an injury in the NWSL playoffs that kept her out of Canada’s final camp of 2025. But with the 27-year-old back and fit again, she should earn major minutes during this camp, particularly with Canada missing several key full-backs.
Sydney Collins, Bay FC
Missing the better part of three years with injury, Collins has pushed her way back into the Canadian fold after a strong end to the season with Bay FC. At 26, if she can find her consistency again, she could be a key player for Stoney’s side. Making her first start for Canada since 2023 in the national team’s final game of the year – Collins could be in line for more big minutes at this camp.
Brooklyn Courtnall, Bay FC
The 23-year-old central defender received her first senior national team call-up following her first professional season in the NWSL. Drafted by the North Carolina Courage, she moved to Bay FC on loan, where she impressed enough that the club made her transfer permanent over the off-season.
Vanessa Gilles, Bayern Munich
After an incredibly strong start to her time with Bayern Munich, the 29-year-old has been in and out of the starting lineup in recent weeks in Germany as she returns from injury. That kept her out of Canada’s past two camps, so she will be an incredibly welcome returnee for this tournament.
Marie Levasseur, Montpellier
The 28-year-old has been a mainstay in Stoney squads lately, as well as with Montpellier in France, where she is a consistent starter. She started Canada’s first friendly against Japan during the final window of 2025 and is clearly a player making a strong case for inclusion during the Concacaf W Championship at the end of the year.
Jade Rose, Manchester City
Rose is having an outstanding first professional season with Manchester City. She quickly broke into the starting line-up and has made 13 starts for the table-topping side in the FA WSL. Canada will be hoping Rose can bring that level with her into camp as one of the vital players on this team.
Midfielders
Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Portland Thorns
It is fair to say that Alidou has something to prove for both club and country after a disappointing end to 2025. The 30-year-old’s move to the NWSL did not go to plan as she scored just once and added an assist, making only six starts in 20 appearances. After scoring a hat-trick to begin the year for Canada, she has not scored for her country since. A potential gamebreaker for the national team, this is a big camp for her to prove she should still be in the mix.
Simi Awujo, Manchester United
In her second season with Manchester United, the 22-year-old Awujo is starting to come into her own. Having already equalled her total appearances in all competitions from last year, Awujo scored her second goal of the year in a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Chelsea this past weekend. She will come into this camp with plenty of confidence and ready to fight for a midfield role.
Jessie Fleming, Portland Thorns
Canada’s captain begins the year tied for seventh in all-time national team appearances. Still just 27, she is sure to move further up that list in 2026. Heading into her third season in the NWSL, meanwhile, Fleming is still looking to get back to her best with club and country, scoring two goals in 25 games for Portland last year, and none in 12 appearances for the national team.
Julia Grosso, Chicago Stars
The 25-year-old’s first full season in the NWSL saw her carve out a consistent starting role with the Chicago Stars, playing 24 matches and scoring twice. Not starting either of Canada’s games against Japan, however, this is a big camp for Grosso to try to push back into Stoney’s plans.
Kaylee Hunter, AFC Toronto
One of the most exciting young players in the country, 18-year-old Kaylee Hunter is looking to make her senior national team debut following an exceptional first professional season. At just 17 with AFC Toronto, she scored 16 goals in all competitions and was named the NSL’s Rookie of the Year. Now Hunter is looking to inject that attacking flair into this Canadian side.
Emma Regan, Denver Summit
Regan’s outstanding first campaign in the NSL with AFC Toronto earned her a move to NWSL expansion side Denver Summit. She has also become something of a fixture in Stoney’s midfield, and this move has the potential to push the 26-year-old to even further heights in the coming years.
Forwards
Annabelle Chukwu, Notre Dame
Missing the past few camps due to school commitments, the youth national team’s all-time leading goalscorer is back with the senior team after a great year with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the NCAA. Chukwu scored 12 goals and had three assists in 20 matches for Notre Dame, and will be looking to parlay that into a great start to 2026 with the Canadian women’s national team.
Jordyn Huitema, Seattle Reign
In her fourth season in Seattle, Huitema made her most career appearances, with 22, scoring three goals. She added a pair of goals for the national team last year. For the 24-year-old, this year is about being more lethal in front of goal in order to maintain those minutes for both club and country.
Cloé Lacasse, Utah Royals
After a difficult year dealing with injury, Lacasse returns to a Canadian women’s national team in need of her offensive output. She made just 12 appearances last year after her return, scoring once and adding an assist. It will be intriguing to see where she still fits in the player pool.
DB Pridham, Ottawa Rapid
At long last, it appears Pridham has officially been cleared to play for Canada, and the 28-year-old NSL MVP enters camp as one of the main players to watch. Pridham scored 18 goals during the NSL season and earned herself the Golden Boot. For a Canadian team that has not scored in five straight matches, that sort of output cannot be ignored.
Nichelle Prince, Boston Legacy
Despite playing for the NWSL Shield-winning KC Current, Prince had a difficult year, scoring just once in 2025. She added just a single goal for the national team as well, in a 3-0 win over Argentina. Now, Prince is looking to hit the ground running with NWSL expansion club Boston Legacy, and starting this year with a strong SheBelieves Cup would certainly help in that regard.
Olivia Smith, Arsenal
It is worth noting here that Smith’s participation in this camp is once again in serious doubt after she had to be stretchered off in Arsenal’s FA Cup match against Bristol City after just 14 minutes this weekend. The long-term health of the player, of course, is the biggest factor here. If Smith cannot join Canada for this competition, it will be extra disappointing considering she has been outstanding of late for Arsenal – scoring in three of her past five league matches as well as in both the UEFA Champions League and Women’s Champions Cup final.
Evelyne Viens, AS Roma
Viens scored the winner this past weekend in AS Roma’s 1-0 victory over Inter Milan, it was her third goal in five matches, as she also put up two against Lazio in the Cup. In 15 matches this season in Serie A, Viens has two goals and six assists.
Holly Ward, Vancouver Rise
Ward finished her first professional season as an NSL champion, with eight goals and three assists. She was also one of the few true standout players for Canada last year, offering a direct and decisive approach in attack that has been sorely lacking.
