CHICAGO (July 2, 2024) – As part of U.S. Soccer’s continued effort to develop winning teams, U.S. Women’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team head coach Tricia Taliaferro has named a nine-player roster for this month’s training camp, to be held July 7-11 at Kennesaw State University’s Sport and Entertainment Park in Kennesaw, Georgia.
The camp will be the U.S. CP WNT’s second of 2024, and serve as an important step at the team prepares to defend its inaugural 2022 World Cup title during the 2024 IFCPF World Cup from November 11-20 in Salou, Spain.
“We look forward to using this camp to continue our momentum of preparation for November’s World Cup,” Taliaferro said. “Since this team’s inception in 2022, we collectively feel a responsibility to push this discipline of the sport to another level of competition. This team is dedicated and focused on improving with every opportunity and I expect nothing less during this week’s camp.”
Five players from the 2022 World Cup triumph are part of this roster, including goalkeeper Rebecca Ostrander (Carson City, Nev.), defender Michelle Cross (Orange County, Calif.), midfielders Jesslyn Kuhnel (Panama City, Fla.) and Cassidy Leake (Murrieta, Calif.), and forward Leah Glaser.
Meanwhile four uncapped players return from the ADAPTandTHRIVE Invitational held in March: goalkeeper Echo Yale (Boston, Mass.), midfielders Kaia Spencer (Seattle, Wash.) and Isabella Stankunas (Trappe, Pa.), and forward Emeril Gordon (Atlanta, Ga.).
Three veteran players who are still in consideration for the 2024 IFCPF World Cup roster were unable to attend this camp. Joey Martin is currently recovering from a procedure to remove a brain tumor and is expected to begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks. Annie Wickett is also unavailable after undergoing a knee procedure, while Catarina Guimaraes will be absent as she prepares for the U.S. Paralympic Trials in Track and Field. Guimaraes led the USA with 10 goals at the 2022 IFCPF World Cup, while Martin and Wickett memorably found the back of the net in the World Cup Final against Australia. All three have the goal of returning for the team’s next training camp in September.
Goalkeepers (2): Rebecca Ostrander*^ (Carson City, Nev.; 5/6), Echo Yale^ (Boston, Mass.; 0/0)
Defenders (1): Michelle Cross* (Orange County, Calif.; 5/2)
Midfielders (4): Jesslyn Kuhnel*^ (Panama City, Fla.; 5/6), Cassidy Leake*^ (Murrieta, Calif.; 2/0), Kaia Spencer^ (Seattle, Wash.; 0/0), Isabella Stankunas^ (Trappe, Pa.; 0/0)
Forwards (2): Leah Glaser*^ (Montclair, N.J.; 4/2), Emeril Gordon^ (Atlanta, Ga.; 0/0)