U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team heading to So Cal for final pre-World Cup camp

CHICAGO – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team will come together in Chula Vista, Calif., from Aug. 18-23 for a final training camp before the roster is selected for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.

U.S. head coach Katie Schoepfer has called up 26 players, 11 of whom were on the roster for the 2024 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship last February, a tournament that the USA won by sweeping all five games in Mexico, including a 7-1 win over Haiti in the semifinal to qualify for the World Cup and a 4-0 victory over the hosts in the title game.

This training camp roster does not include four players from the Concacaf champions who are currently on NWSL rosters in midfielders Melanie Barcenas and Kimmi Ascanio from the San Diego Wave, midfielder Ainsley McCammon, who recently signed with the Seattle Reign, and midfielder Kennedy Fuller, who has been seeing quality minutes with Angel City FC. Two other players from that World Cup qualifying team, defenders Katie Scott and Trinity Armstrong, will also miss the camp as they are in pre-season camps with their college teams, Penn State and North Carolina, respectively. The absence of those players will give quite a few others a chance to stake a claim to a roster spot for the World Cup.

At the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, taking place at two stadiums in the Dominican Republic from October 16-November 3, the USA will face Spain, Colombia and Korea Republic in Group B. The USA opens against reigning champion Spain on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Félix Sánchez Stadium in Santo Domingo. The USA will then face 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup runners-up Colombia at Félix Sánchez Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19 and finished group play against Korea Republic on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Cibao University Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros.

Twenty players on the roster were born in 2007 with four born in 2008. The players on the roster come from 16 different youth clubs, two are at colleges — forwards Maddie Padelski from Alabama and Mary Long from Duke – and goalkeeper Molly Vapensky plays for the Carolina Ascent in the new USL Super League. The players hail from 12 different states with nine players coming from California.

U.S. U-17 WOMEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM (Club; Hometown)

Domestic Training Camp – Chula Vista, Calif.

Goalkeepers (3): Wicki Dunlap (North Carolina FC; Raleigh, N.C.), Evan O’Steen (Solar SC; Grapevine, Texas), Molly Vapensky (Carolina Ascent FC; Evanston, Ill.)

Defenders (7): Anna Babcock (Crossfire Premier SC; Sedro-Woolley, Wash.), Edra Bello (San Diego Surf SC; San Diego, Calif.), Lexi Coughlin (Legends FC; Corona, Calif.), Kiara Gilmore (FC Dallas; Allen, Texas), Jordyn Hardeman (Solar SC; Midlothian, Texas), Daya King (Legends FC; Moreno Valley, Calif.), Jocelyn Travers (Bay Area Surf SC; Santa Cruz, Calif.)

Midfielders (6): Scottie Antonucci (Legends FC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Sofia Atehortua (IMG Academy; Trumbull, Conn.), Riley Cross (Players Development Academy; Chatham, N.J.), Y-Lan Nguyen (Virginia Development Academy; Fairfax, Va.), Jaiden Rodriguez (San Diego Surf SC; San Diego, Calif.), Paige Thompson (Mountain View Los Altos SC; Walnut Creek, Calif.)

Forwards (8): Ryder Ajeto (Legends FC; Henderson, Nev.), Carrie Helfrich (Virginia Union FC; McLean, Va.), Micayla Johnson (Michigan Hawks; Troy, Mich.), Mary Long (Duke; Mission Hills, Kan.), Avery Oder (Beach FC; Calabasas, Calif.), Maddie Padelski (Alabama; Nolensville, Tenn.), Leena Powell (Tudela FC; Culver City, Calif.), Mya Townes (The St. James Football Club; Aldie, Va.)