CHICAGO (April 26, 2024) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team will come together for a training camp running from April 30-May 5 at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
U.S. head coach Katie Schoepfer has called up 24 players for the event, 14 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 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and a 4-0 victory over the hosts in the title game.
Four players from that roster are currently playing in the NWSL and will not be attending camp. Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave FC) and Alex Pfeiffer (Kansas City Current) were on their respective professional rosters during the U-17 qualifying tournament while team captain Kennedy Fuller (who scored eight goals in the Mexico to win the Golden Ball as the competition’s top player) and midfielder Kimmi Ascanio (four goals in Mexico) have since signed with Angel City FC and the Wave, respectively.
Five players are getting their first U-17 WYNT call-ups this cycle in goalkeeper Carson Proctor (FC Prime), defenders Anna Babcock (Crossfire Premier SC) and Alexis Smith (Ohio Premier SC), and midfielders Sofia Atehortua (IMG Academy) and Kennedy Ring (World Class FC).
This is the first training camp for this age group since the U.S. U-17s qualified for the World Cup slated to be held Oct. 16-Nov. 3 in the Dominican Republic.
The players on the roster come from 18 different youth clubs, including five from Dallas, three from FC Dallas and two Solar SC, and two from Players Development Academy in New Jersey. The players hail from 13 different states.
Goalkeepers (3): Wicki Dunlap (North Carolina Courage; Raleigh, N.C.), Olivia Geller (FC Dallas; Southlake, Texas), Carson Proctor (FC Prime; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Defenders (9): Trinity Armstrong (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Anna Babcock (Crossfire Premier SC; Sedro-Woolley, Wash.), 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.), Katie Scott (Internationals SC; Fairview, Penn.), Alexis Smith (Ohio Premier SC; Dublin, Ohio), Jocelyn Travers (FC Bay Area Surf; Santa Cruz, Calif.)
Midfielders (7): Sofia Atehortua (IMG Academy; Trumbull, Conn.), Riley Cross (PDA; Chatham, N.J.), Ainsley McCammon (Solar SC; Bedford, Texas), Y-Lan Nguyen (VDA; Fairfax, Va.), Karina Peat (Wilmington Hammerheads Youth FC; Wilmington, N.C.), Kennedy Ring (World Class FC; East Greenbush, N.Y.), Lena Tusche (PDA; Montville, N.J.)
Forwards (5): Ryder Ajeto (Pateadores SC; Henderson, Nev.), Carrie Helfrich (Virginia Union FC; McLean, Va.), Jaida McGrew (Charlotte SA; Charlotte, N.C.), Leena Powell (Tudela FC; Culver City, Calif.), Mya Townes (TSJ FC Virginia; Aldie, Va.)