Mar 12, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Under-23 Women’s National Team defender Ayo Oke (10) runs during a match at Providence Park. (Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports)
While the senior U.S. women’s national team trains and competes in the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, 24 players from across the National Women’s Soccer League, USL Super League and collegiate level will convene for the first U-23 women’s national team camp of 2026.
The camp will run from Feb. 27 to March 7, in South Florida. It will conclude with two matches against the Mexico U-23 women’s national team, scheduled for March 3 at 12 p.m. (Noon) ET and March 6 at 2 p.m. ET, both at the FIU Soccer Stadium in Miami. The matches are open and free to the public.
In 2025, 14 players who appeared for the U-23s eventually earned full USWNT call-ups. This age group’s first camp of 2026 continues senior team head coach Emma Hayes’ focus on this age group as a vital part of the continued growth and depth of the senior side.
U-23 head coach Heather Dyche will lead a roster featuring 19 NWSL players, two USL Super League players and three college players. Of the 19 NWSL players, 10 are entering their rookie seasons in the league. Portland Thorns FC has the most players on the roster of any club with four, while expansion team Denver Summit and Gotham FC have three players each.
The one player in training camp with full U.S. women’s national team experience is Denver Summit defender Ayo Oke. She earned her first cap on Jan. 27, playing 90 minutes in the 5-0 win over Chile in Santa Barbara.
The two USL Super League players called up are Lexi Missimo from Dallas Trinity FC, and goalkeeper Liz Beardsley, who was loaned by the Houston Dash to the Tampa Bay Sun in late January. Defenders Sydney Cheesman (Louisiana State) and Sierra Sythe (Wake Forest), and attacker Hope Leyba (Colorado) are the three call-ups still in college.
The full U.S. U-23 women’s national team roster by position (Club/College; Hometown) is:
Goalkeepers (2): Liz Beardsley (Tampa Bay Sun FC; Lakeland, Fla.), Neeku Purcell (Seattle Reign FC;Seattle, Wash.)
Defenders (8): Macy Blackburn (Racing Louisville FC; Fort Worth, Texas), Carolyn Calzada (Portland Thorns FC; Sugar Hill, Ga.), Sydney Cheesman (Louisiana State; Lafayette, Colo.), Leah Klenke (Houston Dash; Houston, Texas), Ayo Oke (Denver Summit FC; Lawrenceville, Ga.), Jayden Perry (Portland Thorns FC; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Evelyn Shores (Angel City FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Sierra Sythe (Wake Forest; Long Beach, Calif.)
Midfielders (7): Sofia Cook (Gotham FC; Huntington Beach, Calif.), Shae Harvey (Portland Thorns FC; Hermosa Beach, Calif.), Ally Lemos (Orlando Pride; Glendora, Calif.), Yuna McCormack (Denver Summit FC; Mill Valley, Calif.), Lexi Missimo (Dallas Trinity FC; Southlake, Texas), Sarah Schupansky (Gotham FC; Pittsburgh, Pa.), Taylor Suarez (Angel City FC; Charlote, N.C.)
Forwards (7): Jasmine Aikey (Denver Summit FC; Palo Alto, Calif.), Andrea Kitahata (Gotham FC;Hillsborough, Calif.), Karlie Lema (Bay FC; Morgan Hill, Calif.), Hope Leyba (Colorado; Phoenix, Ariz.), Kat Rader (Houston Dash; Stuart, Fla.), Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns FC; Miami, Fla.), Sarah Weber (Racing Louisville FC; Gretna, Neb.)
