ANALYSIS – The 24-player 2026 CANWNT’s April roster for the FIFA Series in Brazil includes notable returning players, including Kadeisha Buchanan and Olivia Smith. They also have some regular players who are familiar with the team.
The 24-Player 2026 CANWNT April Roster Has Been Revealed
Expected Players on the Roster
As people might expect players like centre-back Vanessa Gilles (FC Bayern Munich (women)), goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan (North Carolina Courage), midfielder/defender, Emma Regan (midfielder/defender), and forward Cloé Lacasse (Utah Royals) are on the roster.
Also, Ashley Lawrence’s return to the fold after being left out of the February roster was expected. Casey left her and Adriana Leon off the February roster but still thought that they had a lot to bring to the national team, as indicated by her comments on Thursday:
“I think what I’ve seen from Ash is a real improvement in form at the club. So that’s really, really pleasing to see.”
What people might be most relieved about is players who were previously injured, like Olivia Smith and Kadeisha Buchanan, returning to the roster.
Kadeisha Buchanan is Back
The main headline is the return of Kadeisha Buchanan. She has been injured since 2014, and her return is something much needed. This is what the CANWNT/CANXNT head coach, Casey Stoney, said about her, according to Gemma Karstens-Smith, of The Canadian Press:
“I know the calibre of player she is,” Stoney said. “Obviously, it’s been unfortunate she’s been out for such a long time. But it’s so positive that she’s now back, she’s playing, she’s featuring for Chelsea, she’s playing well.”
Her playing well with Chelsea F.C. Women is a great indication that she is back in form. She was critical to some of Canada’s biggest moments in women’s soccer history, like winning the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
Other players returning from injury who are back with the team include forward Olivia Smith (Arsenal Women Football Club), goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo (Aston Villa W.F.C.) and right-back Jayde Riviere (Manchester United Women Football Club). Expect Smith and Riviere to get some playing time for at least some of the games in April. It is also possible that D’Angelo starts in one of the three of the FIFA series games to give Sheridan a rest.
Annabelle Chukwu Is A Player To Watch Out For
The CANWNT head coach, Casey Stoney, had some big things to say about Chukwu, who plays for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as she said this:
“She’s going to be a key figure for this team moving forward. She’s got a super talent, we need to protect her, we need to make sure that she understands what it requires to play in international football, and she can only do that by feeling it, and that means playing and training in terms of the senior environments.”
Annabelle Chukwu almost scored her first-ever goal in her debut at BMO Field against Costa Rica last year.
She is also part of the bright future of forwards that Canada possesses. She, AFC Toronto forward, Kaylee Hunter, and Smith are all forwards, and are also all teenagers. While Canada struggles to score goals, with these three players, that might change sooner rather than later.
Players that Made The Roster
One notable player on the current roster who was not on the last roster is Carly Wickenheiser (midfielder for the North Carolina Courage). Wickenheiser just recently signed with the Courage. This is what the North Carolina Courage Chief Soccer Officer, Ceri Bowley, said about Wickenheiser, according to the North Carolina Courage Communications on the North Carolina Courage website:
“We are delighted to welcome Carly to our club. Her professionalism, work ethic, and intensity embody what we stand for. We followed her throughout last season as she played a pivotal role at the heart of Hacken’s midfield in their title-winning season, and we are excited that she will take the next step of her career with us in Courage Country,” said Courage Chief Soccer Officer, Bowley.
READ MORE: 2026 CANWNT SheBelieves Cup Roster: Three NSL Forwards
Also, three of the four NSL players are returning from the 2026 SheBelieves Cup Roster. This is what Stoney had to say to that, starting with Ottawa Rapid FC forward, Delaney Baie Pridham:
“I think her attitude, application, hunger, and what she’s like around the goal were one of the main reasons, really, that she forced her way into the team and obviously has kept her place,” Stoney said.
Then on Hunter:
“I liked certain aspects of her game (against Argentina) in terms of individuality and creativity that I felt we could have another look,”
Finally, this is what Stoney said about Ottawa Rapid FC goalkeeper, Melissa Dagenais:
“Mel came in and did really well in the goalkeeper department. So, to be able to see her again and expose her to the national team again is vital for us to keep in touch.”
READ MORE: Kailen Sheridan Helped the CANWNT Win in a Penalty Shootout
Expect Hunter and Pridham to get some playing time for the national team. For Dagenais, that will be more difficult, as both Sheridan and D’Angelo will probably get the nod as goalkeepers. Still, it will be a great opportunity for Dagenais to gain more experience training with the national team.
The fourth NSL player on the 2026 SheBelieves Cup team was Holly Ward, then a forward for Vancouver Rise FC. She is now with the Seattle Reign FC.
READ MORE: The USWNT’s Relentless Pressure Was A Big Reason for the Win
CANWNT Injuries and Things to Look Forward To
There are not many injuries with the CANWNT. Stoney talked about this when asked by Har Journalist, a writer for Daily Hive Vancouver and Equalizer Soccer (X Account: @HarJournalist). Casey said that except for forward, Adriana Leon (San Diego Wave FC), all the other injuries, including to Ward is minor.
Also, with the FIFA Women’s World Cup taking place next year in Brazil, Stoney talked about the importance of these three games as she said this after responding to Nii Bruce-Brown’s question (X Account: @PPodcasters):
“Well, yeah, it was intentional. We targeted to go to Brazil,” Casey said. “We wanted to go and experience the travel, the conditions, and the challenges, and it needed to be a learning experience for us. So, to be able to do that year in and out is crucial for us, and it’s going to be a really good learning experience.”
She also pointed out the qualification that Canada must earn to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 in Brazil. The 2026 CONCACAF W Championship will take place from November-December 2026 and will determine most of the placements for Concacaf teams trying to qualify for the World Cup.
READ MORE: Samantha Chang: A Homegrown Player from the GTA (Part One)
Games Coming Up For The CANWNT
The CANWNT has three games coming up. The first game will be against Zambia on April 11, then they will face South Korea on April 14, before finishing off against Brazil on April 18.
READ MORE: Samantha Chang: Diana B. Matheson Cup Champion (Part Two)
The timings for the three games are: 15:00 local / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT against Zambia, 15:00 local / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT against Korea Republic (South Korea), and 21:30 local / 21:30 ET / 18:30 PT against Brazil.
All games will be shown live on OneSoccer. Also, every game will take place at Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá, Brazil.
Goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais and forward Delaney Baie Pridham of the Ottawa Rapid FC, and forward Kaylee Hunter of AFC Toronto are on the roster.
Note: All the quotes above without links were from an online Zoom call with CANWNT head coach Casey Stoney on Thursday.
Photo Credit: Concacaf W Olympic Play-In, Kadeisha Buchanan
26 September 2023 (Uploaded on October 20, 2023) – Toronto, ON, CAN
Canada Soccer by Martin Bazyl
