ANALYSIS – The 2026 CANWNT/CANXNT June roster was revealed on May 27, 2026. There were some notable omissions and additions to the squad, with Ottawa Rapid FC representing the only NSL team in the national team’s roster.
CANWNT June Roster Reveal: Players Wanting to Make Their Mark
Notable Players That Made The Roster
There are a lot of familiar names on the roster. It is nice to see players like Kadeisha Buchanan (defender for Chelsea F.C. Women), Cloé Lacasse (forward, for the Utah Royals), and Janine Sonis (forward/full-back for the Denver Summit FC) make the roster consistently. This is because all three players experienced lengthy absences due to injuries. In terms of Buchanan, getting those appearances for the national team will be important as she is an instrumental part of the team.
This is what Stoney said about Buchanan last month when she returned to the national team from injury, according to the Canadian Soccer Daily Staff:
There are, of course, players who have been mainstays on the roster for a very long time. This includes midfielder and captain Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns FC), forward Nichelle Prince (Boston Legacy FC), and defender Vanessa Gilles (FC Bayern Munich).
There is also some Northern Super League (NSL) influence on the roster, with the Ottawa Rapid FC leading the way.
READ MORE: 2026 CANWNT April Roster: A Notable Player Returns from Injury
NSL Influence on the Roster
When the roster was revealed, the Ottawa Rapid FC were second in the NSL standings. This meant that both Melissa Dagenais (goalkeeper) and Delaney Baie Pridham (forward and midfielder), who were already making the national teams consistently, earned themselves another spot on the roster.
It would not be surprising if Pridham starts or comes off the bench in the game against Costa Rica on June 9. This is because she continues to shine for the nation’s capital, since Adriana Leon got injured.
As for Dagenais, even though she is getting called to the national team’s camp consistently, she has not played a game for the national team. This is because the goalkeeping duties tend to be given to Kailen Sheridan or Sabrina D’Angelo. Both of these goalkeepers are on the June roster. Unfortunately, for Dagenais, it is unlikely she is going to get any playing time when Canada faces Costa Rica.
There are also former NSL players. Defender and midfielder, Emma Regan (former AFC Toronto captain), for the Denver Summit FC has been making the roster consistently. She is joined by Seattle Reign FC midfielder, Holly Ward (former Vancouver Rise FC player), who is starting to make her mark on the national team’s roster.
Two Players Looking to Make Their Mark
Toronto native, Jordyn Listro is one of the two players to watch out for the June window. The midfielder and captain for the Tampa Bay Sun, has scored one goal in 55 appearances for the club. This included helping her team win the USL Super League title for the 2024-25 season.
This is what was said by Sun head coach, Denise Schilte-Brown, on the Gainbridge Super League and USL on the YouTube Accounts:
In addition, this is what Canadian defender Vivianne Bessette said about her in the same YouTube link:
There is a lot to be excited about with Listro. As for the Washington Spirit defender from Quebec City, Élisabeth Tsé, this is what general manager Nathan Minion said about her (Source: Washington Spirit website):
She has appeared in quite a few games under her belt in France, as she played for GPSO 92 Issy from 2022-23, and then played for Le Havre from 2023-25. She lastly played for the Washington Spirit of the NWSL and has played one game for them so far.
Injuries to Adriana Leon and Jordyn Riviere
What was noticeable was the players that were not on the list. Defender of Manchester United FC, Jayde Riviere, got injured in early May in a 2-2 tie against Manchester City W.F.C. She has not appeared for another game since then. She will be missed on the defensive end as she is known for being a crucial player in the CANWNT/CANXNT’s backline.
This is why Leon, forward, got an injury back in January during training camp for the San Diego Wave FC because of a lower-leg injury that required surgery. This will be a big loss for Canada, as Leon is the forward who tends to score most of Canada’s goals. There will be some pressure for someone else to step up in her absence.
Notable Absences
There is one player who used to make the roster regularly but has not appeared on the CANWNT/CANXNT’s roster for quite a long time.
This player are Quinn, as CANWNT’s head coach, Casey Stoney, talked about this on the Canada Soccer Association’s media call on John Molinaro’s X Account:
“I think there’s always an open door [to return] and I’ve had those honest conversations with Quinn. I think it’s about consistency of performance across the season.”
One problem, as The Footy Prime podcast pointed out, was defensive exposure, as this were something Quinn were struggling with.
READ MORE: Nikayla Small: A Standout AFC Toronto Midfielder
Another notable absence is AFC Toronto midfielder and captain, Nikayla Small. While she has never played a game for the CANWNT/CANXNT, she has been called up for Jamaica (Reggae Girlz). She is likely to play at least one national team game for Jamaica. Small can make a one-time switch from Jamaica to Canada, according to FIFA. However, this process seems complicated, and if Small feels like she will get regular playing time with Jamaica, there does not seem to be a good reason to make the one-time switch to Canada.
Small will have two opportunities to potentially suit up for the Jamaican team, as they play Panama on June 5 and 8.
Games Coming Up for the CANWNT/CANXNT
READ MORE: Four Different CANWNT Goal Scorers in a 4-1 Win at BMO Field
The CANWNT/CANXNT will play one game in the June window on June 9. It will be against Costa Rica at Estadio Jose Rafael “Fello” Meza Ivankovich in Cartago, Costa Rica, at 9:30 EDT (7:30 local time in Costa Rica, and 6:30 PT).
The last time these two teams met, Canada beat Costa Rica 4-1 at BMO Field back in late June 2025.
Photo Credit: CANWNT X Account, of Vanessa Gilles, on June 28, 2025.