The Canadian women’s national soccer team, currently ranked ninth, will be missing coach Casey Stoney for their upcoming match against Japan, ranked eighth, in the November international window. Stoney will not travel to Nagasaki due to personal family reasons, with assistant coach Natalie Henderson taking the lead and under-17 coach Jen Herst joining the technical staff.
Expressing disappointment at missing the game, Stoney stated his confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back and perform well against Japan, recognizing their technical and tactical prowess. Henderson had previously stepped in for Stoney during a friendly match against Haiti in March due to a similar family-related issue.
A new addition to the team is Ottawa Rapid forward DB Pridham, who topped the Northern Super League with 20 goals this season. Pridham, a dual citizen born in California to Canadian parents, was named the NSL Player of the Year and has played club football in Iceland and Sweden.
The Canadian women’s team has faced three consecutive defeats, losing 1-0 to Switzerland and the Netherlands and suffering a 3-0 loss to the U.S. Stoney criticized the team’s performance, emphasizing the need for improvement in technical skills and competitiveness against top opponents.
Canada has a historical record of 4-8-4 against Japan, with the upcoming matches scheduled for November 29 and December 2 in Nagasaki. Japan, having reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Cup, presents a tough challenge for Canada, who failed to advance beyond the group stage in the same tournament.
The Canadian roster remains mostly unchanged from the previous international window, with the return of veteran defender Vanessa Gilles and the absence of players like Olivia Smith and Kaylee Hunter. Smith, recovering from a hip injury suffered at her club Arsenal, missed selection due to return-to-play protocols, while Hunter was sidelined during the October matches after being called up but not featuring for Canada.