ORLANDO, Fla. (July 12, 2024) — Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams has been added to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, joining as an alternate pending IOC, USOPC and FIFA approval, Head Coach Emma Hayes announced today.
Sams will also be added to the game roster for the Impact 99 Legacy Match, presented by New York Life, at Red Bull Arena on Saturday as the USA takes on Mexico, and for the 2024 Send-Off Match, presented by Coca-Cola, on July 16 against Costa Rica at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
The Florida State product is coming off her first call-up with the U.S. WNT, joining the team for training camp in New Jersey ahead of its departure for France. The 25-year-old is having a standout sophomore season with the Pride, helping to anchor a backline that has held opponents to a league-low 12 goals through the first 16 matches of the season, while also totaling seven shutouts en route to an unbeaten record thus far. The Pride hold an 11-0-5 record entering the Olympic break, with Sams also contributing her first-ever NWSL goal in a 3-2 win over Seattle Reign FC on May 19.
As one of four alternates for the Olympic Games, Sams will travel to Paris and train with the U.S. WNT, available to be added to the 18-player active roster should an injury occur. Sams replaces Lynn Williams as an alternate, who now joins the 18-player roster after Catarina Macario was ruled out.
The U.S. WNT has been drawn into Group B, and will open the tournament against the Pride’s Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda and Zambia on July 25. The team will then face Germany on July 28 before closing out the group stage on July 31 against Australia.
