ANALYSIS + HIGHLIGHTS: CanWNT suffer narrow defeat to USWNT at SheBelieves Cup

The Canadian women’s national team suffered their first loss of 2026, a narrow 1-0 result to the United States at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio. 

An early second-half goal from Ally Sentnor proved the difference in a match where the world number two, the United States, were undoubtedly the protagonists, but Canada can take a lot of positives from their effort. 

Canada were without captain Jessie Fleming, who missed the match due to an illness that has been spreading through the Canadian camp. Her removal from the lineup, replaced by Julia Grosso, was one of six changes made by Casey Stoney from Canada’s 4-1 win over Colombia on Sunday. 

Sydney Collins drew in at left-back, while a brand-new front four featured Cloé Lacasse and Nichelle Prince on the wings, Simi Awujo at the 10, and Evelyne Viens leading the line. The United States countered with a star-studded squad, highlighted by the likes of Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman and Rose Lavelle. 

The hosts quickly flashed their quality, as with a cutting ball through the lines in just the fourth minute, Rodman found herself free down the right. Her low cross was cut out by a sliding Vanessa Gilles, however, and out for a corner. 

But Canada held their own in the early exchanges, doing a solid job of building out of the back despite American pressure, and had the first shot on target of the match through Simi Awujo in the 10th minute. Phallon Tullis-Joyce fairly comfortably stopped the low driven strike. 

As the match reached the half-hour mark, the Americans began asking more questions of the Canadian backline, and came close on a pair of deflected strikers in the 33rd minute, which flashed narrowly wide of Kailen Sheridan’s respective posts. 

Canada were forced to make an early change in the midfield, as Mimi Alidou replaced Simi Awujo – who went straight down the tunnel following her exit in the 37th minute. The substitution is also believed to have been illness-related. 

As dangerous as the Americans looked in the opening half, they didn’t actually force a proper save out of Sheridan until the 42nd minute, when the Canadian keeper shuffled across well to deny a speculative effort from Alyssa Thompson outside the box. 

The States then had a glorious chance to take the lead right before the half, when an unfortunate series for Canada saw Sentnor dispossess Jade Rose in the box, but she dragged her shot just wide. 

The score remained 0-0 at the half, with just one shot on target each. Despite defending for large stretches, especially in the second part of the 45, Canada held up fairly well – especially the left side of defence where Gilles and Collins matched up with Rodman and Lavelle. 

Canada had a great attacking sequence in the 50th minute, initially ignited by Alidou picking out Prince streaking down the right flank. Her cross picked out her opposing winger, Lacasse, but she couldn’t sort her feet out to get a shot away. Canada kept the pressure on, and created another solid chance – but this time Grosso couldn’t connect on her lay off to Viens in the six-yard box.

The lesson of not making those chances count against the lethal Americans was quickly learned, as just four minutes later, the States scored the opener. A corner kick found its way to an unmarked Sentnor, who this time made no mistake, taking the ball down with her first touch and sending a strike past Sheridan with her second.

Looking to get back in the match, Stoney brought on a brand new front three, bringing on Jordyn Huitema, Holly Ward, and 19-year-old Annabelle Chukwu for just her third senior national team appearance. 

Spurred on by their home support, the Americans kept pressing for a second goal as the half wore on, with Alyssa Thompson forcing another good stop from Sheridan in the 80th minute.

The Canadians had a few promising forays forward in the final minutes, but none of them came particularly close to threatening Tullis-Joyce in the American net. 

When the full-time whistle went, it was the 50th time the Americans have defeated their Canadian rivals. 

Canada conclude the 2026 SheBelieves Cup against Argentina on Saturday, March 7. The action is live on OneSoccer, with pre-match coverage starting at noon EST. 

BOX SCORE

Lineups

United States: Tullis-Joyce; Fox, Girma, Sonnett, G.Thompson; Rodman (Sears 69’), Hutton (Heaps 79’), Coffey, A.Thompson (Shaw 90’); Lavelle (Yohannes 80’), Sentnor 

Canada: Sheridan; Sonis, Rose, Gilles, Collins (Carle 88’); Grosso, Regan (Huitema 61’); Prince (Chukwu 61’), Awujo (Alidou 37’), Lacasse (Ward 61’); Viens (Pridham 90’) 

Goals

55' — Ally Sentnor (United States)

Discipline

77’ – Marie-Yasmine Alidou (Canada)
88’ – Gabrielle Carle (Canada)