United States women's national deaf soccer team
| Association | United States Soccer Federation (USSF) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Amy Griffin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Most caps | Kate Ward (31) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top scorer | Emily Spreeman (33) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First international | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States 5–2 Denmark (Melbourne, Australia; January 6, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biggest win | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States 14–0 Great Britain (Fukushima, Japan; November 23, 2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Official website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The United States women's national deaf soccer team (USDWNT) represents the United States of America in international women's deaf soccer. The team is governed by the United States Soccer Federation.
The team has an all-time undefeated record of 38–0–1 as of June 1, 2024. They have won four Deaflympics gold medals (2005, 2009, 2013, and 2021) and three World Championship gold medals (2012, 2016, 2023). Players have hearing loss of at least 55 decibels, and they communicate on the field using American Sign Language and other hand gestures.[1]
History
The United States first fielded a women's deaf soccer team to compete in the 2005 Summer Deaflympics in Australia, the first year the sport was played at the tournament, and they won the gold medal with a 3–0 win over Russia in the title game.[2][3] The team defended the title at the 2009 Deaflympics in Taiwan, beating Germany 4–0 in the final with all second-half goals.[4] They won the World Deaf Football Championships for the first time at the 2012 tournament in Turkey, beating Russia 1–0 in the final.[5] The team won its third Deaflympics in a row at the 2013 tournament in Bulgaria, conceding its only goal of the event in the 2–1 win over Russia in the final.[6] The United States faced Russia again in the final of the 2016 World Championships in Italy, beating them 3–0 to win the title.[7]
The team recorded its first non-win with a 2–2 draw to Poland in the final of the 2021 Deaflympics in Brazil (held in 2022), but won the title 4–2 on penalties.[8][9] Along with the US Deaf Men's National Team, the women's team also came under the umbrella of the United States Soccer Federation as one of its extended national teams in 2022.[10] The team won the 2023 World Championships in Malaysia, beating Turkey 3–0 in the final.[11] The team played a friendly doubleheader alongside the United States women's national team in Colorado on June 1, 2024, which marked the team's first international game on home soil.[8]
Players
Statistics as of November 18, 2025.[12]
Current squad
The following players were named to the squad for the 2025 Summer Deaflympics in November 2025.[13]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | GK | Taegan Ferrin | 2003 (age 22–23) | 10 | 0 | Centerville, Utah |
| 12 | GK | Sierra Kaspar | 2008 (age 17–18) | 1 | 0 | Fort Worth, Texas |
| 1 | GK | Meghan Maiwald | 1990 (age 35–36) | 14 | 0 | Gilroy, California |
| 11 | DF | Sydney Andrews | December 15, 1993 | 32 | 2 | Wichita, Kansas |
| 3 | DF | Paige Beaudry | 2002 (age 23–24) | 14 | 1 | Riverview, Michigan |
| 8 | DF | Erin Cembrale | June 24, 2001 | 15 | 6 | Oyster Bay, New York |
| 13 | DF | Casey King | 2000 (age 25–26) | 8 | 5 | Bexley, Ohio |
| 6 | DF | Melia Lenert | February 6, 2006 | 2 | 0 | Long Beach, California |
| 19 | DF | Chelsea Tumey | 2009 (age 16–17) | 2 | 0 | Peoria, Arizona |
| 18 | DF | Faith Wylie | February 10, 2004 | 14 | 6 | Decatur, Texas |
| 22 | MF | Payton DeGraw | 2000 (age 25–26) | 6 | 0 | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 5 | MF | Gracie Fitzgerald | March 16, 1999 | 22 | 4 | Georgetown, Indiana |
| 4 | MF | Holly Hunter | March 10, 2003 | 8 | 7 | Temecula, California |
| 9 | MF | Ani Khachadourian | October 3, 2002 | 11 | 10 | Cary, North Carolina |
| 16 | MF | Emma Neff | 2005 (age 20–21) | 8 | 1 | Oakwood, Ohio |
| 14 | MF | Paris Price | 2005 (age 20–21) | 16 | 2 | Fall City, Washington |
| 7 | MF | Sabina Shysh | 1996 (age 29–30) | 6 | 1 | Tucson, Arizona |
| 2 | MF | Kate Ward | January 29, 1994 | 33 | 8 | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 17 | MF | Mia White | 1998 (age 27–28) | 16 | 6 | Littleton, Colorado |
| 20 | FW | Josephine Blazic | 2006 (age 19–20) | 1 | 1 | East Tawas, Michigan |
| 15 | FW | Tia LaBrecque | 2009 (age 16–17) | 4 | 3 | Raynham, Massachusetts |
| 23 | FW | Sophie Post | 2003 (age 22–23) | 16 | 9 | Murray, Utah |
| 10 | FW | Emily Spreeman | August 30, 1989 | 28 | 44 | Fountain Valley, California |
Recent call-ups
The following players were also named to a squad in the last 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Hometown | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Kaylie Whitmore | 1995 (age 30–31) | 0 | 0 | Renton, Washington | Training Camp; June 2025 |
| DF | Ella Wylie | 2007 (age 18–19) | 2 | 2 | Decatur, Texas | v. Japan; November 17, 2024 |
| MF | Alexis Jones | 2007 (age 18–19) | 2 | 0 | Las Vegas, Nevada | v. Japan; November 17, 2024 |
| FW | Giselle Larraga | 2008 (age 17–18) | 0 | 0 | Los Fresnos, Texas | v. Japan; November 17, 2024 |
| FW | Mikaela Stein | 2006 (age 19–20) | 0 | 0 | Las Vegas, Nevada | v. Japan; November 17, 2024 |
Staff
| Role | Name | Start date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Amy Griffin | 2016 | [8] |
| Assistant coach | Joy Fawcett | 2016 | [8] |
| Goalkeeper coach | Meghan Maiwald | [8] |
Individual records
Player records
- As of November 18, 2025.
Active players are shown in bold.
| Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kate Ward | 33 | 8 | 2009– |
| 2 | Sydney Andrews | 32 | 2 | 2012– |
| 3 | Emily Spreeman | 28 | 44 | 2005– |
| 4 | Gracie Fitzgerald | 22 | 4 | 2016– |
| 5 | Liza Offreda | 19 | 7 | 2009–2016 |
| 6 | Reagan Anders | 16 | 2 | 2005–2012 |
| Sophie Post | 16 | 9 | 2022– | |
| Paris Price | 16 | 2 | 2022– | |
| Madison Taylor | 16 | 0 | 2012–2016 | |
| Mia White | 16 | 6 | 2022– |
| Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Years | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emily Spreeman | 44 | 28 | 2005– | 1.57 |
| 2 | Felicia Schroeder | 19 | 14 | 2009–2013 | 1.36 |
| 3 | Julia Nelson | 12 | 9 | 2012–2013 | 1.33 |
| 4 | Erin Coppedge | 11 | 7 | 2012–2013 | 1.57 |
| 5 | Ani Khachadourian | 10 | 11 | 2022– | 0.91 |
| 6 | Sophie Post | 9 | 16 | 2022– | 0.56 |
| 7 | Kate Ward | 8 | 33 | 2009– | 0.24 |
| Katie Romano | 8 | 15 | 2005–2012 | 0.53 | |
| 9 | Liza Offreda | 7 | 19 | 2009–2016 | 0.37 |
| Holly Hunter | 7 | 8 | 2023– | 0.88 |
References
- ^ Althouse, Dave; Andersen, Arran (May 31, 2024). "US Women's Deaf National Soccer Team to play in Colorado". KDVR. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "History of USA Deaf Soccer". USA Deaf Soccer Association. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "Haverford soccer star leads U.S. in Deaflympics". The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 25, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2024 – via Haverford College.
- ^ Carroll, Dave (September 15, 2009). "Deaflympics Taipei 2009: US women strike soccer gold in Taipei". Taipei Times. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Team USA new Deaf World Cup champions". CNN. July 31, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Struble Leads U.S. Deaf Women's Soccer Team to Deaflympics Gold". Carnegie Mellon University. August 19, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Allison (July 7, 2016). "US Deaf WNT captures second World Cup title, hearts across America". Once A Metro. SB Nation. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Preview: U.S. Women's Deaf National Team to Face Australia in First Game of Historic Doubleheader with USWNT on June 1 in Denver". United States Soccer Federation. May 30, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Bloomquist, Bret (July 2, 2022). "UTEP soccer coach Kate Ward finds meaning in gold medal experience". El Paso Times. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Women's Deaf National Team". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Deaf WNT Defeats Turkey 3–0 to Win its Third Women's World Deaf Football Championship". United States Soccer Federation. October 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Women's Deaf National Team – All-Time Stats". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/11/amy-griffin-names-us-womens-deaf-national-team-roster-deaflympics-tokyo