U.S. Soccer announces historic friendlies for USWNT and Deaf Women's National Team

The Deaf WNT joined the U.S. national team program in 2022. However, we must not forget that the history dates back 17 years before that, and the U.S. Deaf Women's National Team holds a record of 37-0-1, with three DIFA World Championships (2012, 2016, and 2023) and four Deaflympics titles (2005, 2009, 2013, and 2022).

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Now, the team will begin its preparation for the Deaf Pan American Games. Amy Griffin, head coach of the U.S. Deaf Women's National Team, has called up 18 players, 17 of whom were part of the 2023 World Championship squad, to play two friendlies against Australia. The first game will be this Saturday, June 1, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, at 2 p.m. ET.

The game is historic because the USWNT will take the field on the same day and place, but a little later, at 5 p.m., against South Korea, marking the debut of coach Emma Hayes. Griffin emphasized that this moment is important to give more visibility to Deaf Soccer - being one of U.S. Soccer's stragglers.

"We’re excited to reconvene and bring back a majority of the team that helped us win our third World Championship last year. This group is inspirational and always continues to strive for more, so there is no better way to begin our preparation for this year’s Deaf Pan Am Games than the platform that comes with a national television broadcast to kick off a historic doubleheader with the U.S. Women’s National Team. We’re looking forward to being together again, and also giving more visibility to Deaf Soccer as we write another important chapter in the history of the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team."

- Amy Griffi.

Griffin will rely on three key players: Kate Ward, Sydney Andrews, and Kate Ward. The latter is the top scorer of the Deaf WNT, with 27 goals in 23 matches.