100% NCAA: Meet the U.S. field hockey team
All 16 team members competing in Paris are current, former or incoming student-athletes
Team USA’s field hockey roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics showcases a team where every athlete has a tie to the NCAA, illustrating how collegiate sports serve as an essential training ground for future Olympians. The roster is filled with 16 current and former NCAA student-athletes from 12 schools and six conferences.
“I think the reason the U.S. is so good at Olympic sports is because we have the NCAA behind us to back it,” said Kelsey Bing, goalkeeper for Team USA and former Stanford standout.
“There’s a lot of opportunity to go play in the NCAA, which I think is a really valuable experience for a lot of people,” said Abby Tamer, current Michigan student-athlete who took an Olympic redshirt season in 2023-24 to train with the U.S. team.
Meet the team
- Kelsey Bing (Stanford).
- Leah Crouse (Duke, Maryland).
- Brooke DeBerdine (Maryland).
- Emma DeBerdine (Maryland).
- Phia Gladieux (Penn State).
- Amanda Golini (Lafayette).
- Ally Hammel (Boston U.).
- Ashley Hoffman (North Carolina).
- Karlie Kisha (UConn).
- Kelee Lepage (Maryland).
- Ashley Sessa (North Carolina, Northwestern).
- Meredith Sholder (North Carolina).
- Abby Tamer (Michigan).
- Megan Valzonis (California).
- Beth Yeager (Princeton).
- Maddie Zimmer (Northwestern).
NCAA connections
The Team USA roster collectively won nine NCAA titles. Sholder from North Carolina leads the pack with four championships, starting a run in 2018 that’s grown into the program winning five of the last six. Hoffman, another Tar Heel, was a senior on the 2018 NCAA championship team. Kisha from UConn won two titles. Zimmer from Northwestern and Sessa while at North Carolina each secured one title in their college careers. These achievements highlight the caliber of talent on Team USA, with many members already having demonstrated their prowess on the collegiate stage.
Olympic experience
All 16 team members will be making their Olympic debuts, after Team USA field hockey failed to qualify for the 2020 Games. The U.S. squad secured its spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics with a series of stellar performances at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in January in Ranchi, India. The U.S. entered the competition as the No. 15 team. In its opening pool match, it stunned the host nation, No. 6 India, with a 1-0 victory, followed by a 2-0 win over No. 19 Italy. Team members clinched their semifinal berth by defeating No. 10 New Zealand 1-0 in their final pool game. In the semifinals, facing No. 9 Japan, the U.S. team knew the stakes: The winner would advance to Paris. Despite falling behind, the U.S. mounted a thrilling comeback with two goals in the fourth quarter, ultimately winning 2-1 and earning a spot in the Olympics.
Tune in
Follow the Team USA field hockey squad as it competes in the Paris Olympics. Team USA’s full schedule is below. View the broadcast schedule for field hockey here.
- Saturday, July 27 — United States vs. Argentina.
- Monday, July 29 — United States vs. Spain.
- Wednesday, July 31 — United States vs. Australia.
- Thursday, Aug. 1 — United States vs. Great Britain
- Saturday, Aug. 3 — United States vs. South Africa.
- Monday, Aug. 5 — Quarterfinals.
- Wednesday, Aug. 7 — Semifinals.
- Friday, Aug. 9 — Finals.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
