Injured Smith, Quinn dropped from Canada women’s roster for SheBelieves Cup

Midfielder Quinn and midfielder/forward Olivia Smith have been dropped from Canada’s squad for the SheBelieves Cup due to injuries sustained at their clubs.

They have been replaced by Emma Regan and Marie-Yasmine Alidou.

Ninth-ranked Canada opens play against No. 10 Brazil on Saturday while the fourth-ranked U.S. faces No. 7 Japan, also in Atlanta. The two winners will meet for the title April 9 in Columbus, Ohio while the losers meet to decide third place.

The 28-year-old Quinn, who has won 100 caps for Canada, played the full 90 minutes in Seattle’s 2-1 loss at the Chicago Red Star in National Women’s Soccer League action March 23 but did not see action in Sunday’s 1-0 loss at San Diego due to a concussion.

The 19-year-old Smith, who has eight caps for Canada, plays in Portugal for Sporting CP where she ranks third in league scoring with nine goals this season.

Regan, a fullback/midfielder who plays for HB Koge in Denmark, returned to the senior squad in October after last being called up in 2018, when she made her debut in a 12-0 win over Cuba at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship.

The 24-year-old from North Vancouver has won two caps for Canada, appearing most recently in Canada’s 2-0 win over Brazil on Oct. 31 in Halifax.

WATCH | Canada falls to U.S. in penalties at W Gold Cup in March:

Canada falls to U.S. in W Gold Cup semifinal on penalty kicks

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stops three penalties and scores one herself as the United States wins 3-1 in a shootout after Canada rallied twice to tie it 2-2 in the semifinals of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

Alidou, who plays in Portugal for Benfica, also has two Canadian caps. The 28-year-old midfielder from Saint-Hubert, Que., made her last appearance in February, coming off the bench in Canada’s 6-0 victory over El Salvador at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

Canada head coach Bev Priestman named 23 players for the SheBelieves Cup, a roster she will have to trim to 18 for the Paris Olympics where Canada will open defence of its title in Group A alongside No. 3 France, No. 23 Colombia and No. 28 New Zealand.

Adding to the potential Olympic player pool are Sydney Collins, Nichelle Prince and Jayde Riviere, who are unavailable for the SheBelieves Cup due to injury.

The hope is all three might be available for the May 25-June 1 international window. Priestman’s hope is to play two games then with another two in the July 8-16 window that precedes the July 25 kickoff of the Olympic women’s football tournament.

Full roster

Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo, Arsenal (England); Lysianne Proulx, Bay FC (NSWL); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave (NSWL).

Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, Chelsea (England); Gabrielle Carle, Washington Spirit (NSWL); Vanessa Gilles, Olympique Lyonnais (France); Ashley Lawrence, Chelsea (England); Jade Rose, Harvard (NCAA); Bianca St-Georges, North Carolina Courage (NSWL); Shelina Zadorsky, West Ham (England).

Fullback/midfielder: Emma Regan, HB Koge (Denmark).

Midfielders: Simi Awujo, USC (NCAA); Jessie Fleming, Portland Thorns (NSWL); Julia Grosso, Juventus (Italy); Desiree Scott, Kansas City Current (NSWL); Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Benfica (Portugal).

Forwards: Janine Beckie, Portland Thorns (NSWL); Jordyn Huitema, Seattle Reign (NSWL); Cloe Lacasse, Arsenal (England); Clarissa Larisey, BK H├ñcken FF (Sweden); Adriana Leon, Aston Villa (England); Deanne Rose, Leicester City (England); Evelyne Viens AS Roma (Italy).

WATCH | Priestman breaks down Olympic group:

Priestman breaks down Canada’s group stage opponents for Paris 2024

Canadian national team head coach Bev Priestman analyzes the three teams her defending champion squad will be facing in the group stage of the Olympic women’s soccer tournament in Paris this summer. Those three teams are third-ranked France, No. 23 Colombia and No. 28 New Zealand.