Stanford University will have three representatives at the upcoming U.S. Women’s Youth National Team development camp, with Caroline Birkel, Charlotte Kohler, and Y-Lan Nguyen earning invitations to participate. The camp is scheduled to take place from January 17 to 25 in Carson, California, running alongside the senior national team’s January training session at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The roster for the development camp includes 24 players from 15 colleges across the country. Stanford leads all schools with three invitees. Other institutions with multiple selections include Duke, Florida State, North Carolina (UNC), and Wake Forest.
Heather Dyche, head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team, will oversee the camp with assistance from other women’s and girls’ youth national team coaches. The group of players selected spans six birth years between 2003 and 2008. Eleven are eligible for participation in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Six athletes on this roster have previously competed in a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, while Birkel was part of the United States squad that won bronze at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Tracey Kevins, Head of Development for U.S. Soccer’s Women’s Youth National Teams, said: “We are excited about hosting this Development Camp concurrently with our Women’s National Team in Los Angeles as the camp will provide a valuable platform for players to showcase their abilities in front of the WNT and Youth WNT coaches. With a strong and expanding talent pool, this initiative allows us to offer players a meaningful development opportunity, earned by their outstanding performances throughout their college and USL seasons.”
The roster features three goalkeepers—Valentina Amaral (Wake Forest), Caroline Birkel (Stanford), and Sonoma Kasica (Notre Dame)—alongside eight defenders, seven midfielders including Kohler and Nguyen from Stanford, and six forwards.
