The Canadian women’s national team, ranked ninth globally, will be missing head coach Casey Stoney as they face off against Japan, ranked eighth, in their final match of 2025 during the upcoming November international window. Canada Soccer announced that Stoney will be absent from the trip to Nagasaki due to personal family reasons. Assistant coach Natalie Henderson will step in to lead the team, with Jen Herst, an under-17 coach, added to the technical staff.
Expressing regret for her absence, Stoney conveyed her confidence in the team’s ability to rebound from previous performances and put up a strong performance against Japan. Highlighting Japan’s technical prowess and tactical intelligence, she emphasized the challenge of competing on their home turf and the importance of this window in the team’s development leading up to 2026.
This match will see the debut of Ottawa Rapid forward DB Pridham, who topped the Northern Super League scoring charts with 20 goals this season. Pridham, a dual citizen born in California to Canadian parents, previously played club football in Iceland and Sweden, earning recognition as the NSL Player of the Year.
The Canadian women’s team is looking to bounce back from three consecutive defeats, including losses to Switzerland and the Netherlands last month, following a disappointing performance against the United States in July. Stoney expressed disappointment with the team’s recent showings and stressed the need for improvement in various aspects of their game.
With a historical record of 4-8-4 against Japan, Canada aims to secure a victory in their upcoming matches in Nagasaki on November 29 and December 2. Japan, having reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Cup, poses a formidable challenge for the Canadian side.
Apart from Pridham’s inclusion, the Canadian roster for the upcoming matches remains largely unchanged from the previous international window, with the return of veteran defender Vanessa Gilles being a notable addition. Injury concerns have led to the absence of players like Olivia Smith and Kaylee Hunter, impacting the team’s lineup for the upcoming fixtures.