3 Nations Tournament: No. 12 USA, No. 11 Japan, and No. 9 New Zealand set to compete in first international field hockey event of 2026
Makenna Webster, Ashley Hoffman, and Jillian Woglesmuth are part of the USWNT traveling to the southern hempishere.
The No. 12 USA Women’s Field Hockey team is set to depart soon for their first official international competition of 2026.
The United Eagles will be participating in the 3 Nations Tournament in Dunedin, New Zealand.
“This is the perfect opportunity to start the buildup to August’s World Cup with some warm-weather training and quality competitive matches against two international teams currently ranked ahead of ourselves but whom we have had some good recent results over,” USWNT Head Coach David Passmore said in a statement.
Key players rejoining the squad include Ashley Hoffman, a seasoned leader returning after playing professionally for Banco Provincia in Argentina.
Jillian Woglemuth, a key defensive player who contributed to the team qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics, returns after having rehabbed a knee injury for nearly all of 2024.
Bethany Dykema, who also has been cleared from a knee injury, is on the roster, as well as recent Ohio State standout Makenna Webster, who is set to earn her first international cap.
And, with Lauren Wadas traveling, it will be interesting to see if she and Beth Yeager are both positioned as hitters in the States offensive penalty corners.
“It will be exciting to start the preparation for the Nations Cup and World Cup in the summer and competition for places after an intense, tight training block this fall,” Passmore said. “The South Island is a beautiful part of the world and we thank New Zealand Hockey for hosting us as our relationship continues to blossom.”
The tournament is scheduled to take place from January 20 to 24.
In December, USA Field Hockey confirmed that the International Olympic Committee and the International Hockey Federation approved both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National teams. They will compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“USA, as host country have earned their allocated quota places on the basis that the men’s and the women’s team have satisfied the FIH criteria of appearing on a ranking of 25 or better in the FIH World Rankings since the end of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” according to USA Field Hockey.
All games for the 3 Nations Tournament will be livestreamed (HockeyNZ.TV).
The following women’s outdoor teams are currently in the top 25, according to the FIH:
25. Wales
24. Russia
23. Belarus
22. Malaysia
21. Canada
20. South Africa
19. Uruguay
18. Italy
17. France
16. Korea
15. Chile
14. Scotland
13. Ireland
12. USA
11. Japan
10. India
9. New Zealand
8. England
7. Germany
6. Australia
5. Spain
4. China
3. Belgium
2. Argentina
1.Netherlands
Here is the roster for the first tour of 2026:
Lucy Adams, Andover, Mass.
Kelsey Bing, Houston, Texas
Sanne Caarls, Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands
Leah Crouse, Virginia Beach, Va.
Claire Danahy, Chelmsford, Mass.
Emma DeBerdine, Millersville, Pa.
Katie Dixon, Cary, N.C.
Bethany Dykema, Newport News, Va.
Phia Gladieux, Oley, Pa.
Ryleigh Heck, Ocean City, N.J.
Ashley Hoffman, Mohnton, Pa.
Kelee Lepage, Honey Brook, Pa.
Caroline Ramsey, Morristown, N.J.
Kealsie Reeb, Seaford, Va.
Hope Rose, Dauphin, Pa.
Meredith Sholder, Fleetwood, Pa.
Abby Tamer, Dexter, Mich.
Lauren Wadas, Annville, Pa.
Makenna Webster, St. Louis, Mo.
Jillian Wolgemuth, Mount Joy, Pa.
Beth Yeager, Greenwich, Conn.
Maddie Zimmer, Hershey, Pa.
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