The Canadian Women’s National Team (CanWNT) ended 2025 with a dreadful run of games: five consecutive losses in which they scored zero goals. Their first competition of 2026 was the tenth edition of the SheBelieves Cup, an annual, invitational, four-team tournament hosted by the United States. This tourney offered the CanWNT an opportunity to end their scoring drought and build some much-needed momentum in a year that will conclude with World Cup qualifying.

Ranked 10th in the world, Canada faced Colombia (20th), the United States (2nd), and Argentina (30th) on March 1, 4, and 7, respectively. The expectations seemed clear: The Canadians needed to achieve wins over their two South American opponents and improve on the previous year’s 3–0 loss to the Stars and Stripes.

Coach Casey Stoney wisely chose to give the team a shake-up after their dreary end to 2025. She omitted two well-established veterans, Ashley Lawrence and Adriana Leon, from the tournament roster. Looking to eliminate complacency and renew intensity, Stoney enlisted several young, hungry players.

A Refreshing Start Against Colombia

After ending 2025 with more than 450 goalless minutes, the CanWNT needed just 30 minutes to get on the scoresheet in 2026. A Janine Sonis corner kick found Vanessa Gilles, who sent a header past the Colombian goalkeeper. The joy of the goal was mixed with the relief that their scoring drought, which began 247 days earlier, was finally over.

Sonis continued to shine. Playing right-back — further back than she normally plays with Canada — she used the longer runway to show off her pace when joining the attack. In the 67th minute, her second set-piece goal contribution came when she leathered a free kick into the back of the net.

The first open-play goal came six minutes later when the electric Mimi Alidou laced a shot off the crossbar. Left-back Sydney Collins, earning her ninth cap, headed in Canada’s third goal after the ball bounced skyward off the bar and fell to her.

Colombia reduced the deficit to 3–1 with a penalty kick conceded by Jade Rose. But the good times continued rolling for the CanWNT, who were back to their scoring ways. They shrugged off a Jordyn Huitema goal being called back for offside and then, in the final minute of regulation time, celebrated a Nichelle Prince goal off a cross from Cloé Lacasse.

Canada had gotten the offensive volume and variety they needed: four different goal scorers netting two from set pieces and two from open play.

A Respectable Showing Against the United States

Canada’s five-match scoring drought began on July 2 in a 3–0 trouncing by the United States, which showed that the gulf in quality had widened between these North American rivals. Because of the current vastness of this gulf, a key objective for Canada at the SheBelieves Cup was simply to keep their second match tight, which they managed to do.

Although the Americans outshot the Canadians 16–5 and held 65% of the possession, Les Rouges maintained a high work rate for 90 minutes and conceded only one goal in the 1–0 loss. Vanessa Gilles, replacing an ill Jessie Fleming as team captain, was a stalwart defender and leader.

The biggest disappointment was the manner in which Canada conceded. Just like the second goal in their previous loss to the United States, this goal stemmed from poor marking on a corner kick. Set-piece defending needs to be high on Stoney’s list of things to improve.

An Uninspiring Finish Against Argentina

The CanWNT still had a chance to hoist their first-ever SheBelieves Cup on March 7. If they could beat the lowest-ranked side, Argentina, in regulation time, the United States would need a win or a draw against Colombia to secure their spot atop the table. The circumstances called for a high-intensity performance, but Canada often looked more torpid than rapid in attack.

Canada struggled to open up spaces in Argentina’s compact 5–3–2 defensive structure because the ball and player movement lacked quickness and creativity. Mimi Alidou, suspended for yellow card accumulation, was sorely missed in this regard.

Scoreless after 90 minutes, the match went to penalties. Canada’s goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan made two clutch stops and celebrated the win when Argentina’s Vanina Preininger blasted a must-make shot over the crossbar.

Canada received two points for the shootout win, but the more poignant number was their goose egg in the 0–0 scoreline. They had been shut out again. The 4–1 victory over Colombia suddenly seemed less like a watershed and more like an oasis, surrounded by a desert of seven matches without a single Canadian goal.

The pressure was off the United States, who defeated Colombia to finish the tournament on nine points, marking their eighth triumph at the SheBelieves Cup.

Can the Youth Bring Goals?

The CanWNT have three promising attackers who are just getting started in their international careers: Kaylee Hunter (18 years old) of AFC Toronto, Annabelle Chukwu (19) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Holly Ward (22) of the Vancouver Rise. During the SheBelieves Cup, these raw but talented players sometimes brought sparks to a Canadian offence that needs to be ignited.

Hunter, Chukwu, and Ward bring speed, boldness, and flashes of brilliance. If one or more of these raw players can really get cooking on the road to the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, it will help Canada put their goal-scoring woes behind them.