Fierce Competition Awaits: Women’s Top Teams to Watch in Paris
Photo Credit: USA Field Hockey
Manahawkin, NJ - When Team USA takes the field later this July, they’ll be doing so as part of a 12-team, worldwide representation of the best of women’s field hockey. The Olympic tournament will start out with teams broken out into two pools where they will face off round-robin style to determine who will proceed to the quarterfinals. The preliminary rounds can be a grueling experience as the teams are ranked on total points, matches won, total goals, and goal differential.
For the 2024 Paris Games, the field is stacked with talent, both newcomers and familiar faces alike. Here, we’re taking a closer look at the teams and players expected to showdown at the Olympics this summer in what will undoubtedly be a fierce and fantastic competition.
Don’t let the U.S. Women’s National Team ranking going into the Olympics fool you. While coming into the competition ranked in 13th place, Team USA is packed with talent that has been carefully curated by a top-notch coaching staff. Led by co-captains Ashley Hoffman and Amanda Golini, the U.S. women expect to catch the competition off their guard. An amazing blend of strong leadership, rising talent, and on-field compatibility promise to give the team a boost as play begins. Team USA qualified for the Olympics after surprising their opponents and taking the silver during the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier earlier this year, defeating India, Italy, New Zealand, and Japan along the way. This momentum is expected to carry the team into Paris where they start competition with a Pool B match against Argentina.
The team from Argentina, in its own turn, is an intense group of women going into the 2024 Olympic Games. With field hockey as the most popular women’s sport in Argentina, the players are highly competitive, and the team is currently ranked second in the world. With over 200 caps, players and fans should pay close attention to forward and two-time Olympian María José Granatto on the field, who is known to dominate the offense with fearless determination. Having won the silver during the 2020 Tokyo Games, the 2012 London Games, and the 2000 Sydney Games, Argentina has captured five medals across eight Olympic tournaments. Team Argentina will no doubt have their eyes set on the gold this time around.
Surpassing the on-field prowess of the Argentine women is the team representing the Netherlands. Ranked first in the world by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the women from the Netherlands won the gold during the 2020 Tokyo Games, adding a fourth gold medal to their collection of nine total Olympic medals. Considered one of the most dominant teams to play the sport, the Netherlands’ national team is expected to make a strong showing once again in Paris. They’ll be taking on host nation France to start play in Pool A and will be a formidable opponent across the competition. Look for midfielder Xan de Waard and forward Maria Verschoor, set to compete in their third Games, to lead a roster flush with talent.
Fans should pay close attention to the German national team, which comes into the Paris Olympics ranked third in the world. With a strong showing during the qualifiers in Ranchi, India, earlier this year, the German women are eager to make their mark at the Olympics, with their last gold coming 20 years ago during the 2004 Athens Games. Not to be outdone, the world’s fourth-ranked team, Belgium, is expected to have an impact on Pool A play as they start the competition by taking on China. Fifth-ranked Australia will also be aiming to regain its footing on the international field, with its last medal (a gold) coming during the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Midfielder Jane Claxton is expected to continue making a mark in her third Olympics after helping the Hockeyroos qualify for the Games with a victory over New Zealand during the 2023 Oceania Cup.
Finally, eighth ranked Team China should not be underestimated at the upcoming Paris Games. Led by head coach Alyson Annan, the team is poised for surprises. Annan, a highly accomplished Australian field hockey legend, boasts two Olympic golds as a player and has earned two Olympic medals as the former coach of the Netherlands. Her exceptional track record and coaching expertise make China a formidable contender.
The competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics should be exhilarating for fans across the globe. The stage is set for some of the most exciting matches, with favorites and newcomers ready to show off their talent and tenacity. Don’t miss a minute of the action once it kicks off on July 27 with Team USA playing against Argentina in pool play.
You are invited to join our expert coach panel as they discuss insights and tactical trends from the first week of Olympic field hockey pool play. Paris Olympic Insights: Tactical Trends & Expert Analysis”. Register here.
NFHCA Blog Disclaimer
All content on this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for NCAA compliance or legal advice. The NFHCA recognizes that the accuracy of the content and opinions in this blog may change over time. The blog site may contain links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties. Such external links are not monitored or endorsed by the NFHCA and the NFHCA does not control such external websites or their content. The NFHCA will not be held responsible for the content of any message from external websites or contributing authors.
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.