Allysha Chapman (pictured) and Melissa Tancredit to be honoured by Canada Soccer Monday night in Toronto

Two of the toughest players in Canadian women’s football history will be getting their flowers Monday in a friendly against Denmark at Toronto’s BMO Stadium.

Allysha Chapman, the pride of Courtice, will play in her 100th cap for her country in the game and be honoured with a retirement ceremony befitting a player who has been involved in some of the most significant moments in women’s national team history.

Melissa Tancredi, now a Doctor of Chiropractic in Vancouver and a hard-nosed forward nicknamed ‘Tanc’ with 125 caps to her name, will also be celebrated Tuesday for her induction into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.

Chapman made her senior Canada debut in 2014 and went on to become a mainstay of the national team’s back line.

Her international career is highlighted by two Olympic medals – including gold in Tokyo – three FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances, the 2016 Algarve Cup title and four Concacaf silver medals.

A left-back with two career goals for her country, Chapman helped Canada earn Olympic bronze at Rio 2016 and the country’s historic Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020. She also represented Canada at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, 2019 and 2023. In 2016, she was named to the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Best XI.

One of Chapman’s most memorable moments came at Rio 2016. After suffering a separated shoulder in Canada’s quarterfinal victory over France, she missed the semifinal before returning to the field in the bronze-medal match against Brazil. Chapman entered in the 59th minute and helped Canada defeat the hosts 2-1 to claim its second consecutive Olympic bronze medal.

Chapman, a fierce competitor, also earned plenty of attention for a hot mic moment in the 2023 World Cup in a match against Australia when a live microphone picked up an exchange between Chapman and Australian coach Tony Gustavsson after an on-field collision with forward Haley Raso. Chapman’s response to the shade being thrown from the sidelines from the Matildas coach – “She fu**ing jumped into me, you twat” – quickly went viral and prompted an apology from the BBC commentators on the language.

“Allysha has given so much to the Canadian national team and has been an important part of some of the biggest moments in the history of this team,” said Canada WNT coach Casey Stone. “Her competitiveness, grit and determination have been such a big part of her career, and reaching 100 caps is a tremendous achievement. It speaks to the level of commitment and consistency it takes to represent your country at the highest level for so many years. She deserves that moment, and I know everyone in the group is looking forward to celebrating her and everything she has given to Canada.”

Chapman continues to ply her trade for Houston in the NWSL.

Tancredi played with the national team from 2004 to 2017, playing in three World Cups (2007, 2011 and 2015) and three Olympic tournaments (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016), earning two bronze medals.

She scored 27 goals in Canada colours.

A pioneer in women’s club soccer, the Hamilton-born Tancredi played in Detroit, Atlanta, St. Louis and Vancouver in the W-League, for Pietà in Sweden and Chicago in the NWSL.

Canada Soccer will celebrate the careers of both players in the match against Denmark, the second of two games against the Danish side during the October FIFA international window and the team’s final opportunity to prepare for the 2026 Concacaf W Championship, where qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and LA28 Olympic Games will be on the line.

Hamilton’s Melissa Tancredi


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