<\/p>\n
SANDY, Utah \u2014 Utah Royals forward and Canadian native Clo\u00e9 Lacasse grew up in Sudbury, Ontario \u2014 a place with major roots on the ice. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a hockey town. I\u2019m not going to lie. There\u2019s not many soccer players that come out of my town,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But instead of chasing pucks, Lacasse chased soccer balls and has scored goals all over the world. Her professional soccer career has taken her to multiple countries and clubs, each experience sharpening her skills and fueling her national team dreams \u2014 a dream that would see her take the pitch in Canada\u2019s national team jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was getting to a point where I didn\u2019t think it was going to happen,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n
Her moment finally came at age 28 \u2014 and it was more than just personal achievement.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, [putting on that jersey] has always been a very prideful moment because it kind of accumulates all of the moments and the work that my family and my community put behind my career. Getting to step out onto the pitch wearing that Canadian crest is special for me, but also for them,\u201d Lacasse said.<\/p>\n
Since then, she\u2019s built an impressive Team Canada r\u00e9sum\u00e9: 46 caps, six goals, six assists, an Olympic appearance in Paris, and even a trip to the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe World Cup is definitely\u2026 there\u2019s nothing like it,\u201d Lacasse explained. \u201cIt\u2019s a celebration of so many different cultures coming together to celebrate the game. The game is played everywhere in the world \u2014 in the smallest towns, in the places you\u2019d never expect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lacasse appeared in all three of Team Canada\u2019s matches at the 2023 Women\u2019s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe history of the World Cup is so rich. Being a part of that was special, and I don’t think it’s anything that any footballer takes lightly. They know getting there is incredible, and it’s not many people that get that opportunity as well, so we have to celebrate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her name is now etched into Canada\u2019s soccer and World Cup history.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n