There are some heavy hitters who were named today to the team for the May 14 U.S. Nations Cup, the country’s next step toward earning a berth at the Paris Olympics next year. Unlike the Nations Cup in Wellington earlier this month, the May Cup in California is a qualifier for the Barcelona Nations Cup finals this fall. One place from that competition will guarantee a country a team spot in Paris if it comes in ahead of countries that are already qualified for the 2024 Games.
McLain Ward and Laura Kraut, longtime pillars of U.S. success, are part of the team. Also selected were Lillie Keenan, Nick Dello Joio (son of Olympic medalist Norman Dello Joio) and Karl Cook, who has been on a winning streak this year.
McLain Ward’s mileage will be crucial for the team competing i California’s Nations Cup. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
If the Barcelona strategy doesn’t work in terms of a ticket for Paris, the U.S. will have one more shot later in the year at the Pan American Games. That competition in Chile should be a dilly for countries that haven’t qualified, a list that could include Brazil and Canada. Three countries from the Americas can make the cut at the Pan Ams.