Simmonds, Three VFLs Headed To 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Tennessee will be well-represented at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup as sophomore
Kameron Simmonds and three former UT standouts are set to compete on soccer's grandest stage. The month-long tournament will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand and begin July 20.
Simmonds makes her World Cup debut as a forward for Jamaica alongside
Bunny Shaw, while
Hannah Wilkinson plays for host-country New Zealand, and
Michelle Alozie represents Nigeria.
UT has had a player active in every Women's World Cup dating back to 1999. The Lady Vols had three players active in both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, but the four in 2023 marks a program best. This year's foursome brings the number of VFLs appearing in a World Cup to seven, joining Kendyl Michner (Mexico), Rhian Wilkinson (Canada), and Marie-Eve Nault (Canada).
"It's an incredible honor to play in a World Cup, and we wish the best of luck to our current and former players representing their countries later this month," said Tennessee head coach
Joe Kirt. "We are excited to watch each of them compete on the world stage and take pride in the part Tennessee Soccer has played to aid in their development. These four women are a testament to the level of talent coming to Tennessee to win championships here while preparing for what lies ahead."
Simmonds attended her first camp with the senior squad last fall during her rookie season at UT. She was called into camp again in January of 2023 and netted her first international goal for the senior team against the Czech Republic at the 2023 Cup of Nations. She has previously taken the field with the Jamaican U-20 and U-17 teams, scoring a goal last year at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. As a freshman on Rocky Top, Simmonds appeared in 16 contests and netted four goals, including the game-winner in a crucial 1-0 victory on the road against Auburn.
Shaw is making her second World Cup appearance, having led Jamaica as the Reggae Girlz qualified for their first-ever World Cup in France in 2019. The 2022 CONCACAF Women's Player of the Year is at the top of her game, having scored 31 goals across 30 competitions during the 2022-23 season to set the record for most goals scored by a woman during a single season, surpassing the previous highest total of 25 goals set by Nikita Parris. Twenty of those goals came during Manchester City's WSL campaign, setting a new club record. She played a key role in Jamaica qualifying for the 2023 Women's World Cup, amassing three goals during the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, including the game-winner in Jamaica's 1-0 opening-round victory over Mexico. A 2018 All-American at Tennessee and two-time All-SEC First Team nominee, Shaw tallied 27 goals during her two seasons on Rocky Top and owns UT career records for points per game (1.86) and goals per game (0.77). Fourteen of those goals were game-winners, with her seven in both 2017 and 2018 ranking first in single-season records.
A long-time staple on the Ferns' frontline, this will mark the fourth World Cup appearance for Wilkinson. She posted a standout career for the Big Orange from 2012-16, finishing her time in Knoxville as the No. 2 goal scorer in program history with 33. The Whangarei, New Zealand native was a two-time First Team All-SEC performer and became UT's fifth All-American with a third team nod from the NSCAA in 2012.
Alozie joined the Houston Dash in 2021, the same year in which she made her senior debut for Nigeria, entering as a sub in the 65th minute in a June friendly against Jamaica. A 2019 grad transfer from Yale, she finished her lone season on Rocky Top with three goals in 17 appearances.
See below for a group play schedule and TV listings.
GROUP A (New Zealand – Hannah Wilkinson)
Thursday, July 20 | New Zealand vs. Norway | 3 a.m. ET | Fox Sports/Peacock
Tuesday, July 25 | New Zealand vs. Philippines | 1:30 a.m. ET | FS1/Peacock
Sunday, July 30 | New Zealand vs. Switzerland | 3 a.m. ET | Fox Sports/Peacock
GROUP B (Nigeria – Michelle Alozie)
Thursday, July 20 | Nigeria vs. Canada | 10:30 p.m. ET | Fox Sports/Peacock
Thursday, July 27 | Nigeria vs. Australia | 6 a.m. ET | FS1/Peacock
Monday, July 31 | Nigeria vs. Republic of Ireland | 6 a.m. ET | FS1/Peacock
GROUP F (Jamaica - Bunny Shaw/Kameron Simmonds)
Sunday, July 23 | Jamaica vs. France | 6 a.m. ET | Fox Sports/Peacock
Saturday, July 29 | Jamaica vs. Panama | 8:30 a.m. ET | Fox Sports/Peacock
Wednesday, Aug. 2 | Jamaica vs. Brazil | 6 a.m. ET | FS1/Peacock