Women's Soccer Weekly

Long-time Canadian women's national team member is ready for Rio, but opts to stay behind with her club​ team.

​

One of the highest honors of an athlete's career is to compete in the Olympic games. The chance to represent your country and vie for a place on the podium as your country's anthem is played is the stuff that dreams are made of. That is what makes Kaylyn Kyle's request to stay behind with her club team, the Orlando Pride, so remarkable.

​

"It says a lot about Kaylyn as a player and a person" Sermanni said in his praise for Kyle, "it shows a great commitment to this club and this city that she wants to stay and play."

​

To be clear, the Canadian veteran was selected as an alternate, not a full member of the 18 member roster, and will be ready to hop on a plane at a moment's notice. Still, Kyle has won praise from around the city for her commitment.

​​

"The fact that Kaylyn Kyle is willing to forego the pomp and circumstance of an Olympic games, even as an alternate, to play in sweltering Florida heat says something about her commitment to this club and this city." says Lauren, an Orlando Pride fan.

​

​

Kaylyn Kyle's decision may go down as a historic moment for the league. Foregoing travel to an Olympics is commonplace in the men's game, but absolutely unheard of in the women's game.

​

​

​

.