Junior Women's National Team Set for Jr. Pan American Games Qualifier, Final Roster Named

USA Team Handball's Junior Women's National Team will head to Mexico City to compete in the Junior Pan American Games Qualifier, with the top 3 teams clinching a berth in the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, hosted in Asuncion, Paraguay from Aug. 9-16.

Sixteen athletes will represent the United States at the tournament, with nine having competed at the 2024 IHF U20 Women's World Championship last June.

JUNIOR WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM (in alphabetical order) – JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN GAMES QUALIFIER FINAL ROSTER

Thomas Baeckmann will lead the team in his first tournament at the helm of the Junior Women's National Team, and he will be assisted by Liz Hartnett and Pauline Marangoni. Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico will join the American squad at the qualifier.

"Our main goal in Mexico City is to qualify for the Pan American Games," Baeckmann said. "For the older players, this is a great opportunity to take the next step toward the Senior National Team, and for the younger ones, it's a valuable experience on the international stage.

The squad will see four debutants at the tournament - Braschoss, Jovric, Ruggiero, and Schlapfer - with Ruggiero hailing from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

"We have built a strong roster with a good mix of European and American-based players. As a coach, my top priority is that we come together as a team, develop our game, and help each other take the next step. On defense, we want to be the most unpleasant opponent you can play against."

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SCHEDULE - ROUND ROBIN STYLE

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