Laura Roper, who signed off a 20-year club career in April, has been chosen to represent Team GB for her fourth and final Olympic Games next month in Paris.
Roper, 36, is Britain’s most decorated hockey player after winning medals at her last three Games appearances. Team GB have won bronze, gold and bronze since London 2012. Meanwhile, Team GB’s men was also announced on Tuesday – click here for the squad.
Captain Hollie Pearne-Webb, Hockey Paper columnist Lily Owsley and Giselle Ansley have been selected for their third Games, having previously enjoyed medal success in both Rio and Tokyo.
Six of the squad are returning for their second games and six are making their debut including Tess Howard, injured for the Tokyo 2020 Games, and Charlotte Watson, who were both in the goals at the recent FIH Pro League in London. Sophie Hamilton also makes her debut appearance and is one of GB’s standout stars for the future.
–READ MORE: Paris Olympics: Hockey schedule, match fixtures
–Our full Olympic coverage of 2024 Games
There is no place for Grace Balsdon, who was also in the goals with GB’s penalty corner attacks, but will travel as one of two reserves. East Grinstead team mate Ellie Rayer, regarded as the quickest on the team, has also been omitted.
Defender and corner flicker Ansley will return to GB duties this month after injury.
Meanwhile, Miriam Pritchard will head to Paris as Team GB’s No.1 goalkeeper in her first Games. Sabbie Heesh, who was looking an assured stopper ahead of GB’s first Games without the retired Maddie Hinch, injured her knee in March.
Jess Buchanan, the young Scot who debuted in goal this month for GB, is selected as a reserve.
Paris 2024 will revert to its existing rules for squad reserves — despite the threat of a heatwave during the Games this summer.
Women’s head coach David Ralph said: “A huge congratulations to the players that have been selected to represent Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Whether this is your fourth Games or your first, being selected for an Olympics is an incredibly special moment which I know means a lot to all of our players.
“The GB women’s squad has a long history at the Olympic Games, and we now have the opportunity to create our own history. This is our moment and our chance to create memories for life.
“To the whole squad, I want to recognise their hard work and dedication that they’ve shown for the whole cycle. They have all played and will continue to play a really important role in terms of making sure the selected squad go into the Games in the best position possible.”
Team GB Women’s Hockey Squad:
Giselle Ansley, Amy Costello, Fiona Crackles, Hannah French, Sophie Hamilton, Tess Howard, Sarah Jones, Lily Owsley, Hollie Pearne-Webb, Flora Peel, Izzy Petter, Miriam Pritchard (GK), Sarah Robertson, Laura Roper, Anna Toman, Charlotte Watson.
Reserves: Grace Balsdon, Jess Buchanan (GK), Lily Walker.
Ellie Rayer is a surprise omission to me; I know she does not score many goals, but her pace is a very useful weapon.