Tournament Preview: 2023 NACHC Women's Championship
by USA Team Handball
USA Team Handball's Womens National Team will kick off its journey at the 2023 North American and Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC) Women's Championship on Tuesday, June 6th vs Canada at 3:30 EST.
The US enters the tournament looking to better their 4th place finish at the 2021 edition of the tournament. Mexico and Greenland join the US as participants from two years ago, with Cuba and Canada also playing in the tournament this year.
The US continues round robin play against Greenland on Wednesday, June 7th (6pm EST), takes on Mexico on Friday, June 9th (3:30pm EST), and closes out with a match versus Cuba on Saturday, June 10th (3:30pm EST).
After round robin group play in the five-team tournament, the 1st and 2nd place teams and will play in the Final and the 3rd and 4th place teams will play in the bronze medal match.
The tournament, being held in the semi-remote Nuuk, Greenland, brings sixteen athletes from all over the world together, representing the red, white, and blue. Four of the athletes-Sophie Fasold, Maria Vallone, Sarah Gascon, and Julia Taylor- were a part of the squad at the 2021 NACHC Women's Championship in Elgin, Illinois. At that tournament, the US fell to Puerto Rico (28:20), Greenland (28:18) and Mexico (25:21), but are looking to change their success at the 2023 tournament.
In addition, the US has faced Canada more recently, falling in two Pan American Games Qualification matches in November, by scores of 21:14 and 23:17, with Kathy Darling, a veteran of the national team, scoring 12 goals in the doubleheader.
Along with veteran players, the team has newer athletes to the fold, including pivot Payton McCarthy from The Ohio State University, as well as Katie Timmerman, who only recently discovered the sport of team handball, but earned her spot through her performances at recent Women's National Team camps in Torrance, CA and Dallas, TX.
The winner of the confederation title automatically qualifies to the 2023 IHF Women's World Championships. Having not qualified for the World Championships since 1995, this would be an historic feat for the USA squad if they can capture the championship.
Stay tuned to USA Team Handball social media for more information about where to watch and updates throughout the tournament!