Veteran striker Hannah Wilkinson has been left out of the Football Ferns squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
With 122 international caps to her name, Wilkinson has been a fixture for the side over the past 14 years, scoring the winning goal in the historic win over Norway in their World Cup opener in Auckland last year.
But the 32-year-old has missed out on a spot in the 18-strong squad to travel to France.
The group features 10 players who will be part of an Olympic campaign for the first time in Mackenzie Barry, Milly Clegg, Macey Fraser, Ally Green. Jacqui Hand, Grace Jale, Katie Kitching, India Paige-Riley, Malia Steinmetz, and Kate Taylor.
Assistant Michael Mayne will step in as head coach in the absence of Jitka Klimkova, who will delay her return to squad from her leave of absence after an incident that has seen her lose the confidence of her players.
Mayne says the team is excited to get to work and make an impact in Paris.
"I am clear on the outcomes we want to achieve, and we will be doing all we can to collectively accomplish those goals," said Mayne.
"With this tournament having smaller squads than something like the FIFA Women's World Cup we have had to make some tough decisions, but through our selection process, we have selected 18 players we believe can achieve the outcomes we want and are prepared for the challenges we will face.
"It is great to be able to give over half the squad their Olympic debuts, and I know it will be a proud moment for all of the players and staff to wear the fern in France.
"There is no doubt this can be a special event for us, and we will draw on the uniqueness of representing the entire New Zealand Olympic team to give us the edge we will need."
The team will play a warm-up game against Zambia on July 14, before beginning their Olympic campaign against Canada on July 26.
They'll also face Colombia (July 29) and hosts France (August 1) in the group stage.
Football Ferns Olympic squad:
Mackenzie Barry* (16 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
CJ Bott (46 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (109 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Milly Clegg* (8 caps) Racing Louisville FC, USA
Victoria Esson (23 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Macey Fraser* (5 caps) Utah Royals, USA
Ally Green* (14 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand* (27 caps) Unattached
Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
Katie Kitching* (10 caps) Sunderland AFC, England
Anna Leat (18 caps) Aston Villa FC, England
Meikayla Moore (65 caps) Unattached
Gabi Rennie (37 caps) Åland United, Finland
Ali Riley (162 caps) Angel City FC, USA
Indiah-Paige Riley* (24 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Malia Steinmetz* (31 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (102 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor* (16 caps) Unattached
*First time being involved in an Olympic campaign
In addition, Claudia Bunge (HB Koge, Denmark), Michaela Foster (Unattached), Annalie Longo (Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand), and Murphy Sheaff (Kansas State University, USA) have been named as travelling reserves.
Veteran striker Hannah Wilkinson has been left out of the Football Ferns squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
With 122 international caps to her name, Wilkinson has been a fixture for the side over the past 14 years, scoring the winning goal in the historic win over Norway in their World Cup opener in Auckland last year.
But the 32-year-old has missed out on a spot in the 18-strong squad to travel to France.
The group features 10 players who will be part of an Olympic campaign for the first time in Mackenzie Barry, Milly Clegg, Macey Fraser, Ally Green. Jacqui Hand, Grace Jale, Katie Kitching, India Paige-Riley, Malia Steinmetz, and Kate Taylor.
Assistant Michael Mayne will step in as head coach in the absence of Jitka Klimkova, who will delay her return to squad from her leave of absence after an incident that has seen her lose the confidence of her players.
Mayne says the team is excited to get to work and make an impact in Paris.
"I am clear on the outcomes we want to achieve, and we will be doing all we can to collectively accomplish those goals," said Mayne.
"With this tournament having smaller squads than something like the FIFA Women's World Cup we have had to make some tough decisions, but through our selection process, we have selected 18 players we believe can achieve the outcomes we want and are prepared for the challenges we will face.
"It is great to be able to give over half the squad their Olympic debuts, and I know it will be a proud moment for all of the players and staff to wear the fern in France.
"There is no doubt this can be a special event for us, and we will draw on the uniqueness of representing the entire New Zealand Olympic team to give us the edge we will need."
The team will play a warm-up game against Zambia on July 14, before beginning their Olympic campaign against Canada on July 26.
They'll also face Colombia (July 29) and hosts France (August 1) in the group stage.
Football Ferns Olympic squad:
Mackenzie Barry* (16 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
CJ Bott (46 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (109 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Milly Clegg* (8 caps) Racing Louisville FC, USA
Victoria Esson (23 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Macey Fraser* (5 caps) Utah Royals, USA
Ally Green* (14 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand* (27 caps) Unattached
Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
Katie Kitching* (10 caps) Sunderland AFC, England
Anna Leat (18 caps) Aston Villa FC, England
Meikayla Moore (65 caps) Unattached
Gabi Rennie (37 caps) Åland United, Finland
Ali Riley (162 caps) Angel City FC, USA
Indiah-Paige Riley* (24 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Malia Steinmetz* (31 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (102 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor* (16 caps) Unattached
*First time being involved in an Olympic campaign
In addition, Claudia Bunge (HB Koge, Denmark), Michaela Foster (Unattached), Annalie Longo (Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand), and Murphy Sheaff (Kansas State University, USA) have been named as travelling reserves.
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