Canadian star striker Olivia Smith, who sustained an injury during a 1-0 defeat against Switzerland, has now headed back to her club in England to receive treatment for a hip pointer. Canada Soccer announced that the 21-year-old athlete from Whitby, Ont., will be undergoing her recovery process at Arsenal in London.
Additionally, teenage forward Kaylee Hunter has also departed from the national team due to an injury she suffered before the game against Switzerland. The 17-year-old player from Calgary did not participate in the match in Lucerne and has returned to AFC Toronto to continue her rehabilitation.
The Canadian women’s team, ranked ninth globally, aims to recover from their recent loss to the 24th-ranked Swiss team as they prepare to face the 11th-ranked Netherlands in Nijmegen on Tuesday. They are slated to conclude the year 2025 with matches against the eighth-ranked Japan during the November FIFA window.
Smith, who was injured in her debut game for Canada since moving from Liverpool to Arsenal in July for a then-record transfer fee of one million pounds ($1.87 million), suffered the injury in the 32nd minute after a collision with Swiss defender Viola Calligaris. The incident led to Smith requiring medical attention on the field before being taken off in a golf cart.
Canada’s head coach, Casey Stoney, expressed disappointment over the injury, stating that Smith had also been forced to exit a previous game against Haiti early. Stoney highlighted Smith’s talent and the impact of her absence on the team’s performance.
Smith, who was honored as Canada Youth Player of the year in 2019 and 2024, has showcased her prowess with three goals and three assists in 19 senior appearances for the national team. On the other hand, Hunter, who boasts an impressive record of 14 goals and three assists in the Northern Super League this season, missed out on the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup as her club, AFC Toronto, declined to release her for the tournament.
Despite the setbacks faced by Smith and Hunter, the Canadian women’s team is gearing up for their upcoming challenges with determination and focus.