Veteran midfielder returns to Football Ferns squad
Betsy Hassett of New Zealand during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
One of New Zealand's most experienced players Betsy Hassett returns to the Football Ferns squad for next month's internationals against Venezuela in Spain.
The 157-cap midfielder will play for the Ferns for the first time since giving birth in 2024, and will travel to Spain with her son and partner.
There are five changes to the squad that toured Taiwan last month.
Calgary Wild's Ally Green, Newcastle Jets' Deven Jackson, Wellington Phoenix's Grace Jale, and Melbourne City's Rebekah Stott all return, as interim coach Michael Mayne continues to examine a range of players in the team environment to build depth across the pitch ahead of the next FIFA Women's World Cup cycle.
"As with previous windows, the priority for us at this stage of the cycle is building competition in the squad ahead of the next World Cup, so it is good to welcome back some players who weren't in the squad in the last or last few windows.
"Following her return to football and her progress, it's great to call Betsy back into the Football Ferns whānau after giving birth to her son last year.
"Venezuela will be a good challenge for us at this point in the cycle, so I'm looking forward to working with the team to continue implementing our new playing model and seeing some strong individual performances to promote a dominant team performance in Spain."
The full 24-player squad is:
Liz Anton (21 caps/0 goals) Kolbotn IL, Norway
Kelli Brown (2/0) Perth Glory, Australia
Claudia Bunge (33/0) Melbourne Victory, Australia
Milly Clegg (13/1) Halifax Tides, Canada
Manaia Elliott (1/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Victoria Esson (26/0) Rangers, Scotland
Michaela Foster (24/1) Durham FC, England
Ally Green (17/2) Calgary Wild, Canada
Maya Hahn (2/1) FFC Turbine Potsdam, Germany
Jacqui Hand (33/8) Sheffield United, England
Betsy Hassett (157/15) Stjarnan FC, Iceland
Deven Jackson (1/0) Newcastle Jets, Australia
Grace Jale (34/8) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Claudia Jenkins (0/0) Adelaide United, Australia
Katie Kitching (16/5) Sunderland AFC, England
Annalie Longo (138/15) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Meikayla Moore (69/4) Calgary Wild, Canada
Ruby Nathan (5/1) Canberra United, Australia
Grace Neville (12/0) London City Lionesses, England
Emma Pijnenburg (1/0) Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands
Alina Santos (0/0) University of Denver, USA
Rebekah Stott (106/4) Melbourne City, Australia
Kate Taylor (23/2) Dijon FCO, France
Grace Wisnewski (3/0) Lexington SC, USA
Of players named in Ford Football Ferns squads in the last year, CJ Bott, Katie Bowen, Macey Fraser, Anna Leat, Malia Steinmetz, Jana Radosavljević, Ali Riley, and Indiah-Paige Riley were not available for selection due to injury concerns or return to play considerations.
The Ford Football Ferns face Venezuela on Sunday 1 June 2025 at 4am NZT and Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 4am NZT.
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