Casey Stoney is the Right Coach for CANWNT
After being fired from the San Diego Wave, Casey Stoney finally returns to coaching. Stoney has been announced as the new head coach of the Canadian Women’s National Team (CANWNT). She is taking over from interim head coach Andy Spence. She is coming at a crucial time for CANWNT, which is still recovering from the fresh memory of the Olympics drone scandal. One thing that is clear is that Casey Stoney is the right coach for CANWNT.
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Casey Stoney Is Coming In Post-Drone Scandal
Casey Stoney’s task isn’t easy, but she has what it takes to be the right coach for CANWNT. Stoney is joining CANWNT at a crucial time after their recent drone scandal during the Olympics. The scandal started after Canada was caught using drones to spy on New Zealand. At first, Bev Priestman, Canada’s previous head coach, said she wasn’t involved.
However, the Canadian Olympic Committee released a statement stating Priestman was suspended for the rest of the Olympics. Later, it was revealed that Priestman was involved in the drone scandal. Following an independent review by Canada, Priestman was fired. She left behind a shocked team that was faced with criticism.
How CANWNT’s Players Were Affected
Stoney will have a job to do: bring back the players’ confidence. The drone scandal cost them a deduction of six points in the Olympics. Despite qualifying for the quarterfinals, Canada lost against Germany. It was rough for the players who suddenly found themselves without their head coach. They also had to defend themselves against the allegations of them knowing about drones being used.
Vanessa Gilles was one of the players who showed the impact of the allegations. “We’re not cheaters. We’re damn good players,” Gilles told reporters back then. Even Canada’s legend, Christine Sinclair, defended the players by sharing a statement on her Instagram account.
“I want to be clear that having been a national team player for 23 years, we were never shown or discussed drone footage in team or individual meetings I’ve been present for,” Sinclair wrote. Now, as Stoney takes charge of the Tokyo Games’ gold medalists, she could face some doubt. Stoney will have a lot on her plate.
What Stoney Said About Joining CANWNT
Stoney told CBC Sports in an interview how she feels about her new job. The coach already realizes that she will have to gain the trust of the players.
“I think it’s really important to build that connection with them, start to build that trust in them as a coach and make sure I get to know them as people. I’m here to do a job for Canada. I’m here to take this program forward,” Stoney said.
She believes in their talent and acknowledges that the players are “such a resilient group.” Stoney knows what she can bring to the table, and one of them is supporting the players.
In a call with the players, Stoney said: “I’m a players’ coach. ‘I’m here for you, I’m here to support you, I’m here to challenge you, I’m here to stretch you, I’m here to guide you. My leadership is about making you better.’”
CANWNT Players Think Casey Stoney is the Right Coach for Them
It’s clear to many that Casey Stoney is the right coach for CANWNT. The players themselves think that. Some players contacted her and had “really positive reactions” about having her as a coach. Janine Beckie also told CBC Sports that Stoney is the “perfect fit” for the job.
“I can speak for myself and the excitement I feel to have a manager with her experience, personality, reputation and character. I think she’s the perfect fit to come in at this point in our journey as a team,” Beckie said.
Beckie isn’t the only one who believes that Casey Stoney is the right coach for CANWNT. Even previous players think the same, including the three-time Olympic medalist Desiree Scott.
“She’s got a good resume behind her, a lot of playing experience as well. I think she wants to just continue to grow the game, help us turn the leaf with a lot of things that have been happening recently. I think she’s really going to develop players in the program,” Scott told CBC Sports.
Stoney Has Come So Far
There is no doubt that Stoney deserves her new job. She has been through a lot, especially with her departure from San Diego Wave. Stoney knows that everything she went through has given her the experience needed to reach this point.
“I’ve got lots of experience having been part of the bidding process for the WSL in England, having played there for so many years. I’ve run academies. I’ve worked in laundry. I’ve driven the minibus and run the first team,” she told The Athletic’s “Full Time” podcast.
Stoney’s Experience Speaks for Itself
What makes Casey Stoney the right coach for CANWNT isn’t just her personality; she has a lot of experience. During her three seasons with the San Diego Wave, Stoney became a hero in the eyes of the club’s fans. She won the NWSL Shield in 2023 and the NWSL Challenge Cup in 2024. Plus, she deservedly won the NWSL Coach of the Year trophy.
But Stoney didn’t just lead the San Diego Wave to success, she also shaped them. She is an integral part of their history despite how she left the team.
Stoney is an excellent coach. She searches for success, and most of the time, she finds it. Even during her time in the WSL, she made history. With Manchester United, she brought more joy to another group of fans as she helped get the team promoted to the WSL. Before leaving the club in May 2021, Stoney had two fourth-place finishes under her name.
Proving She’s the Right Coach for CANWNT
Casey Stoney also knows what she is capable of, and one thing that she can do is become the right coach for CANWNT. She is looking at the USWNT, one of the best national teams in the world at this moment, if not the best. She knows that if CANWNT were to succeed under her leadership, then they have to keep clean sheets like the USWNT previously did.
“If you want to win things, you’ve got to keep clean sheets. The USWNT showed that in the previous tournament, and it’s about how you can now score goals in crucial moments and create more opportunities to score goals. We’ve got a huge amount of talent in our current pool of players and the pool coming through. It’s about embedding a style and a philosophy where we can use the ball effectively,” she said.
Stoney Won’t Change Canada’s Culture
While Stoney has work to do when it comes to bringing confidence back to the players and leading them, she won’t change the culture already there.
“Everything I’ve heard about this culture, it doesn’t need changing. It just needs me to lead it, embrace it and take it in the right direction. They’ve got a very strong unity and culture in their player pool. It’s about setting standards and expectations and having clarity around that,” she said.
Paving the Way for Female Coaches
The fact that Stoney became the head coach for CANWNT is delightful for soccer fans who want to see more female coaches. The NWSL is already losing female coaches with the endings of Stoney and Utah’s Amy Rodriguez. Now, Stoney wants to help other female coaches.
“It’s also part of my duty as a coach to make sure I’m opening the doors for other female coaches to come into the environment,” she said. Stoney is already hoping that one day, CANWNT will be led by a Canadian female. “Eventually, hopefully, this job is held by a Canadian female and not me.”
She even commented on how San Diego Wave replaced her with a man after the signing of former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall.
“Would I like to see more female coaches? Absolutely. You lost one at Wave and gained a man. It’s one of those situations where that happens. But we can only make sure that we keep pushing the agenda for more females in the game at all levels, not just in coaching, but at executive level, in all roles, to make sure that it’s accessible to everybody,” Stoney said.
The Future Is Bright For Stoney
Now, Casey Stoney must prove she is the right coach for CANWNT. It might not be an easy task, but it’s one that she can do. With her strong character, the 42-year-old coach can face any obstacles that she might face.
Stoney previously said that she wants to leave the game better than she found it, and she has already contributed to that. Stoney leading the CANWNT will give hope to women that they can have a place at such an elite level of coaching. We are excited to see the next chapter of Stoney’s career.
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