The Cayman Islands Women’s National Team tested their mettle against elite-level opposition during their clash with a powerhouse Costa Rican side in Alajuela for their final phase of Group C play in the CONCACAF W Qualifiers.
Positioned 32nd in the CONCACAF rankings, the Cayman squad navigated a difficult night on 10 April against the third-ranked hosts, ultimately falling 21-0.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, the match served as a vital developmental milestone for a young roster that featured six under-17 and under-20 players in the starting lineup and another four coming off the bench.
Resilience of the Cayman squad
Head coach Michael Johnson and assistant coach Alex Gonzalez praised the resilience of their players, noting that while Costa Rica’s roster was bolstered by professional athletes competing in top-tier leagues across Spain, France, Turkey and the United States, the Cayman side never wavered in their effort.
“This was another step for our young girls to have the chance to compete at the highest level of football [against] top professional athlete’s playing around the world. We are proud of the efforts and fight the girls displayed as no one dropped their heads and we continued fighting till the end,” both coaches said.
“Our girls who all play in Cayman in our local leagues would have gotten a wealth of experience and understanding of the speed in movement, technical ability and thought of a professional player which they all dream to be one day. I am proud of the attitude of these girls and especially our six seniors in the squad leading this team for the future,” they added.
Captain Chelsea Brown echoed these sentiments, reflecting on the lessons learned and the experience of playing Costa Rica.
Analysing the gap in play, Brown said, “The main differences were experience, tempo and execution. They were more clinical and consistent throughout the game. The loss was tough, but we’re using it as motivation to grow. As captain, I focused on keeping the team positive, united and confident moving forward.”
Brown added, “It was a great experience playing against a top-ranked team. It showed us the level we’re aiming for and challenged us in every aspect. We learned the importance of staying focused and disciplined for the full match, and how crucial decision-making is under pressure.”
Cayman has since travelled to St. George’s, Grenada, shifting their focus toward their final fixture of the tournament. They enter this final match following earlier losses to Bermuda and Guatemala.
On 14 April, the 20-player Cayman squad will take on 25th-ranked Grenada at 4.30pm at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium.
These matches will conclude Cayman’s journey in the 2025/26 CONCACAF W Qualifiers, a tournament that features 29 nations battling across six groups for the chance to advance to the 2026 championship.
Only the six group winners will move forward to join the pre-seeded giants, the United States and Canada, in the next stage.
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