Nov 15

U.S. Women's National Amputee Soccer Team Takes Second at Historic Inaugural Women's Amputee World Cup

In a groundbreaking moment for the sport, the U.S. Women's National Amputee Soccer Team clinched second place at the inaugural Women’s Amputee Soccer World Cup, held in Barranquilla, Colombia. The journey to this historic achievement began in May 2023 with just four dedicated players at a training camp, evolving into a formidable team that made history in September with the first official match ever played in the World against Poland. Though they lost that match 1-0 at the AMP Futbol Cup, the defeat became a catalyst for their growth and the growth of Women’s Amputee Soccer worldwide.

Over the following months, the team recruited players and trained relentlessly, sharpening their skills and building mental resilience in preparation for the World Cup. Their effort paid off in the group stage, where they dominated their first two matches. In their opener, they faced Ukraine and won convincingly 4-0, with goals from Amie Donathan, Katie Bondy, Samantha Castillo, and Tylea Brown, showing the team’s balanced attack. In their second group match, the team continued their momentum with a 5-0 victory over Ecuador, with Amie Donathan shining bright, scoring four goals, while Tylea Brown added another.

Advancing to the knockout stage, the team faced England in a fiercely contested quarterfinal. After a 0-0 draw, the U.S. triumphed in penalty kicks 2-1, thanks to the outstanding goal keeping of Alexia Michitti and clutch performances by Samantha Castillo and LaQuinta Shields to score their penalties. This win set the stage for a highly anticipated rematch with Poland. This time, in the semifinals, the U.S. overcame Poland in a thrilling penalty shootout, 3-1, again behind stellar goalkeeping by Alexia Michitti with Amie Donathan, Jenny Gray, and LaQuinta Shields securing the decisive kicks.

The U.S. team’s storybook run led them to the finals against host nation Colombia. In front of an electrified home crowd, the U.S. took a 1-0 lead into halftime following a superbly engineered free kick that saw Jenny Gray find the back of the net. However, Colombia's relentless pressure paid off, and they equalized in the second half, sending the match to penalty kicks for the third time in a row for the U.S. Unfortunately, this time the U.S. fell short. Going all the way to 5 penalties each and losing 2-1 on the very last kick, securing Colombia the championship.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the U.S. team’s performance was nothing short of inspirational. Their resilience, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament left a lasting impression on fans worldwide. Goalkeeper Alexia Michitti was a standout, winning the prestigious Golden Glove award for her incredible performance, conceding just one goal in five matches. Her grit and leadership were pivotal in propelling the U.S. to the finals.

This World Cup marks a milestone for the women’s amputee soccer community, as the sport continues to grow and inspire athletes across the globe. The U.S. team’s achievements in Colombia not only highlight their incredible talent but also symbolize the growing opportunities for women and people with limb amputation and limb difference in sports.

Salute to Paige Palazzolo, the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Amputee Soccer Team, whose patience, leadership, and coaching skills have been instrumental in rapidly developing the women's program. Her guidance has been vital in shaping the team’s success. A huge thank you to Emily Maxwell, assistant coach from the start, for helping the players learn the game and get into the best shape possible. Finally, much appreciation to assistant coach Ignacio C. Medrano for sharing his soccer expertise and always being a supportive, listening ear to the players. Their dedication has been key to the team’s growth and success.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this incredible journey possible.

To all the donors, supporters, and fans who contributed to our training and helped fund our trip to the inaugural Women's Amputee Soccer World Cup—your generosity and belief in us fueled our determination. Thank you to everyone who liked, shared, and spread the word about our games, and to those who tuned in to watch and left words of encouragement—it meant the world to us. A special thank you to our sponsors for their invaluable support in making this dream a reality. Together, we made history, and we couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Lucky Fin Project, Soccer Bandits, Ottobock, Veo, DNA Athletix and, Living With Amplitude. Thanks to everyone that contributed to the over $100,000 we fundraised, especially the private donor that participated in a donation match.

Thanks to the World Amputee Football Federation and Federación Colombiana de Fútbol de Amputados for making this event possible.

The future looks bright for these trailblazers, who are already looking forward to future competitions, ready to continue breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation of athletes. Here’s to the women making history and pushing the sport forward!