Women's World Cup 2023: How Canada's roster has changed since the Tokyo Olympics

All eyes are on the Canadian women's national team as it begins its 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup journey this Thursday against Nigeria.

The tournament, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, runs until Aug. 20 and will feature 32 countries across 64 matches.

After winning gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Canada, led by manager Bev Priestman, is one of the favourites to lift the cup. However, this summer's roster has some key differences compared to Tokyo's squad, which could help or hinder its chances at success.

Here's everything you need to know about Canada's Women's World Cup roster, and how it's changed since that Olympic triumph in Japan.

Injured players

Janine Beckie

Janine Beckie is one of the mainstays on the Canadian team and played a pivotal role in its 2020 Olympic campaign. The 28-year-old scored a brace in their 2-1 victory over Chile, and recorded at least 90 minutes in four of Canada's six games in Tokyo.

However, in March she suffered an ACL tear during a pre-season match with her NWSL club.

"Heartbroken is an understatement," Beckie wrote on Twitter.

The forward has scored 36 goals in 101 caps for Canada, and is an irreplaceable player. In addition to her goal contributions, she is versatile, tactically aware and can feed the ball to other attackers.

Beckie is currently putting her time off to good use, acting as the team's spokesperson as they continue to battle the federation for pay equity and equal access to resources.

Desiree Scott

Veteran Desiree Scott is another player who will be forced to the sidelines. The 35-year-old underwent knee surgery earlier this year, and hasn't worn the Canadian kit since last November.

"I was so hopeful to make it back in time [for the World Cup] but sometimes the story just doesn’t get written how you’d want it to," Scott wrote on Instagram.

Scott, aptly nicknamed "The Destroyer," is known for her aggression and physical presence on the pitch.

At the Tokyo Games, she was a full-time player in most of Canada's matches, including the final against Sweden. Her skills and experience against top international talent will be missed this World Cup.

Retired players

Stephanie Labbé

In 2022, Stephanie Labbé shocked the Canadian soccer world when she announced her retirement.

The now 35-year-old was Canada's first-choice keeper for the Tokyo Olympics, conceding only two goals in the tournament. She also protected the net in two penalty shootouts against Brazil and Sweden.

While Labbé is sorely missed, keeper Kailen Sheridan has filled her departure. Sheridan is known for making big saves and performing consistently under pressure.

Moreover, Sheridan, who won the 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award with the San Diego Wave, is regarded as one of the best keepers in the women's game. As such, Canada's net is in good hands.

Erin McLeod

Another goalkeeper who has retired since Tokyo is Erin McLeod.

The veteran, who endured a string of injuries while earning 119 caps for Canada, hung up her boots earlier this year.

While McLeod wasn't the selected keeper at the last Olympics, she became known for her leadership, reliability and stability off the bench. This is a role she's passed on to Arsenal and Canada keeper Sabrina D'Angelo, who missed out on the Tokyo tournament. D'Angelo will act as Sheridan's No. 2 this summer.

New talent

Olivia Smith

Olivia Smith is one of Canada's rising stars who will make her Women's World Cup debut this week.

The 18-year-old chose to forgo the rest of her NCAA eligibility to play pro. She has yet to disclose which club she's headed for.

Many people were surprised to see Smith on the roster, especially over names like Clarissa Larisey. However, Smith is a lethal finisher with a strong game-winning mentality, which makes her right at home with the rest of the squad.

In a recent interview, Priestman said she has to think about the future of Canada's team, so minutes for Smith this World Cup will prove vital to her development.

Simi Awujo

Simi Awujo is another young player who will surely make her mark in Australia and New Zealand.

The 19-year-old has yet to compete in an Olympics for Canada. If she wants to have a shot at making the squad for the Paris Games next summer, she will look to shine this World Cup.

Awujo, who won one of Canada Soccer's Young Players of the Year in 2022, will provide energy and spark off the bench for the frontline.

Rising stars

Julia Grosso

Julia Grosso is a rising star who will use this Women's World Cup to solidify her spot in the starting lineup.

The 22-year-old made her Olympic debut in Tokyo. While she was a substitute for Canada, she scored the game-winning penalty that clinched the gold medal.

This time around, Grosso will change from a substitute to a relied-upon starter. The midfielder will use her speed and ability to weave around opponents to forward the attack for Canada.

Adriana Leon

Adriana Leon was part of the Tokyo roster, but didn't secure as many minutes as she would have liked.

Earlier this year, the forward went on loan from Manchester United to Portland Thorns to get more action before the World Cup. This move worked out for her, as the 30-year-old is currently in top form.

Leon will now move to the starting lineup, where she'll use her eye for goal and dribbling ability to create goal-scoring opportunities for Canada.

Taking a step back

Christine Sinclair

Christine Sinclair is one of the greatest and most prolific players to ever compete for Canada. She's scored a whopping 190 goals in 323 appearances.

This will be the 40-year-old's sixth World Cup, and it's suspected it will be her last.

In Tokyo, Sinclair was Canada's mainstay. She was one of the first names on the team sheet, scoring goals and opening up opportunities for her teammates.

Now, and likely due to her age, the striker could take on a playmaking role as it's unclear if she is still able to deliver for the full 90 minutes.

Canada's Women's World Cup schedule

The seventh-ranked Canadians are part of a stacked Group B.

Priestman's squad begins their campaign on July 21 against No. 40 Nigeria (kick-off 10:30pm ET). They will face No. 22 Ireland on July 26 (kick-off 8:00am ET), and finally No. 10 Australia on July 31 (kick-off 6:00am ET) to finish off the group stage.

"We know we have three difficult games, all with different styles of play and so being able to adapt and be equipped for all three is important whilst really harnessing and imposing our strengths on any opponent we face," Priestman said in a previous media call.