Olympics-Fleming headlines defending champion Canada's women's soccer roster

FILE PHOTO: Mar 6, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Canada midfielder Jessie Fleming (17) punts the ball during the second half of the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup semifinal match against the USA at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

(Reuters) - Jessie Fleming headlined the Canadian women's soccer roster for the Paris Olympics that was revealed on Monday and features 13 players from the group that won gold in Tokyo.

Fleming, who will serve as captain, is one of six women on the 18-player squad competing in their third consecutive Olympic Games while Jade Rose, who was Canada's young player of the year in 2023, is one of four making their Olympic debut.

"It is always an honour to be a part of this team and an even bigger honour to represent the wider Team Canada in Paris," Fleming said in a Canada Soccer news release.

"We have grown a lot in the last year as a team and are confident we can repeat the success we have had historically in this tournament."

Janine Beckie, Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, Nichelle Prince and Quinn are the other players competing in a third consecutive Olympics.

Canada have reached the knockout stage in all four of their previous Olympic appearances, securing bronze medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016 before winning gold at Tokyo 2020.

Canada is the only nation to have reached the podium in women's soccer at each of the last three Olympic Games.

Canada will play New Zealand (July 25), France (July 28) and Colombia (July 31) in the group stage of the competition.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Hugh Lawson)