Team USA Women's roster has been selected behind closed doors

Editor's Note: This article has been updated after Vanessa "vanessa" Gideon told Dust2.us that despite being selected to play for Team USA, she has decided not to play for the squad this year.

Just two days after the confirmation of Team USA selecting Nouns to represent the country in the Men's CS2 IESF World Cup, Dust2.us can also attest that the Women's roster for the event consists of a TSM Shimmer duo, two Karma players, and only one FlyQuest RED member.

Contrary to their male counterparts, the female squad was decided despite no matches being arranged by the United States Esports Federation (USEF). In their case, the players were scouted using Thunderpick World Championship NA Series #2 Fe Wildcard match VODs.

The roster selection features Lucy "empathy" Verkaik, Marissa "madss" Dasta, Olga "olya" Kryvulych, Carolyn "artStar" Noquez, and Vanessa "vanessa" Gideon. madss and vanessa are the only players who also played in the IESF Female World Championship 2023, and managed to take their country to third place behind the Netherlands and Argentina. This year, despite being called back to represent the USA, vanessa has declined to do so and will not be part of the squad, leaving the fifth spot open, for now.

According to a YouTube video uploaded by the USEF, these players were selected after the Player Selection Committee analyzed the VODs from the Thunderpick World Championship NA Series #2 Fe Wildcard, which narrowed the player pool down to just four teams, FlyQuest RED, TSM Shimmer, Karma, and Limitless Angels. Notably, not a single player from the former Limitless Angels team was selected.

Unlike last year, the USA squad will have to compete in a qualifier in order to secure a spot in the IESF main event. Dust2.us knows that the Americas qualifier will be split in two, with Argentina and Brazil, both of whom were invited in 2023, fighting for a single spot in South America. The North American qualifier will see the USA, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia each trying to clinch two spots. The qualifier is scheduled to start on July 29th with team USA taking on Honduras and Canada facing Colombia.

Team USA reportedly consists of:

• Lucy "empathy" Verkaik

• Marissa "madss" Dasta

• Olga "olya" Kryvulych

• Carolyn "artStar" Noquez