Kansas City NWSL Defender Katie Bowen Heading to Olympics with New Zealand

KANSAS CITY (June 25, 2021) – Kansas City NWSL defender Katie Bowen is headed to her second Olympic Games after being named to the New Zealand team. A total of 18 athletes were nominated to represent their home country of New Zealand in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Tokyo from July 21 to August 6.

The Football Ferns, as they are referred to, are the opening act and kick off their Tokyo 2020 journey when they play Australia on Wednesday, July 21 at 6:30 a.m. CT. New Zealand then faces the United States on Saturday, July 24 at 6:30 a.m. CT, before wrapping up the group stage against Sweden on Tuesday, July 27 at 3 a.m. CT. 

Outside of Bowen, the Ferns will rely on a core of experience, including fellow NWSL players Abby Erceg and Ali Riley who, along with Ria Percival and Anna Green, will be playing at their fourth Olympic Games.  

New Zealand Football CEO, Andrew Pragnell, stated, “For the Football Ferns, Tokyo 2020 marks the beginning of the build-up for the biggest prize of them all – hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil. A blend of experience and potential makes up the Football Ferns squad, and we are now starting to see some of our most exciting talent, already versed in succeeding at FIFA events, come through to the senior side.”

Bowen has 70 caps under her belt for New Zealand, along with three goals of her own. New Zealand’s squad is the most experienced it has been with 10 players with 50 or more caps on the squad. Those players include Rebecca Smith, Jenny Bindon, Erceg, Percival, Hayley Moorwood, Katie Hoyle, Riley, Amber Hearn, Kirsty Yallop, and Green, who were all part of the 2008 Beijing squad.

Bowen will still be available for selection at Kansas City’s next two games, June 26 versus the Washington Spirit and Friday, July 2 at NJ/NY Gotham. Tickets for Saturday’s match against the Spirit are still available at kansascitycurrent.com/tickets.

KANSAS CITY (June 25, 2021) – Kansas City NWSL defender Katie Bowen is headed to her second Olympic Games after being named to the New Zealand team. A total of 18 athletes were nominated to represent their home country of New Zealand in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Tokyo from July 21 to August 6.

The Football Ferns, as they are referred to, are the opening act and kick off their Tokyo 2020 journey when they play Australia on Wednesday, July 21 at 6:30 a.m. CT. New Zealand then faces the United States on Saturday, July 24 at 6:30 a.m. CT, before wrapping up the group stage against Sweden on Tuesday, July 27 at 3 a.m. CT. 

Outside of Bowen, the Ferns will rely on a core of experience, including fellow NWSL players Abby Erceg and Ali Riley who, along with Ria Percival and Anna Green, will be playing at their fourth Olympic Games.  

New Zealand Football CEO, Andrew Pragnell, stated, “For the Football Ferns, Tokyo 2020 marks the beginning of the build-up for the biggest prize of them all – hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil. A blend of experience and potential makes up the Football Ferns squad, and we are now starting to see some of our most exciting talent, already versed in succeeding at FIFA events, come through to the senior side.”

Bowen has 70 caps under her belt for New Zealand, along with three goals of her own. New Zealand’s squad is the most experienced it has been with 10 players with 50 or more caps on the squad. Those players include Rebecca Smith, Jenny Bindon, Erceg, Percival, Hayley Moorwood, Katie Hoyle, Riley, Amber Hearn, Kirsty Yallop, and Green, who were all part of the 2008 Beijing squad.

Bowen will still be available for selection at Kansas City’s next two games, June 26 versus the Washington Spirit and Friday, July 2 at NJ/NY Gotham. Tickets for Saturday’s match against the Spirit are still available at kansascitycurrent.com/tickets.