Kailen Sheridan

Kailen Mary Iacovoni Sheridan (born July 16, 1995) is a Canadian professional soccer goalkeeper for National Women's Soccer League club San Diego Wave and the Canada national team. She previously played for Sky Blue FC / NJ/NY Gotham FC and played college soccer for the Clemson Tigers.

College career
Sheridan played her college soccer for the Clemson Tigers. Sheridan played for the Tigers from 2013 to 2016 under coach Eddie Radwanski. Sheridan made 76 appearances for the Tigers recording 229 saves and 28 shutouts. In both 2014 and 2015, Sheridan was named to the All-ACC first team. Her nomination to the team in 2014 was the first for a Tiger since 2007.

Toronto Lady Lynx
In 2013, she played with the Toronto Lady Lynx.

NJ/NY Gotham
In January 2017, Sheridan was selected as the 23rd overall pick by Sky Blue FC at the 2017 NWSL College Draft. She was later named an allocated player by Canada Soccer.

Sheridan was named to the Team of the Month for May 2017, she recorded 19 saves during the month, helping Sky Blue to a 3–1–0 record. Sheridan's 2018 season saw her start and play all but one of Sky Blue's games where she led the league with 7.38 goals prevented per game. She started her 2019 season by winning back-to-back NWSL Saves of the Week in weeks 2 and 3. Sheridan would be a finalist for NWSL goalkeeper of the year twice in 2019 and 2021.

San Diego Wave
After 5 seasons in New Jersey, Sheridan would be traded to NWSL expansion club San Diego Wave in December 2021 in exchange for $130,000 in allocation money, and expansion draft protection.

International career
Sheridan has represented Canada on the senior national team as well as numerous youth national teams including the U-17, U-20 and U-23 teams. She made her debut for the senior national team in March 2016 at the 2016 Algarve Cup. Sheridan was an alternate at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She was later called up for the 2017 Algarve Cup.

With Stephanie Labbé Canada's starting goalkeeper, Sheridan was used sparingly in her early years with the team, starting three games in 2017, two in 2018, one in 2019, and two in 2020. She was added to the roster for the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship after an injury to backup goalkeeper Erin McLeod. The following year, she was part of the Canadian roster for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Given the start against the United States at the 2021 SheBelieves Cup, Sheridan exited the game after tearing a quad muscle in the seventh minute. She underwent surgery, and was able to return to the roster in time to be named to the Canadian Olympic team for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She first appeared in relief of Labbé after the latter was injured midway through the team's opening match, a 1–1 draw with hosts Japan. She then played the full group stage match against Chile, a 2–1 victory. Labbé returned for the final group match against Great Britain, and would remain in goal for the remainder of the tournament that saw Canada win Olympic gold.

Sheridan's usage began to increase following the Olympics, starting a total of seven games in 2021. With the retirement of Labbé in 2022, Sheridan became Canada's starting goalkeeper. She won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, allowing only one goal in five appearances that saw Canada qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was also named to the tournament's Best XI.

Going into the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia as Canada's starting goalkeeper, there were expectations that Sheridan could significantly boost her profile in light of her success both in CONCACAF and in the NWSL. However, in the midst of what was overall a difficult tournament for the Canadians, Sheridan struggled. After keeping a clean sheet in the team's opening match against Nigeria, she allowed an Olympico goal off a corner kick from Katie McCabe in the opening minutes against Ireland and had difficulty distributing the ball. Despite this Canada won the match 2–1. In the final match against Australia, Canada was defeated 4–0, and thus were knocked out of the World Cup. Sheridan's performance was considered shaky, with particular fault given to the second Australian goal. Sportsnet dubbed it "a tournament she'd just as soon forget."

Honours
San Diego Wave
 * NWSL Shield: 2023


 * NWSL Challenge Cup: 2024

Canada Individual
 * Summer Olympics: 2021
 * CONCACAF W Championship Best XI: 2022
 * CONCACAF W Championship Golden Glove: 2022
 * NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year: 2022
 * NWSL Best XI: 2021, 2022
 * NWSL Challenge Cup Golden Glove: 2020