Sumfest Announces Retirement from U.S. Women’s National Team

After more than ten years within the women’s system, and four years on the senior squad, Cassie Sumfest has announced her retirement for the U.S. Women’s National Team. The 26-year-old, who was also a member of the Indoor USWNT and Hockey5s USWNT, had 70 combined international caps.

The first time Sumfest ever picked up a field hockey stick was in 2009, when she was traveling with her older sister to watch her in a U-19 summer tournament with East Coast Field Hockey. On this day, the team was short players and asked if she could step in for numbers.

“I first got into field hockey because of my older sister, Rachel,” said Sumfest. “I would tag along to her trainings and tournaments, and one day they needed an extra player to fill in. I stepped onto the field, and from that moment, I fell in love with the sport.”

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Sumfest attended Lewisburg High School in Pennsylvania, where she was a four-time all-state and all-conference selection. The two-time team captain and MVP was honored as the district's Most Outstanding Female Athlete in 2015-16 and Lewisburg High School's Most Outstanding Female Athlete in 2016-17. She trained and competed with the club team, WC Eagles.

In 2014, Sumfest was named to the U-17 USWNT, and just a year later, was named to the senior indoor squad. She got started right away with international indoor competition, traveling to Durban, South Africa for the 4 Nations Invitational Indoor Tournament that same year. In 2016, she advanced to the U-19 USWNT.

In January 2017, she enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), and was part of the 2018 team that went undefeated (23-0) and finished with an NCAA Championship. The year 2018 was also when Sumfest was named to the U-21 USWNT. After sitting out for the 2019 season due to an injury, she returned for the 2020 season to help the Tar Heels to another NCAA Title. That same year, she was named to the USWNT Development Team.

2021 was a breakout year from Sumfest, who was named to the senior USWNT and played in her first international outdoor match against Canada in November. She capped off her senior season at UNC by being named First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), ACC All-Tournament Team, NFHCA All-South Region First Team, and with All-ACC Field Hockey Academic Team honors.

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“One of the biggest highlights of my career was earning my first international cap,” commented Sumfest. “It was especially meaningful because it came after recovering from ACL surgery, which made the moment a true testament to my perseverance and dedication.”

From there, Sumfest became a regular fixture in the USWNT midfield and forward line. She participated in three straight seasons of the FIH Hockey Pro League, from 2022 to 2024, and in various test matches. She played in every match at the 2022 Pan American Cup in Santiago, Chile.

In June 2024, Sumfest was selected to be one of three provisional athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Although she did not see competition, she traveled and practiced with the team in Paris, France.

“Another highlight was being selected as a traveling reserve for the Olympic Games,” said Sumfest. “Even though I wasn’t on the field, being part of that environment and surrounded by the world’s best athletes was an unforgettable experience that pushed me to grow in so many ways.”

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In 2025, Sumfest participated in two test series, with the first being against New Zealand in Auckland, New Zealand in January. She also participated in the 2025 FIH Hockey Nations Cup in Santiago, Chile, in February, where USA finished fourth. She played her final cap on June 8 at home in Charlotte, N.C. in a test series against Ireland.

A multi-faceted field hockey athlete, Sumfest attained seven indoor caps and six Hockey5s caps in addition to her 57 outdoor caps. In 2024, she was a member of the team at the first-ever FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman, where USA finished ninth.

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Sumfest would like to thank several key people for supporting her field hockey career. Included are her family—mom, dad, and siblings—and her second family in Charlotte, N.C., the Clay/Bessants.

“First and foremost, I’d like to thank my family. My mom sacrificed countless hours driving me three hours each way to play for WC Eagles, something that truly shaped me into the player I became. My dad was always there, taking me to tournaments and spending time on the field hitting around and passing me balls. I’m grateful to my sister and Eric for serving as mentors for playing sport at the highest level and pushing me to be the best I could be. I’m also thankful to my siblings Will, Michael, Gabby, and Rebekah for being my biggest supporters along the way. Finally, I’d like to thank the Clay and Bessants for being my second family in Charlotte and always being there for me. Their encouragement and love have meant the world.”

Moving forward, Sumfest anticipates following in her family’s footsteps, in addition to keeping in touch with her field hockey side.

“My future plans include beginning a career in medical device sales. With my family all working in medicine, it feels especially meaningful to pursue a profession that allows me to share a part of their world and contribute to healthcare in my own way. Alongside that, I hope to continue coaching and hosting field hockey clinics, as well as creating sports content to help inspire and guide younger generations of athletes.”

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“Cassie will be a loss to the team as she has epitomized so many of the high performance behaviors that it takes to be the best you can be, addressing numerous areas of her physical and technical development and moving positions multiple times over the past couple of years,” said David Passmore, USWNT Head Coach. “She came out of her comfort zone by playing in Germany and was a leader in terms of standards within our own training environment. We will miss her happy and joyful personality around the team and wish her well as she transitions into the world of business. I am sure with her strong connection to the team that she will not be a stranger.”

“Representing the United States is the greatest honor, and having the opportunity to inspire younger athletes chasing the same dream makes it even more special.”

Simon Watts