USWNT Officially Welcomed to Charlotte with Team USA Media Day

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - With opened arms, USA Field Hockey and the U.S. Women's National Team were officially welcomed to the city of Charlotte, N.C. today with a Team USA Media Day. An afternoon full of speakers, networking and the ability to watch a mock practice, more than 75 individuals were in attendance for the official welcome ceremony.

USA Field Hockey's Executive Director Simon Hoskins kicked off the afternoon thanking the various stakeholders and groups that helped in relocating the USWNT. He then passed the microphone over to USA Field Hockey's Board of Directors Chair Cathy Bessant who played a key role in helping build the university's field, in which it is named after, and securing the temporary training site for Team USA.

“The role amateur athletics can play to generate excitement and to add to the cultural and athletic amenities and richness in our community is just an outstanding opportunity,” Bessant told the Charlotte Business Journal. “Charlotte is magnetic to great amateur sports, and we have a real opportunity to build on that as another added element of our vibrance.”

Other speakers included Kevin Monroe, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina; George Dunlap, Mecklenburg County Commission Chair; Julie Eiselt, Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem; and Greg Drake, USWNT Assistant Coach.

Just before closing, Dunlap and Eiselt read a city and county proclamation declaring  September 14, 2021 as "U.S. Women's National Field Hockey Day" to commemorate today's celebration that coincides with National Field Hockey Day recognized nationwide.

"We are thrilled by the engagement of so many officials and media from the city, county and state in welcoming our USWNT," said Hoskins. "Our athletes and staff already feel so welcomed in Charlotte and we are excited for this partnership with Queens."

In July, USA Field Hockey announced that Bessant Field, located at the Queens Sports Complex at Marion Diehl Park, was named the temporary training site for the USWNT. Bessant Field is home to the Queens field hockey team and is Charlotte’s only water-based turf facility.

USA Field Hockey would like to thank all in attendance as well as Brookhouse Group for their efforts in today's event.

For more updates about the U.S. Women’s National Team, visit usafieldhockey.com and follow @USAFieldHockey on social media.

ABOUT QUEENS ATHLETICS

A leading NCAA Division II program in the United States located just minutes from Uptown Charlotte, Queens has been competing in co-ed collegiate athletics for 30-plus years. Distinguished by its commitment to the nurturing of excellence through a purposeful process, the Queens Department of Athletics intentionally promotes an unmatched experience that leads to success in education and competition. 

Housing 32 varsity level sports teams, the Royals hold 146 national championship trophies and compete across six different conferences.  

ABOUT QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE 

Queens University is a private, coeducational university located in Charlotte, N.C. The university serves more than 2,500 students with 43 major and 63 minor undergraduate degree options and 12 graduate degrees. Students represent 44 states and 49 foreign countries. As part of the university's vision to promote educational experiences that nurture intellectual curiosity and promote global understanding, nearly two-thirds of traditional undergraduates participate in study abroad experiences and 100 percent take part in internships. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Queens 13th among regional universities in the south in its 2021 edition of Best Colleges.