Carson Pickett becomes the first ever player to appear for the USNT with a limb difference

Carson Pickett makes history by becoming the first player with a limb difference to earn a cap for the United States national team… as defender who was born without a left forearm and hand starts against Colombia

  • Left-back became the first player with a limb difference to play for the USWNT
  • Carson Pickett made history in the US women’s team’s clash with Colombia
  • USWNT labour to win over Colombia ahead of World Cup qualifiers next month 

Carson Pickett made history for the United States women’s national team on Tuesday when she became the first player to appear with a limb difference. 

The left-back, who plays for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League, was born without a left forearm and hand. 

Appearing for the USWNT for the first time, Pickett was part of a side that laboured to a 2-0 win over Colombia in a pre-World Cup qualifier friendly. 

U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said after the game: ‘Carson did very well in training for us in last week and with the management of minutes for Emily Fox that we had, we felt like Carson would be a good replacement.

‘I’m happy that she was able to perform well for 90 minutes.’

Pickett, 28, is the oldest player to make their debut for the USWNT since McCall Zerboni, 30, in 2017. 

Carson Pickett became the first person with a limb difference to appear for the USWNT

Vlatko Andonovski said he was impressed by how she played after impressing in training

Vlatko Andonovski said he was impressed by how she played after impressing in training

In 2020, according to the Washington Post, she partnered with Nike in creating a boot that did not require laces to be tied. 

She told CBS at the time: ‘My parents have two hands and two arms and unfortunately they weren’t able to teach me how to tie my shoes. 

‘I can imagine that it does feel heartbreaking, looking at your daughter and trying to tie her shoes and it’s hard for you to be there for her.

‘There were definitely times where I cried, and just couldn’t figure it out, and they kept pushing me. Tying my shoes was almost impossible, it did seem impossible, but I overcame it.’

The USWNT begin their World Cup and Olympic qualification process next month when they travel to Monterrey, Mexico, for the newly organised CONCACAF championship.