Buffalo Sabres links to the United States Women's National Team

A few years ago, the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills weren’t the only professional teams in Western New York. The Western New York Flash of the WPS from 2009 to 2011 and NWSL from 2013 to 2016 represented Western New York. This past weekend, several players from the area represented their country in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. 

They won the Championship after beating Brazil 1-0. Several of the players have roots to Western New York and the team as a whole, could be an inspiration for the Sabres moving forward. 

National team defender Abby Dahlkemper played for the Flash from 2015 to 2016. Dahlkemper this past year was diagnosed with spondylolysis, a stress fracture in the spine. She had fusion back surgery to return to the NWSL and the National Team. Dahlkemper contributed to the Gold Cup playing and starting against both the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Similarly, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson requires surgery due to an upper-body injury and will be out for the rest of this season. He could look to Dahlkemper as an athlete who made their way back to form. 

Another link is forward for the national team, Alex Morgan. Morgan played in Western New York for the WPS for the Flash in 2011. Alex has been a part of the national team since 2010. She was left off the current roster before the start of this W Gold Cup. Due to an injury, she was added to the roster and started every game in the tournament and scored two goals in the tournament.

Morgan proved the doubters wrong. Such as Bowen Byram who scored two points in his debut on Thursday after his trade from the Colorado Avalanche. The national team has hit diversity and has suffered a major setback since they lost the World Cup last year.

They suffered many injuries before the tournament, but have rebounded winning the W Gold Cup. The Sabres have had setbacks this season due to injuries and they have a young core and similar to our national team could have a strong rebound for the 2024/2025 season.