A look at the 23 players seeking Canada's 1st Women's World Cup championship

As the anticipation builds for the FIFA Women's World Cup, there's a multitude of questions about the reigning Olympic champions from Canada. 

Can this team replicate their Olympic success at the 32-team World Cup? What formation will coach Bev Priestman choose to use? Where will the goals come from? 

And just who are these 23 players attempting to win Canada's first World Cup championship? 

Here's a cheat sheet of players to watch by position as well as some of the answers to the above questions: 

Kailen Sheridan is primed and ready for her moment to shine. She's a stellar shot stopper and born leader. 

The NWSL's top goalkeeper with the San Diego Wave has been waiting for this moment since moving up through the youth ranks. She's been the understudy to now-retired Steph Labbé (dubbed Canada's "Minister of Defence" for her heroics at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021) for the past few seasons. An unfortunate quad injury four months before the Olympics took her out of contention for the No. 1 starting job then, but the 28-year old from Whitby, Ont., is ready now. She has 35 caps for country. 

WATCH | CBC's Lyndsay Duncombe previews Canada at Women's World Cup:

Should there be injuries or card issues, Canada is well served in net with the likes of 30-year-old Sabrina D'Angelo (13 caps), who now plays with Arsenal. Lysianne Proulx, a 24-year-old from Longueuil, Que., is the team's third-string goalkeeper. 

This Canadian team prides itself on being sound defensively and tough to play against. It's part of the team's DNA and it all starts at the back. 

Anchored by two of the world's top centre backs in Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea) and Vanessa Gilles (Olympique Lyonnais) and two versatile wing backs in Ashley Lawrence (PSG now