Colorado University Athletics
H. Leyba Called Up for U.S. U23 Training Camp
February 18, 2026 | Soccer
One of three collegiate players selected
ATLANTA – Colorado forward Hope Leyba was one of 24 players called up to the first U.S. U23 Women's National Team training camp of 2026, U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday.
Of the 24 selected, Leyba was one of three players from the college ranks, along with Sydney Cheesman from LSU and Sierra Sythe from Wake Forest.
U.S. U23 head coach Heather Dyche will lead training from Feb. 27 to Mar. 7. The camp will conclude with two matches against the Mexico U23 National team on Mar. 3 and Mar. 6. Both games will be played at FIU Soccer Stadium in Miami.
Leyba, a First Team United Soccer Coaches All-American in 2025, exploded in production for the Buffaloes in 2025. Leyba, who had had 10 goals in 43 games in her first two seasons at CU, closed the season as the nation's leading goalscorer with 22 goals in the Buffs' 24 matches.
She set CU program records in goals and points (45) this season, helping her to Big 12 Forward of the Year honors. Leyba recorded two hat tricks in 2025, becoming the first CU player to have multiple three-goal efforts in the same season and just the second Buff to tally multiple hat tricks in a career. She got off to a scorching hot start to the season, posting goals in each of CU's first five matches. She had three multi-goal games in the five-match span, totaling a CU record nine goals through the first five matches, including two of her six game-winners. Leyba posted a second five-game scoring streak later in conference play, helping the Buffs go 4-0-1 with seven goals in the stretch.
For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.
