Sport joined culture and art in the small auditorium of Šiauliai Drama Theatre on Thursday, as Lithuanian champions Gintra presented their 2024 squad in the welcoming venue.
The presentation noted the club's 25th anniversary since its foundation in 1999. Across that long journey, Gintra have won 22 A League titles, nine Baltic League trophies and reached the main Champions League tournament three times, twice progressing to the last 16. In 2017, only mighty Barcelona ended their run at that stage.
Reflecting on the journey, president Gintaras Radavičius welcomed Šiauliai's continued status as the capital of women's football. Gintra promote both city and country across Europe and beyond the Atlantic. He stressed that nobody awards the club gold before a season: their favourites' status must be proved on the pitch each year, increasingly difficult as competition grows.
"We hope our anniversary year brings results, but our vision extends beyond one season. Youth development is our priority. This year we'll have a youth team in the Women's First League, while our talented U13 girls became futsal champions this winter. We thank all sponsors and partners: ambitious goals would be difficult without business cooperation. We also thank Šiauliai municipality and the Sports Gymnasium, whose contribution to women's football is vital," the president said.
The event discussed goals and challenges for the season and congratulated FA Gintra-FK Triumfas on winning Lithuania's U13 girls' futsal championship.
Municipal, Lithuanian Football Federation and partner representatives presented new Hummel shirts, to be worn this Saturday in the A League opener at home to newcomers TransINVEST.
Every player answered light-hearted questions from the club's 25-year historical archives.
This season's squad features many young players and has an average age of just 20. Most Lithuanian players represent senior or youth national teams. The following players were presented:
No. 1 Gabrielė Vasilenko (goalkeeper, Lithuania)
No. 2 Kaya Hawkinson (midfielder, USA–Philippines)
No. 4 Andžela Vaičytė (midfielder, Lithuania)
No. 5 Sabrina Goncalves Amorim (defender/midfielder, Brazil)
No. 7 Meida Proscevičiūtė (forward, Lithuania)
No. 10 Marija Galkina (midfielder, Lithuania)
No. 11 Dominyka Misiūnaitė (midfielder, Lithuania)
No. 12 Laney Peabody (defender, USA)
No. 15 Saulutė Railaitė (forward, Lithuania)
No. 16 Agnieška Kazarina (forward, Lithuania)
No. 17 Tereza Romanovskaja (defender, Lithuania)
No. 23 Valentina Mana (defender, Argentina)
No. 27 Eitvydė Partikaitė (midfielder, Lithuania)
No. 28 Erika Šupelytė (forward, Lithuania)
No. 29 Laura Kubiliūtė (defender, Lithuania)
No. 30 Urtė Bujokaitė (midfielder, Lithuania)
No. 44 Algimantė Mikutaitė (defender, captain, Lithuania)
No. 51 Aušra Klevečkaitė (goalkeeper, Lithuania)
Further additions are expected during the season.
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