Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson Reach NORCECA Final
The Paris 2024 silver medallists advanced to the women's final of the continental qualifier in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Volleyball
Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson beat Susana Torres and Abril Flores 21-12, 21-18 in 40 minutes to reach the women's final of the NORCECA continental qualifier. They will face Megan Kraft and Kelly Cheng for the only NORCECA berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Why it matters
The winner of the final earns NORCECA's only automatic berth in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic beach volleyball tournament. Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson have not lost a set in the knockout rounds.
Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson's semifinal took 40 minutes and ended 21-12, 21-18, while the American men's semifinal ended 21-19, 21-18 in the Crabb/Budinger win over Schachter/Pickett. The NORCECA qualifier is the only route to a Los Angeles 2028 berth for the region's women's teams, and the final remains unplayed.
The players
Melissa Humana-Paredes
A Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist in beach volleyball who won a second medal alongside Brandie Wilkerson.
Brandie Wilkerson
A Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist in beach volleyball and the U.S. partner of Melissa Humana-Paredes.
Megan Kraft
A U.S. beach volleyball player who will face Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson in the women's final for the NORCECA Olympic berth.
Kelly Cheng
A U.S. beach volleyball player who will face Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson in the women's final for the NORCECA Olympic berth.
The details
Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson reached the final by winning their knockout-round matches in straight sets, including a 21-11, 21-16 quarterfinal win over T'ara Austin and Taylor Buckner. Megan Kraft and Kelly Cheng advanced after the Americans beat Puerto Rico's Allanis Navas and Keishlyann Sanchez 21-16, 21-12 in 35 minutes.
Timeline
Saturday: Canada took the opening set against Kraft and Cheng 23-21.
Sunday: Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson beat Torres and Flores in the semifinals.
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET: Women's final scheduled.
Season Trajectory
The pair's qualifier run follows their Paris 2024 silver medal, and winning the NORCECA final would give them the region's only automatic berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The outcome shapes the region's qualification picture for the next Games cycle.
The final is the decisive match for the region's single automatic Olympic berth, so the result determines which pair represents NORCECA in Los Angeles. Viewers tracking qualification standings should watch the Sunday final for that outcome.
The takeaway
The pairing that wins Sunday's final will hold the region's only automatic path to Los Angeles 2028, making the match the key qualification event for NORCECA women's beach volleyball.
What happens next
The women's final between Humana-Paredes/Wilkerson and Kraft/Cheng is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET and will decide NORCECA's only berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see Volleyball.
