UNC Women’s Soccer 2025-2026

[3397char]

There are rarely any official announcements until they "sign" elsewhere. So we just gather what we see on social media.

These have made Insta comments implying they are staying, and list UNC Women's soccer in their bio:

1. Bella Gaetino*
2. Hope Munson*
3. Caitlin Mara*

These still List UNC Women's soccer on their Insta bio but no notable statements of a return or transferring I see:

1. Olivia Thomas*
2. Linda Ullmark*
3. Bella Devey*
4. Ashley Pennie*
5. Aven Alvarez*~
6. Shaela Bradley*~
7. Hannah Johann*
8. Lauren Malsom*
9. Riley Kennedy^
10. Eres Friefeld^
11. Liya Brooks^
12. Djem Koppelaar
13. Logan Tongberg
14. Abby Gundry
15. Ella Smith (Insta is private)
16. Raegan Williams
17. Cammie Maynor (Insta has not been updated in 5 months)
18. Jenny Dearie (Insta has not been updated in over a year)

Have stated Clearly they are graduated and gone:

1. Kate Faasse*
2. Tessa Dellarose*
3. Ryann Brown
4. Marisa Shorrock

Transfer Announcement:

1. Eden Bretzer - Arizona
2. Emile Maihs - Miami

* Starter
~Out injured for the season
^key reserve

So on paper we have 21 still here, 11-12 recruits coming in, so we still need 4-5 to leave to get to the roster limit of 28, plus any additional space for transfers in.

Transfer portal tracker here:

2026 Women's Division I Transfer Tracker | College Soccer

Keep track of the officially announced Women's Division I Transfers for the class of 2026.

www.topdrawersoccer.com

Note that for W Soccer the transfer portal opened on Nov 17th and actually closes tomorrow, Dec 16th. But that is just the date that you have to tell your Ath Dept to enter your name. The actual portal name entry can be up to 48 hours later. And while every university has access to whose names are in the portal it is treated as semi-confidential; no reporter nor fan can just get a list of who has portalled. Instead we wait for athletes to self-report entry, their new school, or for the new school to report who they signed. So final decisions can be up to the final spring drop-add date at the new, school. Also grad students can transfer at any time, and most wait until after they graduate.

Djem Koppelaar to Arizona State, I updated the post I replied to.

 

[3397char]

There are rarely any official announcements until they "sign" elsewhere. So we just gather what we see on social media.

These have made Insta comments implying they are staying, and list UNC Women's soccer in their bio:

1. Bella Gaetino*
2. Hope Munson*
3. Caitlin Mara*

These still List UNC Women's soccer on their Insta bio but no notable statements of a return or transferring I see:

1. Olivia Thomas*
2. Linda Ullmark*
3. Bella Devey*
4. Ashley Pennie*
5. Aven Alvarez*~
6. Shaela Bradley*~
7. Hannah Johann*
8. Lauren Malsom*
9. Riley Kennedy^
10. Liya Brooks^
11. Logan Tongberg
12. Abby Gundry
13. Ella Smith (Insta is private) - Morehead-Cain scholarship makes her unlikely to transfer
14. Raegan Williams
15. Cammie Maynor (Insta has not been updated in 5 months)
16. Jenny Dearie (Insta has not been updated in over a year)

Have stated Clearly they are graduated and gone:

1. Kate Faasse*
2. Tessa Dellarose*
3. Ryann Brown
4. Marisa Shorrock

Transfer Announcement:

1. Eden Bretzer - Arizona
2. Emile Maihs - Miami
3. Djem Koppelaar - Arizona State
4. Eres Freifeld^ - TCU

* Starter
~Out injured for the season
^key reserve

So on paper we have 21 20 19 still here, 11-12 recruits coming in, so we still need 4-5 3-4 2-3 to leave to get to the roster limit of 28, plus any additional space for transfers in.

Transfer portal tracker here:

2026 Women's Division I Transfer Tracker | College Soccer

Keep track of the officially announced Women's Division I Transfers for the class of 2026.

www.topdrawersoccer.com

Note that for W Soccer the transfer portal opened on Nov 17th and actually closes tomorrow, Dec 16th. But that is just the date that you have to tell your Ath Dept to enter your name. The actual portal name entry can be up to 48 hours later. And while every university has access to whose names are in the portal it is treated as semi-confidential; no reporter nor fan can just get a list of who has portalled. Instead we wait for athletes to self-report entry, their new school, or for the new school to report who they signed. So final decisions can be up to the final spring drop-add date at the new, school. Also grad students can transfer at any time, and most wait until after they graduate.

Eres Freifield to TCU. This one stings a bit as she had a pretty promising freshman season.


I updated the post above

 

[UNCH]

Play the bench piss off the starters. Don't play the bench they transfer. No win situation.

 

[oldwell]

Have we picked up any transfers? Any buzz?

 

[JCTarHeel]

Eres Freifield to TCU. This one stings a bit as she had a pretty promising freshman season.


I updated the post above

That's a bummer. I liked Freifield's game.

 

[UltimateHeel]

That’s too bad, I liked Eres! Hope there aren’t any other major contributors leaving.

 

[uncfan1013]

 

[oldwell]

Huge pickup

 

[oldwell]

Someone on one of the other boards said this was our worst women’s soccer season ever.

Haven’t seen that person post on this board before, so not sure how educated they are on the program, but I’d say that’s an extreme take.

Regular season wasn’t the best and the win-loss record definitely doesn’t meet program standards. With that being said, we were out several talented players during a key stretch due to international tourney commitments and we made the Sweet 16 and were a miracle away from making the Elite 8. Post season is much more important than the regular season, so I wouldn’t call this the worst season by any means.

Opinions?

 

[bradarb08]

We didn't "get rid" of Anson. He retired. His choice. Also, just being fair... we did have the most losses ever (by 1), but in 2021 we also didn't make the ACC Tournament and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. So, I think you could argue the 2021 season (under Anson) was a worse year than this year since this team at least made it to the Sweet 16.

Also, respectfully, given the roster limits now (that did not exist when Anson was here) as well as no NWSL Draft and allowing NWSL to sign players at any time (that did not exist when Anson was here), you could argue that 2021 was worse than this year.

Replying to an old message kind of addressing this.

It was close to our worst season ever… which is really a testament to how great our program has been.

 

[uncfan1013]

Huge pickup. First Team All-American forward from Georgia

 

[Jriv23]

Huge pickups. Welcome to the family Stratton and Summer. Go Heels!

 

[bradarb08]

This transfer haul is what I expect out of our program. Hope we have more coming.

 

[UltimateHeel]

Still hoping we don’t lose any of our major contributors from this year

 

[JohnnyYen]

Wow. This is very encouraging. But I do wonder is this is signaling some changes, especially across the back.

 

[Bricks]

This transfer haul is what I expect out of our program. Hope we have more coming.

Summer Denigan "Named to TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Third Team...Ranked No. 30 on TopDrawerSoccer Postseason Top 100 Players List...Named to First Team All-SEC...Named to SEC All-Tournament Team...Played and started in all 21 matches, tallying 1,688 minutes...Led team in points, goals, shots, shots on goal, and ranked fifth in minutes...Set new career highs in points, goals, shots, shots on goal, and minutes...Ranked No. 19 on TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Top 100 Players List...Scored winning goal against UAlbany (Aug. 17)...Scored winning goal against No. 12 North Carolina and assisted Lily Kate Elphick on clinching goal (Aug. 21)..."

 

[Bricks]

Wow. This is very encouraging. But I do wonder is this is signaling some changes, especially across the back.

Not knowing Izzy's game, it seems like Gaetino is capable of moving to midfield with Stratton assuming the center back role.

 

[bradarb08]

Summer Denigan "Named to TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Third Team...Ranked No. 30 on TopDrawerSoccer Postseason Top 100 Players List...Named to First Team All-SEC...Named to SEC All-Tournament Team...Played and started in all 21 matches, tallying 1,688 minutes...Led team in points, goals, shots, shots on goal, and ranked fifth in minutes...Set new career highs in points, goals, shots, shots on goal, and minutes...Ranked No. 19 on TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Top 100 Players List...Scored winning goal against UAlbany (Aug. 17)...Scored winning goal against No. 12 North Carolina and assisted Lily Kate Elphick on clinching goal (Aug. 21)..."

And a semifinalist for the Hermann trophy

 

[bradarb08]

Not knowing Izzy's game, it seems like Gaetino is capable of moving to midfield with Stratton assuming the center back role.

She’s regarded as one of the top CB prospects in the college game. 6 feet tall, has led the team in minutes almost every year. All College Cup team her FR year… came back after her 18 month mission for her third season and was All Conference. Played in the same Club program as Devey and Munson, although they are much younger.

 

[3397char]

There are rarely any official announcements until they "sign" elsewhere. So we just gather what we see on social media.

These have made Insta comments implying they are staying, and list UNC Women's soccer in their bio:

1. Bella Gaetino*
2. Hope Munson*
3. Caitlin Mara*

These still List UNC Women's soccer on their Insta bio but no notable statements of a return or transferring I see:

1. Olivia Thomas*
2. Linda Ullmark*
3. Bella Devey*
4. Ashley Pennie*
5. Aven Alvarez*~
6. Shaela Bradley*~
7. Hannah Johann*
8. Lauren Malsom*
9. Riley Kennedy^
10. Liya Brooks^
11. Logan Tongberg
12. Abby Gundry
13. Ella Smith (Insta is private) - Morehead-Cain scholarship makes her unlikely to transfer
14. Raegan Williams
15. Cammie Maynor (Insta has not been updated in 5 months)
16. Jenny Dearie (Insta has not been updated in over a year)

Have stated Clearly they are graduated and gone:

1. Kate Faasse*
2. Tessa Dellarose*
3. Ryann Brown
4. Marisa Shorrock

Transfer Announcement:

1. Eden Bretzer - Arizona
2. Emile Maihs - Miami
3. Djem Koppelaar - Arizona State
4. Eres Freifeld^ - TCU

* Starter
~Out injured for the season
^key reserve

Transferes In:

1. Def Izzi Stratton from BYU (2022 Freshman A-A, 2023 Top IX)
2. Mid Summer Denigan from UGA (2025 1st team A-A)

So on paper we have 21 20 19 still here, 11-12 13-14 recruits/transfers coming in, so we still need 4-5 3-4 2-3 4-5 to leave to get to the roster limit of 28, plus any additional space for transfers in.

Transfer portal tracker here:

2026 Women's Division I Transfer Tracker | College Soccer

Keep track of the officially announced Women's Division I Transfers for the class of 2026.

www.topdrawersoccer.com

Note that for W Soccer the transfer portal opened on Nov 17th and actually closes tomorrow, Dec 16th. But that is just the date that you have to tell your Ath Dept to enter your name. The actual portal name entry can be up to 48 hours later. And while every university has access to whose names are in the portal it is treated as semi-confidential; no reporter nor fan can just get a list of who has portalled. Instead we wait for athletes to self-report entry, their new school, or for the new school to report who they signed. So final decisions can be up to the final spring drop-add date at the new, school. Also grad students can transfer at any time, and most wait until after they graduate.

Updated with transfers added. Looks like we will still need 4-5 attrition. The exception may be anyone of the roster who has zero scholarship money and is grandfathered in; I think that will still be a thing next season? It is also possible someone in the freshman class may grayshirt, though that would probably be a first for soccer.

 

[JohnnyYen]

Not knowing Izzy's game, it seems like Gaetino is capable of moving to midfield with Stratton assuming the center back role.

I'm not sure that Gaetino has shown any real midfield skills. Not saying she doesn't have it, but I don't think that we've seen it. There was a bunch of talk early in the season that she wanted to play (more) forward. I don't know where that came from or if it was really true or not. But whether she likes it or not, she's a very solid back. I could see her having a very solid pro career in that position. But I can't imagine Stratton is coming in to swap minutes, so something is gonna change back there. And I don't think it'll be a regular 4 back lineup either.

How much eligibility does Stratton have left?

 

[Bricks]

I'm not sure that Gaetino has shown any real midfield skills. Not saying she doesn't have it, but I don't think that we've seen it. There was a bunch of talk early in the season that she wanted to play (more) forward. I don't know where that came from or if it was really true or not. But whether she likes it or not, she's a very solid back. I could see her having a very solid pro career in that position. But I can't imagine Stratton is coming in to swap minutes, so something is gonna change back there. And I don't think it'll be a regular 4 back lineup either.

How much eligibility does Stratton have left?

I have no idea how they determine eligibility any more, but I assume only one. She started in 20 games as a freshman in 2022, 26 games as a sophomore in 2023 and in 20 games as a junior in 2025. She missed 2024 to fulfill her LDS mission.

 

[3397char]

I'm not sure that Gaetino has shown any real midfield skills. Not saying she doesn't have it, but I don't think that we've seen it. There was a bunch of talk early in the season that she wanted to play (more) forward. I don't know where that came from or if it was really true or not. But whether she likes it or not, she's a very solid back. I could see her having a very solid pro career in that position. But I can't imagine Stratton is coming in to swap minutes, so something is gonna change back there. And I don't think it'll be a regular 4 back lineup either.

How much eligibility does Stratton have left?

She has one year to play one more year. so she will be a senior next season

Summer Denigan also has 1 year to play one more season as a grad student

 

[3397char]

Faasse, Dellarose and Bretzer are UNC graduates!

 

[BlueHeels02]

 

[UltimateHeel]

On BigSoccerForum, a poster posted "Another young UNC player going pro...", any word on who that is?

 

[Bricks]

On BigSoccerForum, a poster posted "Another young UNC player going pro...", any word on who that is?

No, but I think I can narrow it down to two girls, Olivia or Linda.

 

[OBXheel81]

Nice to see that they recruited two experienced players to replace Tessa and Kate. But there will be competition for those spots. I do see BG moving up the field to improve her development and versatility, assuming she doesn’t go pro to one of the new expansion teams.

 

[Mtns2Sea]

Huge pickups. Welcome to the family Stratton and Summer. Go Heels!

Summer D. had a goal and an assist in Georgia's 2 - 0 victory over us this season.

As a Mormon (basing that assumption on her BYU bio which references her completion of a Church of the Latter Day Saints mission) , will Izzy S be available to play on Sundays? Their schedule last year posts games on every day of the week but Sunday while we played 7 games on Sundays.

 

[6string]

Summer D. had a goal and an assist in Georgia's 2 - 0 victory over us this season.

As a Mormon (basing that assumption on her BYU bio which references her completion of a Church of the Latter Day Saints mission) , will Izzy S be available to play on Sundays? Their schedule last year posts games on every day of the week but Sunday while we played 7 games on Sundays.

Darn good question

 

[UNCAlum83]

Summer D. had a goal and an assist in Georgia's 2 - 0 victory over us this season.

As a Mormon (basing that assumption on her BYU bio which references her completion of a Church of the Latter Day Saints mission) , will Izzy S be available to play on Sundays? Their schedule last year posts games on every day of the week but Sunday while we played 7 games on Sundays.

This article is from 2013 but talks about athletes playing on Sundays (FYI, it says BYU doesn't schedule games on Sundays). Essentially, it appears to be a personal choice for athletes.

Balancing sports on Sundays

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches members it is important to 'keep the Sabbath Day holy' and forgo certain activities; however, playing sports on the Sabbath is an individual decision many athletes are faced with in professional their careers.

universe.byu.edu

 

[UNCAlum83]

BTW, here's an article about their men's basketball team getting a 6 seed to avoid playing on Sunday:

BYU Basketball: 'No Sunday' Rule Impacted NCAA Tourney Seed

BYU basketball was the highest-rated 5-seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Yet, they received a 6-seed. Why? Their "No Sunday" rule.

kslsports.com

 

[Nate1972]

This article is from 2013 but talks about athletes playing on Sundays (FYI, it says BYU doesn't schedule games on Sundays). Essentially, it appears to be a personal choice for athletes.

Balancing sports on Sundays

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches members it is important to 'keep the Sabbath Day holy' and forgo certain activities; however, playing sports on the Sabbath is an individual decision many athletes are faced with in professional their careers.

universe.byu.edu

She played on Sundays at UGA

 

[Jriv23]

I am sure that the coaching staff and she will work this out if it becomes a problem, which I do not foresee happening.

 

[bradarb08]

Picked up a winger from Utah, one year of eligibility left.

 

[Bricks]

Lilliah Blum - Led the squad with four goals, including the game-winner vs. N.C. State on Aug. 31

 

[UNCAlum83]

Women’s Soccer Welcomes Three Tar Heels - University of North Carolina Athletics

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina women's soccer and head coach Damon Nahas announced the addition of three Tar Heels for the upcoming season....

goheels.com

 

[JCTarHeel]

Lilliah Blum - Led the squad with four goals, including the game-winner vs. N.C. State on Aug. 31

I like her already.

 

[Jriv23]

Welcome to the final. Go Heels!

 

[unctarheel1984]

Three great pick ups. Go Heels!