North Carolina Courage Trade for Former UNC, U.S. National Team Star Heather O’Reilly

A legendary former Tar Heel is coming back home.

Heather O’Reilly–who starred at UNC and has made 231 appearances for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team–was traded Thursday from the Utah Royals to the North Carolina Courage.

The Courage also gained a 2019 NWSL Draft selection in the deal, while sending Makenzy Doniak and a 2019 third-round pick to Utah.

At 33 years old, O’Reilly has accomplished just about everything there is to do in high-level soccer. She’s won three Olympic gold medals and was a part of the 2015 U.S. National Team that took home the World Cup title.

Prior to those achievements she won a pair of NCAA titles at UNC and had her No. 20 jersey retired by the program.

O’Reilly will now join a Courage team that sits atop the league standings by a wide margin–and already boasts another UNC great in forward Crystal Dunn.

“The idea of bringing Heather back to North Carolina has been important to (owner) Steve (Malik) and I since our first conversation about purchasing the Flash,” team president and general manager Curt Johnson said in a statement. “It has been important to us because we know it’s something Courage fans are passionate about. We are thrilled to add her to this great group and continue to build the strongest organization possible on and off the field.”

Photo via Associated Press

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