Even halfway across the world, the UNC women’s soccer program is making its presence felt. As the English women’s national team defeated Germany and lifted the European Championship trophy in London Sunday, the soccer-crazed nation had four Tar Heels to thank for its first-ever men’s or women’s Euro title: forward Alessia Russo, defenders Lucy Bronze and Lotte Wubben-Moy and head coach Sarina Wiegman.

Russo, who played at Carolina from 2017 through 2019 and plays professionally for Manchester United, tied for third among all competitors with four goals in six matches during the tournament. One of Russo’s goals was perhaps the highlight of the competition: a no-look, back-heel effort which went through the goalkeeper’s legs. It helped England to a 4-0 win over Sweden in the tournament semifinals.

Bronze, one of the veteran leaders on the team, played one season as a Tar Heel in 2009 and won a national title. Since then, she has put together a successful professional career in England, France and Spain. Though she lines up as a defender, Bronze scored a goal during England’s run to the championship, which also came in the semifinal match against Sweden.

Wubben-Moy made her international debut for England in February 2021, and has since been included on the Lionesses’ roster for both the Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the European Championship. Like Russo, Wobben-Moy played in Chapel Hill from 2017 through 2019. She currently plays professionally for Arsenal.

Finally, English head coach Sarina Wiegman is also a Tar Heel, if her time in Chapel Hill was relatively short. Originally from The Hague in the Netherlands, Wiegman met UNC head coach Anson Dorrance at an international tournament in 1988. Dorrance convinced Wiegman to come and play for Carolina in 1989, where she played alongside Mia Hamm and won a national title.

Wiegman played 14 years for the Dutch national team and has since become one of the most successful coaches in women’s international soccer. The 2022 European title is Wiegman’s second in a row as coach, after leading her native Netherlands to the championship in 2015. She is the first coach ever in men’s or women’s soccer to win two European titles with two different countries.

 

Featured image via Lionesses on Twitter

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Women's Soccer's Season Ends in Penalty Shootout in NCAA Tournament Round of 16
UNC couldn’t hold on to a 1-0 lead late in the second half Monday afternoon, and No. 2 seed TCU scored a 90th-minute equalizer before winning on a penalty shootout to end the Tar Heels’ season. Carolina had dominated possession for much of the match, holding decisive leads in both total shots and shots on […]
UNC Women's Soccer Beats No. 6 Texas Tech in Penalty Shootout, Advances to NCAA Round of 16
Carolina went the distance vs. No. 6 seed Texas Tech in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night, defeating the Red Raiders in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. After a scoreless first half in which UNC controlled much of the offensive possession and outshot Texas Tech 5-1, […]
UNC Women's Soccer Upsets No. 3 Tennessee in NCAA Tournament 1st Round
The national title defense for the UNC women’s soccer program will last at least a little longer. Kate Faasse scored a pair of goals to help the Tar Heels upset No. 3 seed Tennessee in Knoxville Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The 3-1 win avenges a 2-0 UNC defeat at […]
UNC Women's Soccer to Face No. 3 Seed Tennessee in NCAA Tournament 1st Round
The Tar Heels are back in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, though not in the way many thought. Carolina earned at-large bid to the tournament field Monday afternoon and will play at No. 3 seed Tennessee in Knoxville in the tournament’s first round Friday. Let postseason begin… The Tar Heels will head to Knoxville this […]
UNC Women's Soccer Beats NC State in Regular Season Finale, But Will Miss ACC Tournament
A goal from freshman Bella Devey in the 30th minute was all UNC needed to earn a 1-0 win against NC State in the regular-season finale at Dorrance Field Thursday night. The Tar Heels have won six of their last seven meetings with the Wolfpack. Senior night 𝙙𝙪𝙗#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/67ngEadxO6 — UNC Women's Soccer […]
UNC Sports: Men's Soccer Loses, Women's Soccer Wins, Volleyball Splits Weekend Homestand
It was a busy weekend of Olympic sports for UNC, with the men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball teams all in action. In men’s soccer, the Tar Heels fell at Syracuse Saturday afternoon after the Orange netted a goal in the 36th minute. Carolina pressed for an equalizer hard in the second half, totaling 13 […]
UNC Women's Soccer Loses at Miami on Late Goal
A Miami goal in the 77th minute broke a 1-1 tie and sent UNC to a 2-1 defeat Thursday night in Coral Gables. It’s Carolina’s second loss in its last three outings. The two teams played a scoreless first half, despite UNC holding a decisive 6-0 advantage in total shots. The Hurricane goalkeeper stopped both […]
UNC Women's Soccer Wins at SMU in First-Ever ACC Meeting
A pair of goals from sophomore defender Caitlin Mara helped UNC beat SMU 3-0 in Dallas Friday night. It was the first meeting between the two schools as ACC foes. Tamed the Mustangs😏#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/CGbL4RLJRo — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) October 18, 2025 Mara’s two goals – her first two of the season and […]
UNC Sports: Volleyball, Field Hockey Win; Women's Soccer Falls at Duke
Plenty of UNC Olympic sports teams were in action Sunday, as the field hockey and volleyball teams picked up big wins while the women’s soccer team lost at Duke. In volleyball, the Tar Heels traveled down to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech and came away with their first win against the Yellow Jackets since 2017. […]
UNC Women's Soccer Beats Boston College to Snap Losing Streak
Two late goals from Kate Faasse broke a 1-1 tie and helped UNC beat Boston College 3-1 at Dorrance Field Thursday night. The win snapped a two-match losing streak for the Tar Heels. Bounced back👏#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/2fccJq1rCV — UNC Women's Soccer (@uncwomenssoccer) October 3, 2025 Carolina took a 1-0 lead thanks to a 39th-minute […]
›