The
Portland Thorns FC attraction to former
University of North Carolina players has been the
NWSL's worst kept secret (after the Nike apparel partnership), solidified since the final rounding out of 2013 NWSL rosters following April's Discovery Player signing gate. Head Coach, Cindy Parlow Cone, was a former UNC player and coach with Anson Dorrance's squads.
Considering the
success Cone has experienced with UNC - two NCAA titles as a player and four as a coach, two national player of the year awards, and a FIFA World Cup and Olympic Gold - it's easy to understand the pipeline: UNC churns out quality. Five players currently on the PTFC roster played at UNC, which is a high amount considering the majority of schools average 1 or 2 players.
Only one other NWSL team has as many players from one college on its roster. Can you guess?
Most Players from Same College on NWSL Roster
T1: Portland Thorns FC - UNC: 5
T1: Washington Spirit - Virginia: 5
T3. Portland Thorns FC - University of Portland: 3
T3. WNY Flash - Oklahoma State: 3
T3. Boston Breakers - Penn State: 3
Next season, if other NWSL teams want to snag a UNC player they better do it a round before Cone and PTFC do.
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PTFC signed the five UNC players as following:
National Team Allocation (1):
Tobin Heath
College Draft (1): Amber Brooks
Free Agency (2):
Allie Long,
Nikki Washington
Discovery Player (1):
Adelaide Gay
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