Even As UNC’s Anson Dorrance Officially Retired,
Women’s Soccer Carried Torch For ACC, Tar Heels
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
On the same weekend when legendary North Carolina soccer coach Anson Dorrance announced his retirement, the university’s athletic program was at risk of a rarity: being shut out of gold medals at the Summer Olympics.
Eighteen athletes represented the Tar Heels in France, yet as the weeks-long competition entered its final days, they had earned only a single (bronze) medal. Naya Tapper, a 2016 UNC graduate who didn’t even play a varsity sport (only on club teams) during her time in Chapel Hill, won a bronze with Team USA in rugby sevens.
As Dorrance was stepping down, though, two of his former players were stepping up — for both their country and their alma mater.
Former UNC stars Crystal Dunn (2010-13) and Emily Fox (2017-20), both starting defenders for Team USA at this year’s Olympics, helped the Americans defeat Brazil 1-0 on Saturday in the women’s soccer gold medal match. The Americans finished 6-0 in France, compiling a 12-2 scoring margin.
The next day, as Dorrance held his retirement press conference, two of his earliest and ultimately greatest UNC superstars were among the first to congratulate him on social media.
Mia Hamm (1989-93) and Kristine Lilly (1989-92) symbolize both the collegiate dominance and the international impact of Dorrance’s teams and players. Hamm and Lilly were four-time national champions during their time in Chapel Hill, and both later were inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame as three-time Olympians who helped their country claim two gold medals (1996, 2004) and one silver (2000).
“I owe so much to Anson, Carolina women’s soccer and UNC for making me into the player and person I am today,” Hamm wrote on her Twitter/X account. “Congrats on a legendary career, Anson. Enjoy the walk.”
“Congrats, Anson, on an amazing career,” Lilly wrote. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play at UNC and on the U.S. Women’s National Team.”
Overall, Dorrance’s UNC teams won 21 of 42 NCAA championships (once the NCAA started sponsoring women’s soccer in 1982), and his Carolina players have populated literally every American squad that has competed at the Women’s World Cup (created in 1991) and the Summer Olympics (which added women’s soccer in 1996).
Dunn and Fox continued an amazing UNC “forever” streak (see below for complete list) at this year’s Olympic Games. Fun fact: Two additional members of the American team in France, team captain Lindsey Horan and forward Jaedyn Shaw, committed to the Tar Heels as high school prospects but ultimately jumped directly to the professional ranks.
In a sport that allows only 18 players on an active roster, Carolina has provided at least two — and as many as seven — on-field competitors for Team USA at every Summer Olympics.
“Anson is an all-time soccer, coaching and Tar Heel legend,” UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said Sunday. “The numbers and accomplishments are staggering and will be hard for any coach or program to replicate or exceed. His impact on the development and growth of women’s sports across the country and around the world has been profound.
“Not only did he elevate women’s sports in the NCAA, but he also led the early dominance of the United States Women’s National Team. With Anson at the helm, numerous Tar Heels raised trophies in the World Cup and later in the Olympics.”
Thanks in large part to UNC, the Atlantic Coast Conference also has been represented in every major international women’s soccer competition over the past four decades.
In the early years, the Tar Heels were the ACC’s only representatives on Team USA. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, for example, the Americans claimed the sport’s first Olympic gold medal with a team that included seven Carolina players (see below) on its 18-player roster.
Gradually, however, the ACC has increased its sheer numbers on Team USA while also showcasing the league’s impressive depth. At this year’s Olympics in Paris, the American team included a whopping eight ACC players, representing five (Boston College, Florida State, Notre Dame, UNC and Virginia) conference programs. Both numbers represented all-time highs in league history.
ACC/NC/UNC At Summer Olympics
(Women’s Soccer)
1996—Atlanta
Gold: USA
Silver: China
Bronze: Norway
Mia Hamm, UNC
Kristine Lilly, UNC
Carla Overbeck, UNC (captain)
Cindy Parlow, UNC
Tiffany Roberts, UNC
Tisha Venturini, UNC
Staci Wilson, UNC
2000—Sydney
Gold: Norway
Silver: USA
Bronze: Germany
Lorrie Fair, UNC
Mia Hamm, UNC
April Heinrichs, UNC (head coach)
Kristine Lilly, UNC
Siri Mullinix, UNC
Carla Overbeck, UNC
Cindy Parlow, UNC
2004—Athens
Gold: USA
Silver: Brazil
Bronze: Germany
Mia Hamm, UNC
April Heinrichs, UNC (head coach)
Angela Hucles, Virginia
Kristine Lilly, UNC
Heather O’Reilly, UNC
Cindy Parlow, UNC
Cat Reddick, UNC
Lindsay Tarpley, UNC
(Carolina Courage, WUSA: Kristin Luckenbill)
2008—Beijing
Gold: USA
Silver: Brazil
Bronze: Germany
Lori Chalupny, UNC
Tobin Heath, UNC
Angela Hucles, Virginia
Heather O’Reilly, UNC
Lindsay Tarpley, UNC
2012—London
Gold: USA
Silver: Japan
Bronze: Canada
Tobin Heath, UNC
Heather O’Reilly, UNC
Becky Sauerbrunn, Virginia
2016—Rio de Janeiro
Gold: Germany
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: Canada
Morgan Brian, Virginia
Crystal Dunn, UNC
Whitney Engen, UNC
Tobin Heath, UNC
Meghan Klingenberg, UNC
Allie Long, UNC
Becky Sauerbrunn, Virginia
2021—Tokyo
Gold: Canada
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: USA
Crystal Dunn, UNC
Tobin Heath, UNC
Casey Krueger, Florida State
Kristie Mewis, Boston College
Becky Sauerbrunn, Virginia (captain)
Emily Sonnett, Virginia
(North Carolina Courage, NWSL: Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis, Lynn Williams)
2024—Paris
Gold: USA
Silver: Brazil
Bronze: Germany
Korbin Albert, Notre Dame
Sam Coffey, Boston College
Crystal Dunn, UNC
Emily Fox, UNC
Casey Krueger, Florida State
Jenna Nighswonger, Florida State
Emily Sams, Florida State
Emily Sonnett, Virginia
(North Carolina Courage, NWSL: Casey Murphy)
