The 2025–26 Carolina Ascent FC season is the team's second season as a professional women's soccer team in the USL Super League (USLS), one of two leagues to be in the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Background
In the 2024–25 campaign, the Ascent topped the inaugural USL Super League table and claimed the league's first-ever Players' Shield. Carolina was then eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Fort Lauderdale United FC after Kiara Locklear scored a controversial game-winning goal in extra time. Multiple Ascent members received accolades at the end of the season, with Jill Aguilera named Defender of the Year, coach Philip Poole named Coach of the Year, and all three of Aguilera, Mia Corbin, and Sydney Studer earning spots on the All-League first team.
Kit changes On May 17, 2025, the Ascent announced its kits for the 2025–26 season. Building off of the previous year's uniforms, the Ascent's 'Trailblazer Kit 2.0' and 'Coastal Kit 2.0' feature artwork portraying various locations in North Carolina.
Team Staff
Front officePositionNameCEO & Managing Partner Jim McPhilliamyTechnical staffHead Coach Philip Poole
Current squad
NameDate of birth (age)Previous teamNotesGoalkeepers1Meagan McClelland2024 Odense Boldklub Q–15Sydney Martinez2025 Brooklyn FC–16Charlotte Burge2024 1. FC Kaiserslautern–Defenders2Brianna Martinez2025 Orlando PrideLOA7Jill Aguilera2024 Chicago Red Stars–8Emily Moxley2024 North Carolina Tar Heels–12Sydney Studer2024 Washington State Cougars–13Addisyn Merrick2024 Utah Royals–19Meaghan Nally2025 Odense Boldklub Q–20Jenna Butler2025 Washington Spirit–26Isa Franco2024 Carolina Ascent FC (USLW)ACAMidfielders3Giovanna DeMarco2024 San Diego Wave FC–14Taylor Porter2024 Portland Thorns FC–22B Hylton2024 Charlotte Development Academy–24Emily Morris2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons–25Sarah Troccoli2024 Åland United–28Maggie Pierce2025 Carolina Ascent FC (USLW)–Forwards6Maria Tapia2024 Charlotte Independence SCACA9Mia Corbin2024 Brisbane Roar FC–10Rylee Baisden2024 Perth Glory FC–11Luana Grabias2025 Brooklyn FC–17Alyssa Walker2025 Spokane Zephyr FC–18Audrey Harding2024 KIF Örebro DFF–21Macey Bader2025 North Carolina Courage U23–23Riley Parker2025 Tampa Bay Sun FC–31Mackenzie George2025 Brooklyn FC–70Stella Spitzer2024 Sioux Falls City FC–
Competitions USL Super League
Regular season standings
Matches August and September
October
November
December
January and February
March
April
May
Playoffs
Statistics
Appearances and goals Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
! colspan=14 style="background-color:#002157; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #F6961D;" width:110px;" text-align:center|Goalkeepers
! colspan=14 style="background-color:#002157; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #F6961D;" width:110px;" text-align:center;" |Defenders
! colspan=14 style="background-color:#002157; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #F6961D;" width:110px;" text-align:center;" |Midfielders
! colspan=14 style="background-color:#002157; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #F6961D;" width:110px;" text-align:center;" |Forwards
|colspan=14 style="background-color:#002157; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #F6961D;" width:110px;" |Players who left the club during the season:
|colspan=14 style="background-color:#002157; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #F6961D;" width:110px;" |Own goals for:
Transactions
Contract operations DatePlayerNotesJuly 25, 2025 Stella SpitzerFWAcademy player signed to multi-year professional contract.
Loans in DatePlayerLoaned fromFee/notesJuly 2, 2025 Brianna MartinezDF Orlando PrideLoaned through the end of the 2025 NWSL season.August 20, 2025 Maddie MercadoMF Seattle Reign FCLoaned through the end of the 2025 NWSL season. Recalled early on October 8, 2025.
Transfers in DatePlayerPrevious clubFee/notesJuly 3, 2025 Luana GrabiasFW Brooklyn FCFree agent signing.July 7, 2025 Alyssa WalkerFW Spokane Zephyr FCFree agent signing.July 9, 2025 Sydney MartinezGK Brooklyn FCFree agent signing.July 10, 2025 Emily MorrisMF Wake Forest Demon DeaconsFree agent signing.July 12, 2025 Meaghan NallyDF Odense Boldklub QFree agent signing.July 14, 2025 Macey BaderFW North Carolina Courage U23Free agent signing.July 15, 2025 Maggie PierceMF Carolina Ascent FC (USLW)Free agent signing.July 16, 2025 Mackenzie GeorgeFW Brooklyn FCTransfer acquisition.
Transfers out DatePlayerDestination clubFee/notesJune 14, 2025 Eli HutchinsonFWRetirement.June 23, 2025 Jaydah BedoyaFW DC Power FCOut of contract. Cannon CloughDF Central Coast Mariners FC Annika CreelDF Kathrynn GonzálezMF Fort Lauderdale United FC Renée GuionDF Samantha Leshnak MurphyGK FC Rosengård Ashlynn SerepcaMF Josie StuderDF Brisbane Roar FC
References