Wake Forest Athletics
#ProDeacs: Wake Forest Women’s Soccer Alumni Prepare for Upcoming Seasons on Professional Stage
7/31/2025 4:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Eight different Demon Deacon alumni will represent Wake Forest in the NWSL in 2026.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - As excitement builds back in Winston-Salem for the Demon Deacons to return to Spry, as does anticipation build to see Wake Forest represented on an elite level.
NWSL Midseason Update
Washington Spirit Captain Aubrey Kingsbury became just the fourth player in league history to record 40 regular-season clean sheets, a nod which earned her a spot on the NWSL's Best XI of the Month presented by Amazon Prime for April. The two-time NWSL Keeper was also named NWSL Player of the Week in June, making her the first goalkeeper to win since 2023, following a shutout performance in a draw with the San Diego Wave.
After an impressive rookie showing, defender Zara Chavosi has signed with the Orlando Pride through 2027, with a mutual option for 2028. Chavosi also had the opportunity to represent Team Canada on the international level, which marks her first senior team call-up of her career.
Since she joined the Thorns in March, Caiya Hanks has remained a dominant force on the pitch. Despite an unfortunate early ending to her season due to injury, she totaled 639 minutes in 11 games played and two goals. Her most recent goal came against the Houston Dash and helped propel the Thorns to a 4-1 victory.
Northern Super League Update
Midfielder Nikayla Small has been a standout member of the AFC Toronto during the club's inaugural season. Since joining the club, Small has played a full 90 in all but one of her 14 matches and tallied three goals. She earned the recognition of AFC Toronto Player of the Month after notching both goals in Toronto's 2-1 road victory over Calgary FC.
A native of Pickering, Ontario, she earned her first career points with an assist against the Halifax Tide on May 17, and scored her first professional goal in Toronto's 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Rise.
Fellow Demon Deacon Mariah Lee has been a prominent member in her first season with Vancouver Rise FC. Since May, Lee has started six of her twelve matches and recorded four goals for the Rise, highlighted by the winning goal in the club's 2-1 victory over Halifax Tides.
Ansbrow Signs with Boston
After a stellar collegiate career with the Deacons, defender Laurel Ansbrow signed her first NWSL contract with the newest member of the league, Boston Legacy FC. The Cary-native will be the eighth Wake Forest women's soccer alum actively in the NWSL when the club begins competition in 2026.
Since graduating from Wake Forest, Ansbrow joined Fort Lauderdale FC in the Gainbridge Super League and will stay with the team until the end of the year. The two-time USL Super League Team of the Month totaled 1,530 minutes with the team since January and has played a full 90 minutes in every appearance.
USL Super League Season Wraps Up
Midfielder Emily Colton wrapped her season with DC Power FC this past June with 1,016 minutes played and appeared in 13 total matches. The Carlsbad, Calif. native saw her best performance so far during the Power's 1-0 victory over Brooklyn FC, where she delivered her first professional assist on the game-winning goal. Colton returns to the pitch with DC Power on Aug. 23 on the road against Sporting Jax.
Morris Signs with Carolina
A member of the 2024 College Cup National Runner-up team, Emily Morris joins the likes of fellow Demon Deacon Giovanna DeMarco at Carolina Ascent FC. The Fort Mill, S.C. native totaled twelve goals and eight assists during her time with the Old Gold and Black, including three during Wake Forest's historic postseason run in 2024 and the gamewinner against Stanford in the College Cup semifinals. The two-time All-ACC academic team member recorded 4,867 minutes of action and 73 games played across her career. During her senior season, she started all 24 matches with 1,815 minutes of action.
Carolina Ascent kicks its season off on Saturday, Aug, 30 on the road at Beyond Bancard Field against Fort Lauderdale FC.
Stengel Back to the States
After spending the 2024-25 season with Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League, forward Katie Stengel is returning not only to the states, but to a former club, Gotham FC. She previously played for Gotham during the 2023 campaign, recording six goals and two assists in her 23 regular-season appearances.
With over 107 appearances in her NWSL career, Stengel played a key role in the team earning their first NWSL Championship that year. While with Crystal Palace, the Melbourne, Fla. native started all 20 of her appearances, recording four goals and four assists for the club.
Recent Results and Upcoming Fixtures
NWSL
NWSL Midseason Update
Washington Spirit Captain Aubrey Kingsbury became just the fourth player in league history to record 40 regular-season clean sheets, a nod which earned her a spot on the NWSL's Best XI of the Month presented by Amazon Prime for April. The two-time NWSL Keeper was also named NWSL Player of the Week in June, making her the first goalkeeper to win since 2023, following a shutout performance in a draw with the San Diego Wave.
After an impressive rookie showing, defender Zara Chavosi has signed with the Orlando Pride through 2027, with a mutual option for 2028. Chavosi also had the opportunity to represent Team Canada on the international level, which marks her first senior team call-up of her career.
Since she joined the Thorns in March, Caiya Hanks has remained a dominant force on the pitch. Despite an unfortunate early ending to her season due to injury, she totaled 639 minutes in 11 games played and two goals. Her most recent goal came against the Houston Dash and helped propel the Thorns to a 4-1 victory.
Northern Super League Update
Midfielder Nikayla Small has been a standout member of the AFC Toronto during the club's inaugural season. Since joining the club, Small has played a full 90 in all but one of her 14 matches and tallied three goals. She earned the recognition of AFC Toronto Player of the Month after notching both goals in Toronto's 2-1 road victory over Calgary FC.
A native of Pickering, Ontario, she earned her first career points with an assist against the Halifax Tide on May 17, and scored her first professional goal in Toronto's 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Rise.
Fellow Demon Deacon Mariah Lee has been a prominent member in her first season with Vancouver Rise FC. Since May, Lee has started six of her twelve matches and recorded four goals for the Rise, highlighted by the winning goal in the club's 2-1 victory over Halifax Tides.
Ansbrow Signs with Boston
After a stellar collegiate career with the Deacons, defender Laurel Ansbrow signed her first NWSL contract with the newest member of the league, Boston Legacy FC. The Cary-native will be the eighth Wake Forest women's soccer alum actively in the NWSL when the club begins competition in 2026.
Since graduating from Wake Forest, Ansbrow joined Fort Lauderdale FC in the Gainbridge Super League and will stay with the team until the end of the year. The two-time USL Super League Team of the Month totaled 1,530 minutes with the team since January and has played a full 90 minutes in every appearance.
USL Super League Season Wraps Up
Midfielder Emily Colton wrapped her season with DC Power FC this past June with 1,016 minutes played and appeared in 13 total matches. The Carlsbad, Calif. native saw her best performance so far during the Power's 1-0 victory over Brooklyn FC, where she delivered her first professional assist on the game-winning goal. Colton returns to the pitch with DC Power on Aug. 23 on the road against Sporting Jax.
Morris Signs with Carolina
A member of the 2024 College Cup National Runner-up team, Emily Morris joins the likes of fellow Demon Deacon Giovanna DeMarco at Carolina Ascent FC. The Fort Mill, S.C. native totaled twelve goals and eight assists during her time with the Old Gold and Black, including three during Wake Forest's historic postseason run in 2024 and the gamewinner against Stanford in the College Cup semifinals. The two-time All-ACC academic team member recorded 4,867 minutes of action and 73 games played across her career. During her senior season, she started all 24 matches with 1,815 minutes of action.
Carolina Ascent kicks its season off on Saturday, Aug, 30 on the road at Beyond Bancard Field against Fort Lauderdale FC.
Stengel Back to the States
After spending the 2024-25 season with Crystal Palace in the Women's Super League, forward Katie Stengel is returning not only to the states, but to a former club, Gotham FC. She previously played for Gotham during the 2023 campaign, recording six goals and two assists in her 23 regular-season appearances.
With over 107 appearances in her NWSL career, Stengel played a key role in the team earning their first NWSL Championship that year. While with Crystal Palace, the Melbourne, Fla. native started all 20 of her appearances, recording four goals and four assists for the club.
Recent Results and Upcoming Fixtures
NWSL
- Madison Hammond - Angel City FC
- Last: Loss, 0-1, at Kansas City Current
- Next: Friday, August 1 at Seattle Reign FC (10:30 pm ET)
- Caiya Hanks - Portland Thorns
- Last: Win, 1-0 vs. Chicago Stars
- Next: Sunday, August 3 at Washington Spirit (12:30 pm ET)
- Ryanne Brown - Seattle Reign
- Last: Win, 4-1, vs. Utah Royals
- Next: Friday, August 1 vs. Angel City FC (10:30 pm ET)
- Hannah Betfort - NC Courage
- Last: Win, 2-1, vs. Houston Dash
- Next: Saturday, August 2 vs. San Diego Wave (7:30 pm ET)
- Aubrey Kingsbury - Washington Spirit
- Last: Draw, 0-0 at San Diego Wave FC
- Next: Sunday, August 3 vs. Portland Thorns (12:30 pm ET)
- Bayley Feist - Kansas City Current
- Last: Win, 1-0, vs. Angel City FC
- Next: Friday, August 1 at Racing Louisville (8 pm ET)
- Zara Chavoshi - Orlando Pride
- Last: Loss, 0-2, at Racing Louisville
- Next: Sunday, August 3 vs. Utah Royals (6 pm ET)
- Katie Stengel - Gotham FC
- Last: Win, 2-1, vs. Bay FC
- Next: Friday, August 1 at Chicago Stars (8 pm ET)
- Mariah Lee - Vancouver Rise
- Last: Win, 2-1, vs. AFC Toronto
- Next: Saturday, Aug 2 vs. Ottawa Rapids (7 pm ET)
- Nikayla Small - AFC Toronto
- Last: Loss, 1-2, at Vancouver Rise
- Next: Saturday, August 2 at Calgary FC (4 pm ET)
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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