UNC women's soccer alum named FWA Women's Footballer of the Year

Arsenal forward Alessia Russo was named Football Writers' Associate Women's Footballer of the Year for the 2024-25 season.

Russo, who left her native England to play for Anson Dorrance at North Carolina from 2017-2020, is in her second full season at North London club Arsenal, having signed as a free agent from Manchester United. After a stellar debut season for the Gunners (16 goals in all appearances), Russo took it up another notch. With two games left on Arsenal's schedule, Russo has an opportunity to stretch her goal tally, which currently stands at 20 in all competitions.

Tomorrow, Russo will take on her former club, Manchester United, at Emirates Stadium (7:30 am EST on ESPN+). But the most important game of her career will be on May 24th as Arsenal face Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final. Arsenal reached the final by beating European power Lyon in the semi-finals by an aggregate score of 5-3. Barcelona are the overwhelming favorites, but Alessia Russo, Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead, and Chloe Kelly all pose huge threats to the Catalan goal. There won't be two legs to the final so that anything could happen.

With three Tar Heels on Arsenal's roster and zero on Barcelona's, UNC fans should have no problem cheering on the Gunners at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal.