Ella Hase is heading back to North Carolina.
The former Duke women’s soccer standout has been traded to the NC Courage after spending the last year and a half with Racing Louisville of the National Women’s Soccer League. The move comes with a contract extension that keeps Hase with the Courage through the 2029 campaign.
For Hase, the fit feels personal as much as professional.
"When I was at Duke, North Carolina felt like home to me and I couldn't be more excited to come back to this state as a professional," said Hase. "From my first conversations with club leadership, I knew this was the right place for me to take the next step in my professional career."
Hase arrives in Cary with a solid early NWSL résumé already in hand. Across her first two seasons, she has made 44 appearances, produced two goal contributions, created 27 chances, and won 137 duels and 56 tackles. Louisville used her in a variety of roles, with Hase filling multiple spots along the left side.
The Courage are getting a player they’ve tracked for a while, according to Chief Soccer Officer Ceri Bowley.
"Ella is a player familiar to North Carolina from her time at Duke and a player we have followed throughout her professional years in the NWSL," said Courage Chief Soccer Officer Ceri Bowley. "Her quality on the ball, her delivery from wide areas and her commitment on both sides of the ball make her a great fit for how we want to play, and we are delighted to welcome her to the Courage."
Before her Duke stint, Hase spent her college career at Northwestern, where she appeared in all 71 matches from 2020-23. She transferred to Duke in 2024 and helped push the Blue Devils to the semifinals of the NCAA College Cup, finishing the season with three goals and 13 assists. She added four assists during that tournament run and earned All-ACC second team honors.
The Courage’s next match is set for Saturday, Oct. 17, when they host the San Diego Wave at 7 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.
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