UConn women’s soccer’s Chioma Okafor capped off her senior season by being named a 2025 United Coaches Third Team All-American. She is just the sixth Husky to be named a three-time All-American, joining Moira Buckley (1981-83), Kim Prutting (1987-89), Karen Ferguson (1991-93), Sara Whalen (1995-97) and Mary-Frances Monroe (1998-2000). Okafor will continue her career in the NWSL after signing a three-year guaranteed contract with the North Carolina Courage.
“I am excited to call North Carolina home and sign with the Courage,” she said in a release. “From the early conversations with the team, I fell in love with the developmental plan they laid out for me and the drive to build back this club’s championship roots. I can’t wait to get to work in 2026.”
“We’re excited to welcome Chioma Okafor to the North Carolina Courage,” Courage Chief Soccer Officer Ceri Bowley said. “Chioma is a dynamic, fearless attacker whose pace, power, and willingness to take on defenders bring dimensions we’ve been looking to add to our front line. Beyond her on-field qualities, Chioma brings a competitive edge and a growth mindset that fits the culture we’re building. She works, she listens, and she’s hungry to develop. We’re delighted Chioma is joining the Courage, and we’re looking forward to integrating her into our squad.”
This season, Okafor led UConn with eight goals — five more than her next closest teammate — while seeing the second-most minutes of any outfield player. She earned a spot on the All-Big East First Team for the third consecutive year as well. As a junior, Okafor became the program’s first double-digit goal scorer since Rachel Hill and Stephanie Ribeiro both hit the mark in 2016. The Blantyre, Malawi native ultimately netted 33 goals in her career.
Okafor will be the second former UConn player in the NWSL, joining Hill (Bay FC). The Courage are one of the league’s most successful clubs, winning NWSL Championships in 2018 and 2019 as well as three NWSL Shields (the regular season title winners) from 2017-19.
