With a record of 22-5-0, North Carolina has claimed 22 out of the 43 NCAA women’s soccer titles. Additionally, the Tar Heels won the AIAW title in 1981, bringing their total to 23 national championships, a feat unmatched by any other women’s soccer program, which has no more than four titles.
Wake Forest, with a record of 16-4-4, reached the championship game for the first time in its history, aiming for the 11th national championship in the school's athletic history. In contrast, UNC boasts 51 NCAA team championships across eight different sports.
During the match, Thomas attracted three defenders and was fouled just outside the 18-yard box by Dempsey Brown, who received a yellow card for the infraction. Thomas skillfully found a gap in the defensive wall and curled the ball past goalkeeper Valentina Amaral, achieving her ninth goal of the season.
Interim head coach Damon Nahas has made history as the second coach in NCAA women’s soccer to win a national championship in their inaugural year, following UCLA’s Margueritte Aozasa, who accomplished this in 2022.
This victory marked North Carolina's 32nd appearance in the College Cup, including five in the last seven years, a record that no other team has surpassed, with the next closest having 14 appearances. The Tar Heels have reached the national title match 28 times, finishing as runners-up on six occasions.
This championship game was the first to feature two teams from North Carolina since 1992, when North Carolina defeated Duke 9-1.