.png)
14 hours ago
7 
Photo Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Forward Hannah Betfort will sign with the North Carolina Courage as a restricted free agent, sources with knowledge of the signing told The Equalizer. Betfort was a free agent who maintained a mutual option with the Utah Royals.
The South Carolina native was selected as the 37th-overall pick in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Draft by the Portland Thorns where she played until 2023.
As a rookie, she only played a few minutes but was part of the Thorns side that won the NWSL Shield. In her second year, she played seven matches and scored one goal en route to an NWSL Championship.
The 26-year-old was traded to the Utah Royals ahead of the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft. While at Utah, Betfort appeared in 24 matches, starting in 18, and notched two goals.
Betfort, who was a walk-on to the Demon Deacons soccer team at Wake Forest University, is a versatile player who featured frequently on the backline while in college both at center back and full back. Betfort has also received youth national team callups, appearing for the United States U-18 women’s national team in 2018.
The Utah Royals struggled in its first season back in the league since ceasing operations in 2020. With turnover in coaching and inconsistent results, the team finished in 11th place.
Betfort’s departure is a big hit to a team that already struggled to score. The Royals only scored 22 goals in 26 games in 2024 while conceding 40. Only the Houston Dash scored fewer, netting 20 and letting in 42.
The attacker’s move to North Carolina not only puts her a little closer to home but on a team that comfortably made the 2024 NWSL Playoffs and needs goalscoring attackers. North Carolina scored the fewest goals (34 in 26 games) among the top six teams in 2024.
North Carolina is well aware of this deficit and is also adding U.S. women’s national team phenom Jaedyn Shaw, as reported by The Equalizer, who can play anywhere along the midfield and forward lines.
