Emily Fox: From Two ACL Tears to a Spot on the USWNT
With the #1 overall NWSL Draft pick in 2021, Racing Louisville FC selected star defender Emily Fox from the University of North Carolina for their growing expansion side.
Only 24 years old, Fox currently champions the defense of the North Carolina Courage after being traded from Racing Louisville ahead of this season. Emily Fox is one of the impressive up-and-coming talented young players showing up for club and country alike to raise the bar of women’s soccer.
Fox is not new to the professional soccer scene. The Virginia native was a long-time youth national team asset, coming up through the U18 and U20 teams. However, her budding legacy has had its struggles, as many of them do.
Here, we’ll dive into Emily Fox’s background and see why she’s one of the most-watched young players in the NWSL and USWNT today.
College Commitment
Once Fox decided to focus on soccer as a career, she was all in. She graduated high school a semester early to pursue playing. Fox attended the University of North Carolina, committing her sophomore year of high school after coach Anson Dorrance saw her stun at an ECNL showcase.
Fox’s key attributes include her technical ability and her speed. So, she was a versatile addition to the already powerhouse UNC team, able to get up the wing quickly and play both defender and midfield positions. She started 13 games during her freshman year at UNC.
Freshman Year Setback
Unfortunately, Fox had her first major injury in her first year of college. She tore her ACL only a few minutes into her 13th match, halting her playing prospects for the rest of that year.
However, the daunting recovery process didn’t keep her down for long. Fox pushed herself to come back better than ever. She achieved her goal of making the U20 roster that next summer, proving her strength is more than her physical abilities.
Building a Dream
After recovery, Fox received her first senior USWNT call-up in 2018 and even started a few friendly matches in Europe on the defensive line.
She stayed in the mix of players considered for USWNT rosters, an impressive accomplishment for a sophomore in college. Eventually, she earned a spot on the 2019 She Believes Roster.
She started her junior year with a bang, scoring 11 assists for the Tar Heels.
Injury Strikes Again
The unimaginable happened just as Fox was building momentum: she tore her ACL again. Again, Fox leaned on her teammates for support as she healed and was determined to come back better than ever.
Her teammates were proud to support her through the process and hailed Fox as a humble and calming presence on and off the field. They say she encouraged them relentlessly and put the team first, even with her re-injury.
Pandemic Pause
The Covid-19 pandemic changed collegiate soccer for many, with soccer players far and wide debating whether or not to take their extra year of availability. For Fox, the extra year was tempting. Ultimately, however, she decided to better herself as a player and move on to the pros.
NWSL Draft
All the injuries, pandemic setbacks, and sacrifice paid off: Emily Fox was the first pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft. The new expansion team was comprised of many other young players. Thus, it required lots of hard work to build standards and culture.
Racing Louisville FC
There was no disappointment in Fox’s rookie NWSL year. Fox assisted the club’s first goal in the Challenge Cup opener, solidifying her name as a vital piece of the club’s history. She earned the most minutes out of all NWSL rookies in 2021. She also led the league in interceptions.
In the 2022 season, Fox started every match, scoring her first professional goal against Chicago.
North Carolina Courage
After being traded to the Courage, Fox has started every single game and played every single minute for the team. She’s made one assist, and her pass success rate is nearly 85%, the highest it’s ever been for her.
USWNT and World Cup Hopes
During the USWNT’s April friendlies against Ireland, she scored her first goal. In 2022, she made 14 appearances for the team and made one assist. This year, with six appearances, she’ll be looking to snag a spot on the USWNT’s World Cup roster.
Based on Emily Fox’s exciting journey from college star to #1 draft pick and standout rookie, her future within the NWSL and with the USWNT seems bright. Keep an eye on this rising top defender. She’s sure to surprise and delight soccer fans everywhere with what she does next.
Featured image via Getty Images
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