By R.L. Bynum
Carolina set the standard in women’s sports in the last year, and no other college could match the Tar Heels, who won two national championships.
After a school year defined by excellence and historic triumphs, UNC captured the 2024–25 Capital One Cup women’s title, which is a multi-sports award that goes to the top-performing women’s program based on all NCAA championships and major poll results.
The second Cup title in school history, to go along with the women’s title in 2012–13, earned Carolina $250,000 in scholarship funds. In 2012–13, UNC won national championships in women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse, just as it did in the last school year, along with an ITA women’s tennis title.
During the ESPY Awards on ABC at 8 p.m. Wednesday, UNC will be honored for the Cup title, along with the men’s winner, Ohio State.
That might not be the only time UNC is honored during the program since the women’s lacrosse team is a nominee for best team; one of its stars, freshman Chloe Humphrey (the Final Four MVP and the Tewaaraton Award winner) is a candidate for Best Breakthrough Athlete; and women’s soccer star Kate Faasse (National Player of the Year) is up for Best Collegiate Athlete in Women’s Sports.
With 140 points, UNC edged out fellow ACC member Stanford (135), which has won seven of the 15 women’s Cup titles since the award began in 2010–11. Finishing third was Texas (115), which had won the previous three women’s Cup titles.
Four powerhouse women’s programs propelled the Tar Heels to victory:
- Lacrosse — A perfect 22–0 season culminated in a fourth national title under Coach Jenny Levy, with a commanding 12–8 win over Northwestern on May 25.
- Soccer — Damon Nahas, who became the permanent head coach the day of the NCAA championship, led UNC to its 23rd national title, with a 1–0 triumph over Wake Forest on December 9.
- Field hockey — Under the coaching of all-time great player Erin Matson, the Heels captured their 27th ACC title and reached the NCAA Final Four for a 28th time.
- Tennis — Led by Coach Brian Kalbas, the Tar Heels secured their second consecutive ACC title, advanced to the national semifinals, and capped off another elite campaign with a No. 4 national ranking.
All but one of Carolina’s 15 women’s teams earned NCAA postseason bids. In addition to the two NCAA titles, five teams ended up in the top 10 and 11 in the top 25.
Women’s Cup standings
| School | Points |
|---|---|
| 1. North Carolina | 140 |
| 2. Stanford | 135 |
| 3. Texas | 115 |
| 4. USC | 81 |
| 5. Northwestern | 77 |
| 5. UCLA | 77 |
| 7. Penn State | 73 |
| 8. Connecticut | 65 |
| 9. Oklahoma | 59 |
| 10. Oregon | 58 |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
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