Honestly, the ncaa women's soccer tournament 2024 schedule was a total fever dream. If you followed it from that first selection Monday on November 11th all the way to the frosty final in Cary, you know exactly what I mean. It wasn't just about who played whom. It was about a legend retiring, a "great migration" of players, and a powerhouse program reclaiming its throne when nobody—and I mean nobody—really expected them to.
North Carolina won it all. Again.
But this wasn't the typical Tar Heel dominance we saw in the 90s. This was gritty. They were a No. 2 seed. They had an interim coach, Damon Nahas, who took over literally four days before the season started because the GOAT, Anson Dorrance, decided to hang it up. You've got to appreciate the chaos of that.
Breaking Down the ncaa women's soccer tournament 2024 schedule
The whole thing kicked off on November 15th. The bracket was packed with 64 teams, but the early headlines were all about the upsets.
Florida State came in as the defending champs. They were the No. 1 seed. They looked invincible. Then, the second round happened. Vanderbilt—an unseeded team that barely snuck into the conversation—went into Tallahassee and knocked the Noles out on penalties (4-3). It was the kind of result that makes you stare at the bracket and wonder if you're reading it right.
Here is how the rounds actually flowed:
- First Round: November 15–17 (Campus sites)
- Second Round: Friday, November 22
- Third Round: Sunday, November 24
- Quarterfinals: November 29–30
- College Cup Semifinals: Friday, December 6
- National Championship: Monday, December 9
By the time we hit the quarterfinals, the ACC was basically just playing against itself. It was wild. All four teams that made it to the College Cup—Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Stanford—were from the ACC. People talk about "conference depth," but this was bordering on a monopoly.
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The Road to Cary: Key Matchups
If you were looking at the ncaa women's soccer tournament 2024 schedule for the big-ticket games, the quarterfinals were where the tension peaked.
Wake Forest had to go through a gauntlet. They faced No. 1 seed USC in the quarters and it was a mess of a game—in the best way possible. It went to double overtime, ended 2-2, and Wake finally moved on after a 4-3 penalty shootout. Meanwhile, UNC was busy surviving a 2-1 overtime thriller against Penn State.
Basically, if you weren't playing extra minutes, were you even in the tournament?
Why the College Cup Felt Different
The semifinals in Cary were a bit of a reality check for the No. 1 seeds. Duke had been the team to beat all year. They were dominant. But when they met UNC on December 6th, the Tar Heels just... dismantled them. 3-0. It wasn't even as close as the score suggests.
On the other side of the bracket, Wake Forest squeezed past Stanford 1-0.
So, that set us up for an all-North Carolina final. Wake Forest vs. UNC. The Demon Deacons were chasing their first-ever national title. UNC was chasing their 23rd (if you count the 1981 AIAW title).
The Final: December 9, 2024
The championship match at WakeMed Soccer Park was a defensive masterclass. Or a frustrating stalemate, depending on who you ask. Wake Forest actually controlled the first half. They outshot the Tar Heels 5-1. They had the possession. They had the momentum.
But UNC has this weird DNA where they only need one chance.
In the 62nd minute, Olivia Thomas—who had been battling a hamstring injury for half the season—drew a foul just outside the box. She stepped up and buried the free kick. That was it. One moment of brilliance from a sophomore who spent most of the year on the trainer's table. UNC won 1-0.
A Dynasty Reborn (Sort Of)
It had been 12 years since UNC lifted the trophy. For any other program, a 12-year gap is a "rebuilding phase." For Carolina, it was a drought of biblical proportions.
What’s kinda crazy is how they did it. They lost 20 players from the 2023 roster—11 went pro and 9 transferred out. Olivia Thomas called it "the great migration." You've got a team of freshmen, transfers, and club-level players who suddenly had to learn how to be Tar Heels under an interim coach.
Damon Nahas actually got the permanent head coaching job just hours before the final match started. Talk about a vote of confidence.
Standout Performers
If you're looking for names to remember for the 2025 season, start here:
- Olivia Thomas (UNC): The Offensive Most Outstanding Player. She scored four goals in the tournament.
- Clare Gagne (UNC): The Defensive Most Outstanding Player. She didn't allow a single goal during the entire College Cup.
- Emily Murphy (Wake Forest): A constant threat who kept the Demon Deacons in the hunt until the final whistle.
The attendance for the tournament overall hit over 100,000 fans. That's a massive win for the sport. Even though the ncaa women's soccer tournament 2024 schedule favored the East Coast powerhouses this time around, the level of play was undeniably higher across the board.
Final Takeaways for Fans
If you're already looking toward next season, keep an eye on the transfer portal. The "great migration" at UNC proved that you can lose half your roster and still win a ring if you have the right system.
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The biggest lesson from 2024? Don't bet against a No. 2 seed from the ACC, and definitely don't assume a No. 1 seed is safe after the first weekend.
To keep track of the upcoming 2025 cycle, you'll want to watch the conference tournament results in early November. That's usually the best predictor of who has the legs for a deep December run. Keep an eye on the RPI rankings starting in October; they’ll tell you who’s likely to host those crucial first-round games on their home turf.