Vicky Bruce might not seem like the poster child for a club’s first signing due to her chosen position on the field, but one conversation with her and you’ll understand instantly. Her enthusiasm crests as she talks about being the first professional signing for USL Super League’s Carolina Ascent. “It feels amazing. Pretty much everything I ever hoped or wished for and it’s all coming true. I didn’t know I would be the first signing, but now I have all these people messaging me on instagram saying ‘Oh my god! I just saw you on a billboard’ or ‘You’re the face of the team!’ I don’t really know how to handle it all, but I’m just trying to enjoy it. I just want the excitement to continue to build.”

The defender is a product of the Charlotte area in every way and her love for the area is obvious. Bruce developed her game in the state and getting a chance to play for the first professional women’s team there isn’t lost on her. “I had always envisioned myself slowly climbing the ladder of professional soccer and the United States was always a goal. Now, not only am I doing that in the U.S., I’m doing it in my hometown. It’s more than anyone could hope for…The fact that the city that made me who I am today, as a player and a person, it’s so great that I get to say thank you by hopefully playing well and returning the favor.”

*Image credit Carolina Ascent and Laura Stroud*

Her path to the USL Super League was a long one that traveled the globe. From all over Europe to Australia, Vicky built a career playing soccer. But no matter where she played, the dream of playing in her home country never died. This year that dream becomes a reality.

Like many other soccer players, going abroad for the Carolina native wasn’t the plan, in fact, there wasn’t really a plan at all. After playing college ball for UNC for two years, she transferred to Davidson, and when she graduated, no one at the school was trying to find her a professional roster spot and Bruce herself didn’t really know how it all worked. So she was ignored by domestic leagues, but with a friend’s recommendation and a British passport (thanks to her father’s citizenship), she was able to play professionally internationally for almost a decade. She describes herself as “an American caliber player with a British passport” and credits her time abroad as essential to her perfecting her craft. No matter where she played, she got extensive playing time at all her career stops, time she expects would have been significantly less had she tried to play professionally in the States. Now she returns to Charlotte with the lessons she’s learned.

The lack of domestic opportunities may have kept Vicky from playing at home, but she’s thrilled for the chance to play in Charlotte and hopeful about what the Super League can offer to American players. “I hope it’s impactful. It’s going to double the opportunities for women to play professional soccer in this country. At the collegiate level, the number of girls graduating from the D1, D2, and D3 levels, there’s really not that many avenues for them to explore. So this is fantastic because it keeps all that talent from going to waste.”

Carolina Ascent will join a crowded professional soccer landscape in Charlotte. MLS and USL men’s teams already play in the area, but she’s confident they will find their own fans. “I do think soccer in the Carolinas is so big and since we have no other women’s sports here, if you want to support women’s sports and soccer, come support us. We’re the women here. We want to represent the city and put on a show for you!” Finding those fans has put Bruce’s face on billboards, but also into a host of other public interactions including TV and radio interviews. “I feel like we’re doing a ton of marketing and PR to get the word out there.” But so much of the work is word of mouth. If it’s in her gym classes or hanging out with friends, she’s always bringing up the club with the people of her city, making the connection personal. “You’ve got nothing to lose. You have to talk to people and let them know about the club.”

Vicky is a product of her homestate and thrilled to be playing there. In her mind, it’s a soccer state. “There’s so many youth clubs here and so many people that play soccer here. Soccer is THE SPORT…especially for women. If you want to be active, this tends to be the sport you play.” Carolina Ascent will be hoping to tap into that soccer culture to find fans and the roster is reflecting a local flavor, with UNC graduate Emily Moxley joining Bruce on the backline.

With the announced home opener against DC Power on August 17th, the team has plenty of work to do to carve its place in the heart of the Carolinas. Finding fans will be a priority and winning hearts and minds is no easy task. Starting its roster with a homegrown veteran like Vicky Bruce is a great way to start.

- Dan Vaughn