Minnesota Aurora FC
 | |||
| Founded | 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium | TCO Stadium Eagan, Minnesota | ||
| Capacity | 6,000 | ||
| Head coach | Jen Larrick | ||
| League | USL W League | ||
| 2023 | 1st, Heartland Division Playoffs: Conference Final | ||
| Website | https://www.mnaurora.com/ | ||
|
| |||
Minnesota Aurora FC is an American women's soccer club based in Eagan, Minnesota that plays in the Heartland Division of the USL W League. The club began play in the league's inaugural 2022 season as a founding club. The club is community-owned by 3,080 individuals.[1] The club plays its home games at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota, the same stadium the Minnesota Vikings use for practice.
History
[edit]Minnesota Aurora FC officially sold out their ownership sales on December 15, 2021. The team introduced their coaching staff a few days later, naming Nicole Lukic as the head coach and ensuring the team would be women-led.[2] The team held tryouts during the spring of 2022 and in May the team announced a partnership with local broadcaster WCCO to stream all home games for free.[3] The team held their first game at TCO Stadium on May 26, 2022, against Green Bay Glory. The match resulted in a draw but the Minnesota team drew 5,219 fans.[4] Their first win would be against Kaw Valley on June 2.
On October 24, 2022, the club sent a letter to its community owners stating an intent to become a fully professional team. The Aurora would continue to play in the USL W League through the 2023 season, possibly moving to National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) or the USL Super League in 2024.[5] The club announced their intent to submit an official expansion bid for the NWSL in November.[6] The team notified its community owners on August 15, 2024, that it would be dropping out of the NWSL bid process due to "circumstances out of [their] control".[7]
Branding
[edit]The crest of Minnesota Aurora FC features a stylized Aurora swooping above a forest with a star hanging to the right. The inspiration for the design came from Minnesota's northern geographic identity and nickname of the North Star State.[8] The crest was designed by local designer Nicole Meyer, along with help from colleagues Allie Reinke and Carla Zetina-Yglesias.[9] The crest was originally one of three designs, all of which were voted on by the community members.[10] Other names considered for the new team included Arctic Minnesota and Minnesota Foxfire FC, all designed by Meyer, Reinke, and Zetina-Yglesias.[11]
The kit worn by MN Aurora FC was designed by Cassidy Sepnieski and was revealed on April 9, 2022.[12] Manufactured by Hummel International, the home kit features a dark background with a borealis swirling in the center.[13] The away kit is bright teal, with interlinking stars forming constellations. The goalkeeper kit is "flash red" and also sports the same constellation pattern as the away kit.
Club culture
[edit]The club has one supporters' group, named Revontulet (Finnish for Northern Lights), which sits in a designated section at the stadium.[14]
Players and staff
[edit]| Name | Club |
|---|---|
 Taylor Kane |
 Breiðablik (2026–) |
| Makenzie Langdok |
 ŽFK Spartak Subotica (2023-24)
|
| Sophie French |
Portland Thorns (2022-23)
|
| Morgan Stone |
 Damaiense (2024-25)
|
| Arianna Del Moral |
 Birkirkara (2023-24) |
| Abby Ostram |
ŽFK Spartak Subotica (2023-24)
|
| Maya Hansen |
FH (2025)
|
| Tianna Harris |
 FC Fleury 91 (2023-24)
|
| Morgan Turner |
SCU Torrense (2022-23) |
| Kelsey Kaufusi |
Portland Thorns (2024) |
| Ava Bjorkman-Tracy |
 Grange Thistle FC (2025) |
| Evelyn Calhoon |
Queensland Lions FC (2026–) |
| Natalie Tavana |
Gil Vicente F.C. (2025) |
| Cat Rapp |
Spokane Zephyr (2026–) |
| Vienna Behnke |
Knattspyrnufélagið Haukar (2017-2021)
|
| Annie Williams |
Brooklyn FC (2025–) |
| Katie Duong |
[[Brooklyn FC (2024)|]] DC Power (2024-25)
|
| Kelis Barton |
 Rugby Borough (2024-25)
|
| Nadia Cooper |
Houston Dash (2025) |
| Charley Boone |
Spokane Zephyr (2025–) |
| Addy Weichers |
 Halifax Tides (2025–) |
| Julia Sattler |
 ZNK Split (2024) |
| Stella Lawson |
 Auckland United (2026–) |
| Gracie Dunaway |
 Sligo Rovers (2026–) |
| Olivia Rush | |
| Haylee Mersereau | |
| Maia Tabion |
 Cerezo Osaka (2026–) |
| Flavie Dubé |
 Viktoria Plzeň (2026–) |
| Hannah Boughton |
Calgary Wild (2026–) |
Management
[edit]Coaching staff[15]
- Jen Larrick – head coach
- Melanie Thomas – assistant coach
- Lydia Ruppert – assistant coach
- Cody Cropper – goalkeeper coach
Record
[edit]Year-by-year
[edit]- As of June 29, 2026
| Season | USL W League | Playoffs | Top Scorer | Head coach | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | D | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Player | Goals | |||
| 2022 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 8 | 34 | 1st, Heartland | League Final | Morgan Turner |
6 | Nicole Lukic |
| 2023 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 4 | 36 | 1st, Heartland | Conference Final | Maya Hansen |
12 | |
| 2024 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 61 | 6 | 32 | 1st, Heartland | First Round | Katie Duong |
9 | Colette Montgomery |
| 2025 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 4 | 32 | 1st, Heartland | Semifinals | Natalie Tavana |
7 | Jennifer Larrick |
| 2026 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 36 | 1st, Heartland | Semifinals | Ai Kitagawa |
11 | |
Head coaches
[edit]- Includes Regular Season and Playoffs. Excludes friendlies.
- As of June 29, 2026
| Coach | Nationality | Start | End | Games | Win | Loss | Draw | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole Lukic |  United States |
October 16, 2021 | April 7, 2024 | 29 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 89.66 |
| Collette Montgomery | United States |
April 8, 2024 | January 6, 2025 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 76.92 |
| Jen Larrick | United States |
January 7, 2025 | Present | 29 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 89.66 |
Honors
[edit]Player honors
[edit]| Year | Player | Country | Position | Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kenzie Langdok | United States |
Defender | Team of the Month-June |
| Mariah Nguyen | United States |
Midfielder | Team of the Month-June | |
| Kenzie Langdok | United States |
Defender | All-League First Team | |
| Kelsey Kaufusi | United States |
Defender | All-League Second Team | |
| Sarah Fuller | United States |
Goalkeeper | All-League Second Team | |
| Addy Symonds | United States |
Midfielder | Goal of the Year | |
| 2023 | Tianna Harris | Canada |
Defender | Team of the Month-May Captain |
| Hannah Adler | United States |
Midfielder | Team of the Month-June | |
| Tianna Harris | Canada |
Defender | Defender of the Year | |
| Tianna Harris | Canada |
Defender | All-League First Team | |
| Hannah Adler | United States |
Midfielder | All-League Second Team | |
| Maya Hansen | United States |
Forward | Divisional Player of the Year-Heartland | |
| 2024 | Mariah Nguyen | United States |
Midfielder | Team of the Month-May |
| Katie Duong | United States |
Midfielder | Team of the Month-June | |
| Katie Duong | United States |
Midfielder | Player of the Month | |
| Katie Duong | United States |
Midfielder | All-League First Team | |
| Katie Duong | United States |
Midfielder | Divisional Player of the Year-Heartland | |
| 2025 | Catherine Rapp | United States |
Midfielder | Team of the Month-May |
| Charley Boone | United States |
Defender | Team of the Month-June | |
| Charley Boone | United States |
Defender | Defender of the Year | |
| Charley Boone | United States |
Defender | All-League First Team | |
| Catherine Rapp | United States |
Midfielder | All-League Second Team | |
| Charley Boone | United States |
Defender | Divisional Player of the Year-Heartland | |
References
[edit]- ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (May 24, 2022). "With 3,000 owners and $1 million, Minnesota Aurora aims to rewrite the ownership playbook". Equalizer Soccer. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ "Coaching Staff Announced". Minnesota Aurora. December 17, 2021. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ "Minnesota Aurora FC partners with WCCO TV to stream all home games". Minnesota Aurora. May 18, 2022. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ "Minnesota Aurora draws first ever game in front 5,219". Minnesota Aurora. June 1, 2022. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ Zgoda, Jerry (October 24, 2022). "Minnesota Aurora talking to investors about jumping to a professional league". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
- ↑ Greder, Andy (November 3, 2022). "Minnesota Aurora to submit bid to join National Women's Soccer League". Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ↑ Marthaler, Jon (August 15, 2024). "Minnesota Aurora FC pulls out of running for 2026 NWSL expansion franchise". www.startribune.com. Star Tribune. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ↑ "Minnesota Women's Soccer Is Officially Named Aurora FC". www.cbsnews.com. January 27, 2022. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ "Creating Aurora: Meet the woman who helped design Minnesota's new USL W team brand". kare11.com. February 2, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ "Minnesota Aurora FC announced as team name for Minnesota women's soccer team". www.audacy.com. January 27, 2022. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ Bertels, Kevin (January 27, 2022). "Now more than a glimmer, women's soccer team will be Minnesota Aurora FC". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ↑ "The Northern Lights & Constellation Kits". Minnesota Aurora. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ "USL W League's Minnesota Aurora FC Shoots for the Stars with Inaugural Kits". SportsLogos.Net News. April 12, 2022. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ Volk, John (May 27, 2022). "Minnesota Aurora holds lead until final minute of debut, draws 1-1 with Green Bay". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ↑ "Technical Staff". Minnesota Aurora. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
