Carolina Ascent FC’s Audrey Harding Sets Sights on Earning More Hardware in the 2025-26 Season
- Rylee Mckinney
- Aug 26
- 6 min read
By Rylee McKinney
Carolina Ascent FC forward Audrey Harding is entering the 2025-2026 Gainbridge Super League season with one thought in mind: adding hardware to the team’s collection!
Originally from Akron, Ohio, Harding began her love for soccer from an early age. From dribbling around her four other siblings to competing on an all-boys club team, Harding was no stranger to competition.
After navigating her childhood soccer career, Harding took to UNC Wilmington to start her college career. Harding was quickly selected in the third round of the 2022 NWSL Draft by the Washington Spirit. Earning a short-term 45-day professional contract, Harding officially became a professional soccer player, making her Spirit debut against OL Reign.
In December 2022, Harding sailed across the Atlantic and signed a contract with Swedish club KIF Örebro DFF. Upon returning to the United States, Harding signed on with Carolina Ascent FC on a three-year deal.
During her first match with Ascent, Harding earned an assist, making the assist the first ever in league history. Ultimately, Harding scored a total of five goals and five assists over the course of this past season.
College Career
Harding quickly admitted that she enrolled at UNC Wilmington, which was the first school to approach her during the scouting process:
“So, it’s funny, I actually didn’t look at any other schools, which is one thing I kind of think about here and there. But ultimately, I’m playing professional soccer.”
From 2017 to 2021, Harding played for the Seahawks, making a total of 68 appearances and 23 goals. In her freshman year alone, Harding won the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award, demonstrating her impressive student-athlete career. During her subsequent seasons, Harding earned a spot on the All-CAA second team in 2019 and helped the team reach a CAA final. Most importantly, Harding became the 10th player in program history to score 20 or more goals.
NWSL, Overseas Play, and Gainbridge Super League
Audrey Harding’s professional career has taken her both across the United States and overseas. Yet, Harding’s career is truly unique and simply should not be overlooked. Her professional career was kick-started in 2022 as she was drafted by the NWSL side Washington Spirit. After the preseason, Harding still did not have an official contract with the squad and remained on the practice squad.
An unfortunate injury to Gaby Vincent granted Harding a contract on May 1st, 2022, and she made her debut later that same day. Later that month, Harding earned her first start and first assist against Orlando Pride. Once her short-term contract expired, Harding was re-signed to the active roster through 2022, but Spirit did not renew Harding’s contract at the end of the year.
When I asked Harding about her NWSL experience, she acknowledged the “ups and downs” attributed to her career with the Spirit.
“But I was obviously grateful that I had got the opportunity in the first place. I went right back to being a training player again, so it was just up and down, which was hard because I would be doing super well in training, [I] thought I’d deserved a contract, but maybe they didn’t have any at the time...”
Hence, Harding turned her career overseas, signing a contract with Swedish club KIF Örebro DFF. In Sweden, Harding explored all that Sweden had to offer both on and off the field.
“I feel like over there in Sweden, it was, you know, more [about the] combinations of players, like tactical things. I feel like it was a lot more direct…the life outside soccer was also a really fun thing there.”
In her singular season in Sweden, Harding made appearances in 25 matches, scoring twice. The development of the USL Super League in the United States caught Harding’s eye, beckoning her to return to the Carolinas.
Harding signed on with Carolina Ascent for their 2024-2025 inaugural season in 2024 and was deeply invested in the brand that USL was creating for themselves in the United States.
“I just loved a different idea of a new league starting when I was coming back to the US. I had experienced the NWSL. I really enjoyed my experience, but I also knew that I had a lot more to show, and I wasn’t going to be able to do that in the NWSL.”
The team’s first season was a promising one for Harding as she earned five goals in 21 appearances and created 23 attacking chances overall. Carolina Ascent FC went on to clinch the first seed and the 2024-25 Player’s Shield.
Injury Setbacks
Audrey Harding’s first season with Carolina Ascent FC, however, was not entirely magical. Only a few games into the season, Harding ended up suffering a grade-three ankle sprain, putting her on the sidelines.
“It was really hard for me because I felt like I was moving in the right direction, momentum was going, but things happen.”
Luckily, Harding’s recovery went smoothly, allowing her to return to play in December before the mid-season break. Unfortunately, for Ascent, the remainder of the Fall games did not bode well, with several losses plummeting them down the rankings.
Yet, Harding mentioned her ability to come back in January to train fully with the team ahead of the Spring half of the season.
Strengths and Weaknesses as a Player
Having an exceptional collegiate and professional career, Harding seems unstoppable on the field. When asked about her strengths as a player, Harding was not shy to share her skillset and abilities seen on the field.
“I would say my strength is definitely dribbling, like taking players on 1v1…. I love creating. So, yeah, I would say that is a big part of my game.”
Harding, originally a center forward, shifted back into a winger position after returning from injury. With her aggressive mindset and tactical dribbling, Harding even earned herself the USL Super League’s goal of the year.
But with every strength comes a weakness. For Harding, the psychological demands of athletics have always been a challenge. Her openness about her mental struggles sheds light on her advocacy for more conversation in the field surrounding the mental side of sport.
“It’s not like a regular job where, let’s say, you have a bad day at work, you can just shut off your computer, and go home. With our jobs, it’s a lot more competitive. You can be switched in and out of lineups or have a bad training day. For our jobs, you kind of have to be on your game a lot.”
Harding emphasized that the mental side of sports should be talked about a lot more, especially for young athletes, to find ways to cope with the intensity.
Standout Moment of Her Career
When asked about a standout moment throughout her college and professional career, Harding simply could not draw her attention back to Carolina Ascent FC.
“Winning the Player’s Shield… that’s been like, my first ever trophy… And I don’t think it gets talked about enough that the Player’s Shield is definitely the hardest thing to do.”
She also praised the high energy and devoted fan base that shows up for each match at American Legion Memorial Stadium.
As Harding answered this question, she also began to speak toward the future, suggesting that her standout moment is yet to come.
“It just kind of makes this next year more hungry for us…This is nearly my fourth year. So, definitely a Championship is one of the things I’m really buying for this year, not just for me, but for the team, and the city of Charlotte!”
Words of Advice for Young Athletes
Carolina Ascent FC has consistently built its reputation and brand around investing in the community and providing empowering representation for young athletes, especially young female athletes.
As a professional athlete and product of the college pathway, Harding stressed the value of the college pathway. Her advice also touched upon the importance of meeting the academic demands of being a student-athlete.
“Have a plan beforehand and get organized. Then really lean on your staff, coaches, upperclassmen teammates who have been through it because that did really help me a lot.”
Outside of Professional Soccer
Although Audrey Harding’s on-the-field intensity intimidates her Super League opponents, her off-the-field personality is simply lighthearted and delightful.
Right off the bat, Harding shared her family dynamics, demonstrating her family-centric mindset. Whether visiting family or spending time with her fiancé, Harding is an all-around family woman.
Off the pitch, Harding has goals fueling her own curiosity. As an avid coffee shop connoisseur, Harding expressed her desire to find the best coffee Charlotte has to offer. Some of her favorite shops so far include Night Swim and Summit Coffee. As for her coffee order, that is an exclusive TopBin90 secret…
Gainbridge Super League Coverage
The 2025-26 Gainbridge Super League officially kicked off this past Saturday, August 23rd. Carolina Ascent FC’s first match is scheduled for Saturday, August 30th, and they will once again face off against Fort Lauderdale United FC.
Be sure to stick with TopBin90 for further coverage, interviews, and articles about Carolina Ascent FC.
Comments