Division I Women's Transfer News: Kate Galica Joins North Carolina

Kate Galica, the 2025 ACC Midfielder of the Year at Virginia, has found her next home after entering the transfer portal.

The 5-8 middie, who just finished her junior season, announced on her personal Instagram account that she will play for North Carolina in 2027. In 17 games this past season, Galica posted 36 goals, 19 assists, 32 ground balls, 22 caused turnovers and 144 draw controls

Galica could immediately step in as a draw difference-maker for the Tar Heels, who otherwise figure to lean on rising sophomore Charlotte Rathjen inside the circle. The pairing of Galica and Eliza Osburn also forms perhaps the best one-two midfield punch in the country.

Galica is plenty familiar with several of her new Tar Heel teammates as a member of the U.S. Women's National Training Team. Within the U.S. program, she has played with Osburn, Chloe Humphrey, Sam Forrest and Marie McCool (a North Carolina assistant) within the past year.

A couple of other big-name transfers have found new homes in the past several weeks. 

Natalie Shurtleff, a Clemson standout that helped the Tigers' rise in their early varsity seasons, is headed to Boston College after completing her junior year. The midfielder has started all 60 games of her college career, netting 101 goals with 58 assists, 54 ground balls, 24 caused turnovers and 138 draw controls.

After sitting out the 2026 season, Gianna Monaco has left Florida for Maryland. The attacker had 73 goals and 22 assists in a breakout junior season in 2025, helping lead the Gators back to the final four. She heads to a Maryland team looking to replace some of the offensive punch lost due to the graduation of Kori Edmondson.

Reigning American Attacker of the Year Sofia Chepenik has chosen Stony Brook, which loses just one offensive starter for a team that was on the doorstep of an NCAA semifinal berth this spring. She finished her redshirt-junior season at South Florida with 51 goals and 18 assists.