UNC field hockey stars return following court eligibility ruling

Following a ruling by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Kara Krothe in Indiana, three University of North Carolina field hockey players—Ryleigh Heck, Sietske Brüning, and Dani Mendez—were granted an injunction restoring their fifth season of eligibility. The court decision also applied to UNC football kicker Rece Verhoff and several other athletes involved in the legal case.

In their season debut following the ruling, the Tar Heels defeated Stanford 8-1 in Palo Alto, California. Ryleigh Heck, the 2023 National Player of the Year, recorded two goals and one assist. Coco Courtright also contributed two goals to the victory. The return of these players provides a significant boost to the UNC program, which is currently unranked.