Boston Legacy FC Adds Two Defenders
Foes Turned Friends
Boston Legacy FC’s inaugural roster continues to take shape after signing two defenders for the 2026 season.
The club announced Thursday it signed defenders Emerson Elgin and Laurel Ansbrow through 2027. There will also be a team option in Ansbrow’s contract, allowing BLFC to extend her contract for an additional year if it wishes to do so.
Elgin and Ansbrow will be on loan to USL Super League teams (Tampa Bay Sun and Ft. Lauderdale United, respectively) through the end of the year before joining the Legacy for the NWSL preseason.
Foes turned teammates
The two 22-year-olds faced each other numerous times during their collegiate careers while Elgin played for the University of North Carolina and Ansbrow for Wake Forest University.
Their last meeting was the 2024 NCAA championship this past December. Both played the full 90 for their respective teams, with the Tar Heels scoring in the second half to win 1-0.
Elgin made 73 appearances while at UNC, amassing one goal and five assists.
After winning the championship, Elgin trained with North Carolina Courage and Gotham FC during preseason as a non-roster invitee. She later signed with Gotham in April as an injury replacement player, but did not play any minutes.
"Emerson gives us an attacking threat from the left back," said general manager Domè Guasch. "Her offensive mentality fits exactly what we want from our outside backs, and she comes from a winning environment at UNC that has shaped her into a competitor."
Ansbrow played 66 games for Wake Forest and played a role in the team setting multiple defensive program records, such as fewest goals allowed in a season.
At the end of her collegiate season, Ansbrow headed to Ft. Lauderdale and recorded her first assist in her pro debut. Despite only being there for half a season, she ended up leading her team in clearances and tied for the lead in blocks in her 17 appearances.
“Laurel brings a real defensive intensity to our back line,” said Guasch. “She's also confident on the ball, which fits perfectly with how we want to build from the back.”
The duo also played for the North Carolina Courage U-23 team in the USL W League, though they did not overlap. Ansbrow played in 2022 and 2023 and made the W League Team of the Year in the latter season. Elgin played five games in 2024.