Student-produced documentary chronicles UNC women's soccer 23rd national title

For the past two months, a team of UNC media students documented North Carolina women's soccer's run to the national championship. Their efforts resulted in "Why Not Us," a student-produced documentary capturing the team’s journey to its 23rd national championship.

The film, produced by the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, follows the Tar Heels from preseason uncertainty to their championship-clinching moment. The documentary is more than just a highlight reel as it brings viewers into the locker room, onto the practice field and into the minds of players and coaches. 

UNC's championship season was different than previous ones.

North Carolina lost 21 players to the transfer portal after 2023 and four days before the season started, legendary coach Anson Dorrance announced his retirement. The program faced more questions than ever. 

"Why Not Us" dives into these challenges, showcasing how a young, determined squad found its identity. 

The project's 30-person team split the season into 15 chapters, focusing on key moments such as major wins, tough losses and turning points. The students sifted through countless in-game and behind-the-scenes clips and transcribed interviews. 

Unlike many traditional sports documentaries, "Why Not Us" features minimal narration so players and coaches can tell their story. This creative choice was intentional, according to executive producer Charlie Tuggle. 

Tuggle has overseen the production of eight documentaries over the last seven years and views the films as a crucial part of preserving the stories of non-revenue sports.

“We've been able to give voice to those teams to tell their stories,” Tuggle said. 

The film’s title echoes the phrase players repeated throughout the season. That mentality ultimately helped them lift their championship trophy in December.

For head coach Damon Nahas, watching the documentary for the first time was an emotional experience.

"Watching the documentary was really cool because it allowed for you, even for 38 minutes, to kind of remind yourself of really what took place," Nahas said.

And the growth in audience engagement over the years suggests that more people are beginning to take notice. The first few documentaries had 200 people at the premiere.

For the debut of "Why Not Us," 550 individuals attended. The film also had over 1,000 views within 24 hours. 

And with this attention, the documentaries are serving a bigger purpose: "Why Not Us" motivates the next generation of Tar Heels.

"If people just took a minute to see what these 27 girls did [and] if they really pay attention, [it] will inspire generations to come," Nahas said. 

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