— When the U.S. Women’s National Team visited WakeMed Soccer Park for a friendly in 2014, Heather O’Reilly, who had just moved back to Chapel Hill the year before, spoke sanguinely about women’s professional soccer one day returning to the Triangle.

The North Carolina Courage did return last year. Today, O’Reilly will return to join then.

The North Carolina Courage announced a trade to acquire O’Reilly’s NWSL player rights and a second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from the Utah Royals.

In return, the Royals will receive the rights to Makenzy Doniak and a 2019 third-round draft pick from the Courage. The trade could be announced as early as today.

“Heather is a massive addition to our squad,” said NC Courage head coach Paul Riley in a statement. “Her temperament, work ethic, experience, skill and ability will enable her to make an immediate impact in Courage Country. Excited to finally coach her and I look forward to the positivity, influence and charisma she brings to every locker room. Every team in NWSL is getting stronger and it’s important we continue to grow, move forward and improve our performances. I think Heather adds to our style and culture and I know she will be very popular with our fan base.”

A native of New Jersey, the 33-year-old O’Reilly is one of the most decorated players in American soccer history. She scored 59 goals and assisted on 49 others in four years with the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, with the Tar Heels winning the Women’s College Cup in 2003 and 2006.

But O’Reilly had already earned her first cap with the U.S. Women's’ National in March 2002 at age 17 while in high school. She went on to earn 231 caps, the seventh most in USWNT history, and 46 goals, along the way winning three Olympic gold medals and a FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015.

O’Reilly debuted professional in 2009 for Sky Blue FC, winning the WPS championship that year. She joined the Boston Breakers in 2013 for the debut season of the NWSL. In 2015, O’Reilly was traded to FC Kansas City, where she spent two season and won a NWSL championship.

“The idea of bringing Heather back to North Carolina has been important to Steve and I since our first conversation about purchasing the Flash,” said North Carolina Football Club President and GM Curt Johnson. “It has been important to us because we know it's something Courage fans are passionate about. We are thrilled to add her to this great group and continue to build the strongest organization possible on and off the field.”

After announcing her retirement from international soccer in 2016, O’Reilly signed with the Arsenal Women Football Club, joining the team in January 2017. Following 38 appearances in all competitions and four goals, “HAO” left Arsenal when her contract ended in May 2018.

The Utah Royals inherited O’Reilly’s NWSL player rights last offseason when the Royals absorbed FC Kansas City’s roster after that team folded. O’Reilly never took the field for the Royals.

Doniak was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft by the Western New York Flash. She was a regular contributor over two seasons in Western New York and North Carolina.

After a standout offseason playing for Australian club Adelaide United, Doniak tore her ACL during the Courage’s preseason camp, forcing her to miss the 2018 NWSL season.