Boston Legacy FC bolsters defense with signings Laurel Ansbrow and Emerson Elgin

Boston, MA (JULY 17, 2025) -- Boston Legacy FC has signed defenders Emerson Elgin (ELL-jin) and Laurel Ansbrow (ANS-brau) to contracts, both of which run through 2027. Additionally, Ansbrow has a team-held option for 2028. Elgin will go on loan to USL Super League team Tampa Bay Sun and Ansbrow will go on loan to USLSL team Ft. Lauderdale United until the end of the year. Both players will join Legacy FC for the NWSL 2026 preseason.

Ansbrow, whose hometown is Cary, North Carolina, played for four years at Wake Forest, appearing in the 2024 NCAA championship game against UNC. She then joined USLSL club Ft. Lauderdale United in January 2025. Ansbrow also played in the USL W League in 2022 and 2023, including 11 games in ‘23 for the North Carolina Courage U23s.

“Laurel brings a real defensive intensity to our back line” said general manager Domè Guasch. “She's also confident on the ball, which fits perfectly with how we want to build from the back.”

Hailing from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, Elgin most recently played for Gotham FC, signing a short-term contract in April of this year as an injury replacement player. She won the 2024 NCAA national championship with the University of North Carolina, in which she played every minute - and also faced off against Legacy teammate Ansbrow, with UNC ultimately defeating Wake Forest 1-0. Elgin also played for the NC Courage U23s, but in 2024.

"Emerson gives us an attacking threat from the left back," said 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."

"We are confident that under Filipa's guidance both Emerson and Laurel will continue to grow and make an impact here", Guasch said.

Boston Legacy FC will add to Boston’s winning legacy as the 15th team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) starting play in 2026. Founded and led by women, the club is committed to creating a home for the greatest female athletes of our time, building upon the supercharged legacy of Boston’s historic sports teams, cultivating a community of fans with impact at its core, and forging new connections across our city through sport. Season ticket deposits are available now. Follow for more on our social media platforms – Twitter (X), Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, TikTok, and LinkedIn.