Nichelle Prince and Emma Sears Return to Columbus for 2026 SheBelieves Cup
2/21/2026 7:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – When the United States and Canada step onto the pitch in Columbus on March 4 for the SheBelieves Cup, the match will carry special meaning for two players whose careers were shaped just a few miles away. Emma Sears, representing the U.S. Women’s National Team, and Nichelle Prince, a longtime standout for Canada, both forged their collegiate identities at Ohio State—and now return as accomplished professionals on the international stage.
Emma Sears’ ascent from Dublin, Ohio, to the U.S. National Team has been swift and electric. During her five seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Sears appeared in 83 matches, scoring 25 goals and adding 15 assists, earning multiple All-Big Ten honors, including first-team recognition in 2023. Her combination of pace, creativity, and scoring ability was evident early and became central to Ohio State’s postseason pushes.
Selected 28th overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft, Sears quickly made an impact at Racing Louisville FC. She not only set the club rookie goal record but, in 2025, scored a club-record 10 goals, becoming the highest-scoring American in the NWSL that season and earning Best XI of the Month honors. Internationally, she continues to rise.
Across the pitch, Canadian star Nichelle Prince brings more than a decade of international experience back to Columbus. Before becoming one of Canada’s most decorated attackers, Prince starred for Ohio State from 2013–16, scoring 27 goals and recording 20 assists in 72 appearances. She ranks in the program’s top ten in career goals, assists, and points, and earned multiple All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten honors during her time in Columbus.
Professionally, Prince has played extensively in the NWSL—first with the Houston Dash, later with Kansas City, and beginning in 2026, with Boston Legacy FC. Over her NWSL career, she tallied double-digit goals and played key roles on playoff and Shield-winning teams.
But Prince’s greatest impact has come on the international stage. Since debuting for Canada at age 17, she has earned over 100 caps, scoring goals in major competitions and contributing to some of Canada’s biggest triumphs – a Gold medal at the 2020 Olympics, a Bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics and a runner-up finish at the 2018 CONCACAF Championship
This year’s SheBelieves Cup brings both players back to a city where their soccer identities were shaped. Sears, a hometown product from Dublin, returns as one of the United States’ promising attacking talents. Prince, whose international résumé rivals the most experienced players in the tournament, returns to where she transformed from a promising Canadian recruit into one of Ohio State’s greatest alumnae.
Inspired by the U.S. Women’s National Team, shebelieves is a movement to encourage young women and girls to reach their dreams, athletic or otherwise. The campaign was originally launched in the run-up to the 2015 Women’s World Cup and has evolved into a special bond between U.S. Soccer and its fans, taking a powerful message of empowerment and that of believing in yourself into communities across the nation.
The 2026 SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, will feature the USA, Argentina, Canada and Colombia. The March 4 match between the USWNT and Canada is set for a 6:45 p.m. kickoff from ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, home of the Columbus Crew.
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