Three Sisters. One Team. One Championship Dream

On May 25, three sisters led North Carolina to a 12-8 victory over Northwestern to win the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse national championship.

Nicole, Ashley and Chloe Humphrey.

Three sisters. One team. All chasing the same dream—together.

It’s the kind of story that feels almost too perfect. Three daughters, all elite athletes, not only playing the same sport—but at the same powerhouse program, at the same time. The odds of that happening? Astronomical. And yet, here they are, suiting up side by side for a shot at a national title.

But what makes this story even more compelling isn’t just that they made it to the top.

It’s how they did it—together, but differently.

From the Backyard to the National Stage

The Humphrey sisters grew up in Darien, CT, in a home where lacrosse was more than a sport—it was part of the family’s fabric. Their mother, Sarah, played lacrosse at Dartmouth. Their father, John, played basketball at Middlebury and still holds the school’s all-time scoring record. With four kids (including a younger brother, Brett), competition wasn’t just encouraged—it was unavoidable.

Their backyard became a training ground. Their living room, a passing zone. Their personalities, their skills, and their roles on the field developed in parallel—but not the same. Each sister carved their own path to Chapel Hill.

• Nicole, the eldest, started at UNC and helped the Tar Heels win the 2022 national title. After a year at USC cut short by injury, she returned as a grad student midfielder. Known for her grit and hustle, she brings energy, toughness and leadership off the bench.
• Ashley, the middle sister, began at Stanford and set the NCAA single-season assist record in 2022. Now a grad student attacker at UNC, she leads the team in points and recently broke the NCAA career assist record—UNC’s top playmaker and offensive engine.
• Chloe, the youngest, came in as the nation’s No. 1 recruit. After redshirting with an ACL injury, she’s now a redshirt freshman attacker and UNC’s leading goal scorer—explosive, fearless and always attacking at full speed. Chloe recorded a hat trick in the Tar Heels championship victory over Northwestern.

They’re not copies of each other. They’re a case study in individuality—how different styles, strengths and mindsets can all lead to the same field, the same jersey, and the same dream.

Is It the Genes, the Environment, or the Parenting?

Honestly? It’s all three. But if you talk to anyone who’s raised multiple athletes, they’ll tell you the hardest part isn’t managing the practices or tournaments.

It’s managing the emotions.

The comparisons.
The rivalries.
The spotlight that doesn’t always shine evenly.

It takes emotional intelligence, not just athletic talent, to raise siblings in sports. Especially when they’re girls. Especially when they’re close in age. Especially when they’re all good.

Is It Easier When They Play the Same Sport?

It’s easier logistically. But emotionally? It’s a high-wire act.

The shared experience can build unbreakable bonds—common goals, shared struggle, inside jokes that only teammates understand. But it can also intensify feelings of comparison and competition, especially when outcomes are public and performance is judged.

Still, when it works—like it is right now for the Humphreys—it’s magic.

What It Takes to Raise Sibling Athletes

After raising my own three daughters and years of conversations with parents, coaches, and athletes through I Love to Watch You Play, here’s what consistently rises to the top:

1. You have to learn to parent each child differently. What motivates one may crush another. One thrives on competition, the other shrinks from it. You can’t push them all the same—and you can’t expect the same results.

2. You have to fiercely protect their individuality. Even when they wear the same jersey or play the same position, they are not the same player—or person. Avoid the shortcut of comparison. Honor who they are off the field just as much as who they are on it.

3. You need to create space where they can be sisters first, not teammates. When your daughters are chasing the same goal, the lines between family and performance can blur. Celebrate their human moments—laughing in the kitchen, braiding each other’s hair, driving to Chipotle after practice. Those moments matter just as much.

4. You have to be strong enough to let them work it out. Sometimes it’s better not to intervene when there’s jealousy or friction. Conflict isn’t failure. It’s part of the process of learning how to compete and love someone deeply.

5. You must make peace with the spotlight being unequal. One child will get more minutes. More headlines. More goals. As a parent, you may want to “fix it”—but your job is to support, not even the scale.

What This Championship Run Really Means

Last year, UNC was battered by injuries. Chloe tore her ACL before playing a single game. Ashley missed the NCAA quarterfinal with an injury. The team fell early in the tournament, and rivals celebrated.

This year? They're calling it a revenge tour.

Ashley, Nicole, and Chloe—now all healthy—are leading UNC back to the top. They’ve reclaimed the No. 1 ranking. They’ve made it back to Championship Weekend. And this time, they’re on a mission.

No matter what happens in the Final Four or after, this is already a win.

Three sisters.
Same jersey.
Same field.
Same dream.

Getting to do this—together—is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of moment.