A player-first culture that incorporates film watching, hard work and strong player-to-coach relationships has been a big reason why eight former Nebraska soccer players have signed professional contracts since 2024.
Regan Raabe and Sarah Weber signed to play in the United States’ top tier of women’s professional soccer — the National Women’s Soccer League. Raabe signed this March and Weber in January of 2025. Eleanor Dale, a first team All-American in 2023, plays for Sunderland in England’s second-highest professional league. Florence Belzile, Jordan Zade, Nicola Hauk, Sadie Waite and Cece Villa all play in various professional leagues around the world.
“These eight players show the combination of talent, professionalism, passion for the game and passion for development,” head coach John Walker said. “They are going to realize they are living their dreams and just keep improving.”
Weber started for the U-23 U.S. National Team and scored against France on April 16. The Gretna native plays forward for Racing Louisville after signing a two-year contract with them in 2025. During her rookie season with Racing Louisville, she had three goals and one assist in 25 games. Weber was the first Husker to sign for the NWSL since Haley Hanson was drafted seventh by the Houston Dash in 2018.
Raabe became the second Husker since 2024 in the NWSL after she signed with the Orlando Pride in March. Her contract goes through June 30. The Omaha native started every game her senior year, where she scored four goals after two seasons of not playing due to injury. Raabe made her professional debut on March 15 against the Seattle Reign.
“It’s a cool story for young players to see,” Walker said. “Both of them are from Nebraska, and now they are playing professionally.”
Walker said something that is hammered home with Husker players is the importance of watching game film that breaks down the technical aspect of each player’s game. Players sit down with coaches and watch 20 clips from the previous game, where the players can ask questions.
“One thing we always say as a coaching staff is everyone counts or no one counts,” Walker said. “This means every player deserves commitment from the coaches on an individual level.”
Villa, who plays for the Spokane Zephyr at the USL level, agreed with Walker about the importance of game film study and its impact on her development. She said individual film sessions are what helped her develop as a player. Film study made such an impact on Villa that she talked to coaches at her Spokane team and they have started using film study more as a way to improve individual play.
“At Nebraska, you were expected to meet for individual film sessions, and at my club, it hasn’t been discouraged, but not necessarily encouraged,” Villa said. “We are starting to work on that and I love that.”
Hauk, who plays for Tindastóll in Iceland, said her experience at Nebraska prepared her for the mental challenges at the professional level.
“The grit we had as a team at Nebraska is something super important to the professional level,” Hauk said. “The overall work ethic and focus on detail at Nebraska has helped me a lot to keep growing as a player and person within this industry.”
Walker talked about how the legacy these players left behind will impact current Husker players as well as recruits.
“The current players see that these previous players have made it professionally, and they have also left a legacy of hard work,” Walker said. “The recruits can see that the players come to Nebraska and can develop to the next level. We have a talented group, and if they work hard, they can reach the next level as well.”