PARIS, France — UNC-Chapel Hill alumna Ashley Hoffman made her Olympics debut Saturday with Team USA's women's field hockey team. While they hit the field focused, the result of their first match wasn't what they wanted.
But they're not out yet.
Hoffman and the U.S. women fell to Argentina, who bested them 4-1. They still have chances to stay in the tournament, however; they will next face Spain on Monday, July 29. They will play at 7:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the match will air on SA.
Hoffman played field hockey at UNC-Chapel Hill for four years and started in every game each year. She captained the team her senior year through a perfect season, including the championships for both the ACC and NCAA tournaments. She won multiple awards with the team, including being named MVP for the NCAA and ACC tournaments.
Competing in the Olympics is a full-circle moment for Hoffman: Her mom is an Olympian, having won a bronze medal in 1984.
Team USA's women's field hockey team has been gearing up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, practicing in the Queen City at UNC Charlotte. After the team fell short of qualifying for the Summer Games in Tokyo, the team has been focused. The team is now working to go from the underdog to the top dog, and Hoffman is a big part of that drive as the team's co-captain.
This year, the team's advantage started stateside. They practiced on the same turf they are playing on during the 2024 Paris Games.