PITTSBURGH (Oct. 2, 2024) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC has its first player committed to join the club for its inaugural season, University of North Carolina junior and United States youth international outside back Tessa Dellarose.
Dellarose, 20, is currently in-season with the Tar Heels. She is a graduate of nearby Brownsville High School and the Riverhounds Development Academy, and now she is slated to return to Pittsburgh for the upcoming USL W League season. Her roster spot is pending W League and U.S. Soccer approval after registration opens for the 2025 season.
“I am extremely excited to be back in Pittsburgh representing the city and the Riveters in their inaugural season,” Dellarose said. “It is an exciting team for women’s sports in Pittsburgh, and I am honored to be a part of the expansion. This city means so much to me and my career, so to have the opportunity to help jumpstart the USL W campaign is amazing. I want to thank Pittsburgh and the Riveters organization for all their support, and I can’t wait to get started!”
A decorated player since her time with the Riverhounds Academy, Dellarose made an impact immediately in her first year at UNC, earning All-ACC Third Team and ACC All-Freshman Team honors. She played in every match as a sophomore and has started every match of UNC’s 11-1 start to this season.
Away from her college team, Dellarose also has made eight appearances for the U.S. Under-20 National Team, including every match of the team’s run to the final of the 2023 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship. She also turned heads last summer in The Soccer Tournament, earning Most Valuable Player honors and scoring the winning goal in the final for the team US Women, playing alongside retired U.S. National Team players such as Ali Krieger and Heather O’Reilly in the ESPN-televised event.
“We are delighted to welcome Tessa back to Pittsburgh. There is not a better person or player to build the Riveters team culture around, as she is a fearless leader, competitor and role model,” Riveters SC head coach Scott Gibson said. “As an RDA alum, Tessa understands the expectations that we have, and she shares in our goals and vision for the future. Her current experience at UNC, coupled with her success at the US National Team level, makes her the type of person and player that we want in our building.”
The Riveters will kick off play in May 2025 when the new USL W League season begins. More information on the upcoming Riveters SC season, including news on tryouts, committed players and ticket info, will be available in the coming weeks.
To learn more, visit www.riveterssc.com or follow the team on social media at @RivetersSC.
