Cari Elizabeth Onwualu (née Roccaro) is an American professional football player who plays as a midfielder or defender for the Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
She co-hosts the “Butterfly Road” podcast, where she tackles mental health and wellness in athletics.
She openly shared her struggles with anxiety and depression during her Notre Dame years, helping remove stigma and encouraging therapy.
After speaking up in 2019, she helped win up to six months of paid mental-health leave for NWSL players, a first in U.S. pro sports.
She helped the U.S. win the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, appearing in five of six matches.
She earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame.
She enjoys training youth football players.
Her hobbies include writing, photography and cooking.
Her pre-game song is Jungle by X Ambassadors.
Her favorite guilty pleasure meals are pizza, french fries and chocolate.
Her favorite places she's visited are Argentina and Tokyo.
She married her partner James in 2024 and took his last name.
| CONCACAF U20 Women's Championship: 2012, 2014 | 2× |
| FIFA U20 Women's World Cup: 2012 | 1× |
| NWSL Championship: 2018, 2019 | 2× |
| NWSL Shield: 2018, 2019 | 2× |
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2023
-
present
|
Chicago Stars | 65 | 1 |
|
2021
-
2023
|
Angel City FC | 27 | 4 |
|
2018
-
2021
|
North Carolina Courage | 47 | 0 |
|
2016
-
2018
|
Houston Dash | 33 | 0 |
|
2012
-
2015
|
Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 75 | 13 |
| International Stats | |||
|
2012
-
2016
|
United States U20 | 12 | 1 |
|
2010
-
2012
|
United States U17 | 4 | 1 |
