Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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Final
Women's Soccer
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vs #1 Stanford
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Photo by: Duke Athletics
DWS: Blue Devil Alumnx Spotlight - Natasha Anasi
1/17/2024 10:18:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM -- Since graduating from Duke in 2013, Natasha Anasi has turned in an impressive professional soccer career overseas. She recently played in Iceland and is currently competing on one of the biggest stages in Norway. Anasi is one of Duke's all-time great defenders and was the Blue Devils' first MAC Hermann Trophy finalist in 2011. She helped guide Duke to the NCAA College Cup in 2011 and was a NSCAA All-America selection in 2011 and 2012.
GoDuke recently caught up with Anasi...
GoDuke: Where are you playing these days and for what team?
Natasha Anasi: I am currently playing in Bergen, Norway for the club SK Brann.
GD: Give us a rundown on how things have been going for you recently as we hear you have comeback from an injury and started playing again.
NA: I was a bit unlucky to suffer an Achilles rupture shortly after I signed for Brann. After returning to the pitch, I was able to catch the last few games of our club season and now, have joined the team as we compete in the group stage of Champions League. It has been an absolute dream to have managed to come back from this injury and compete in one of the biggest competition on the world stage.
GD: How big was it that your team qualified for the Champions League?
NA: It was huge. We have managed to etch our name into Norwegian history as we are the first Norwegian women's team to compete in the group stage (in the current format).
GD: In your first game in the Champions League, you scored a goal. I am sure that had to be a great feeling?
NA: The feeling was indescribable. I had worked incredibly hard to get back on the pitch and seeing the ball hit the back of the net made all those long hours feel worth it. I almost couldn´t believe it and honestly, it took me a few days to recover from that emotional high.
GD: How was it coming back from the injury that you suffered?
NA: It was incredibly difficult, especially since my family is still based in Iceland. Long-term injuries are mentally exhausting and test your patience. I am so lucky to have an amazing support team around me. They constantly reassured me that I would be back and how the moment will feel when I finally reach the finish line. I learned a lot about myself through this rehabilitation process. My teammates and the coaching staff were incredible to me so, I was happy to be able to contribute to the success of the team inside the pitch.
GD: Was it the biggest injury that you have suffered in your career?
NA: Yes, outside of my pregnancy in 2017. Before that, I had never been out for more than a couple of weeks with small nagging injuries.
GD: Are you still playing defense for your current team?
NA: I am still playing central defense for my current team. I have stepped in to defensive midfield as well with previous clubs.
GD: You have had a great career playing soccer overseas. How has that experience been seeing different countries and their different cultures?
NA: It has been so amazing to be able to experience the culture in all the countries that I have played and traveled to. It has been incredibly eye-opening to see how it is to live outside of the US. Everywhere that I have played, I have tried to completely immerse myself into the culture. I have managed to do that in Iceland and am in the process of doing so in Norway. I have been incredibly lucky to have teammates who have welcomed me with open arms and taught me so much about their cultures.
GD: You played in Iceland for a while and now in Norway. How has that change been?
NA: Fortunately, it has not been a dramatic change as the culture between these Nordic countries tends to be quite similar. Football wise, the style of football is a bit different between the two.
GD: Have there been challenges with the language barriers playing in these different countries and playing with different players all over the world?
NA: It can be difficult at times, but typically the teams that I have played for have had someone on the staff who speaks English and can translate. In some cases, especially the teams that have a decent number of foreign players, English is spoken in meetings and training. With time you learn, if you don´t understand what is going on, just go to the back of the line and watch haha.
GD: You have a family now? How old is your daughter and has she picked up any sports yet?
NA: Yes, I am a mom to six-year-old, Harper, and step-mom to 13-year-old, Óliver. Harper has been around soccer for her entire life. She was just three months old when she was first in the locker room with my team. She is currently playing soccer and gymnastics. Óliver is playing basketball, following in his Dad's footsteps! Rúnar, my husband, is still working full-time as an air traffic controller, while also coaching the women's professional basketball team in Njarðvík. There is always plenty to do in our household!
GD: Have you been able to keep in touch with Robbie Church and your former teammates at Duke?
NA: I have managed to catch up with Robbie a few times, particularly when I am state side. I keep in close contact with a decent number of my teammates from Duke. It´s so nice to see all the amazing things they are doing in their careers as well as to see what amazing human beings they are maturing into.
#GoDuke
GoDuke recently caught up with Anasi...
GoDuke: Where are you playing these days and for what team?
Natasha Anasi: I am currently playing in Bergen, Norway for the club SK Brann.
GD: Give us a rundown on how things have been going for you recently as we hear you have comeback from an injury and started playing again.
NA: I was a bit unlucky to suffer an Achilles rupture shortly after I signed for Brann. After returning to the pitch, I was able to catch the last few games of our club season and now, have joined the team as we compete in the group stage of Champions League. It has been an absolute dream to have managed to come back from this injury and compete in one of the biggest competition on the world stage.
GD: How big was it that your team qualified for the Champions League?
NA: It was huge. We have managed to etch our name into Norwegian history as we are the first Norwegian women's team to compete in the group stage (in the current format).
GD: In your first game in the Champions League, you scored a goal. I am sure that had to be a great feeling?
NA: The feeling was indescribable. I had worked incredibly hard to get back on the pitch and seeing the ball hit the back of the net made all those long hours feel worth it. I almost couldn´t believe it and honestly, it took me a few days to recover from that emotional high.
GD: How was it coming back from the injury that you suffered?
NA: It was incredibly difficult, especially since my family is still based in Iceland. Long-term injuries are mentally exhausting and test your patience. I am so lucky to have an amazing support team around me. They constantly reassured me that I would be back and how the moment will feel when I finally reach the finish line. I learned a lot about myself through this rehabilitation process. My teammates and the coaching staff were incredible to me so, I was happy to be able to contribute to the success of the team inside the pitch.
GD: Was it the biggest injury that you have suffered in your career?
NA: Yes, outside of my pregnancy in 2017. Before that, I had never been out for more than a couple of weeks with small nagging injuries.
GD: Are you still playing defense for your current team?
NA: I am still playing central defense for my current team. I have stepped in to defensive midfield as well with previous clubs.
GD: You have had a great career playing soccer overseas. How has that experience been seeing different countries and their different cultures?
NA: It has been so amazing to be able to experience the culture in all the countries that I have played and traveled to. It has been incredibly eye-opening to see how it is to live outside of the US. Everywhere that I have played, I have tried to completely immerse myself into the culture. I have managed to do that in Iceland and am in the process of doing so in Norway. I have been incredibly lucky to have teammates who have welcomed me with open arms and taught me so much about their cultures.
GD: You played in Iceland for a while and now in Norway. How has that change been?
NA: Fortunately, it has not been a dramatic change as the culture between these Nordic countries tends to be quite similar. Football wise, the style of football is a bit different between the two.
GD: Have there been challenges with the language barriers playing in these different countries and playing with different players all over the world?
NA: It can be difficult at times, but typically the teams that I have played for have had someone on the staff who speaks English and can translate. In some cases, especially the teams that have a decent number of foreign players, English is spoken in meetings and training. With time you learn, if you don´t understand what is going on, just go to the back of the line and watch haha.
GD: You have a family now? How old is your daughter and has she picked up any sports yet?
NA: Yes, I am a mom to six-year-old, Harper, and step-mom to 13-year-old, Óliver. Harper has been around soccer for her entire life. She was just three months old when she was first in the locker room with my team. She is currently playing soccer and gymnastics. Óliver is playing basketball, following in his Dad's footsteps! Rúnar, my husband, is still working full-time as an air traffic controller, while also coaching the women's professional basketball team in Njarðvík. There is always plenty to do in our household!
GD: Have you been able to keep in touch with Robbie Church and your former teammates at Duke?
NA: I have managed to catch up with Robbie a few times, particularly when I am state side. I keep in close contact with a decent number of my teammates from Duke. It´s so nice to see all the amazing things they are doing in their careers as well as to see what amazing human beings they are maturing into.
#GoDuke
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