Jelena Zbiljic

2025 Team Captain Jelena Zbiljic has been a consistent face in Aurora’s lineup since the inaugural season, appearing in 45 of 57 matches.

The Minnesota native recorded a career-best 12 appearances during the Aurora’s inaugural season in 2022. That season, Zbiljic contributed two goals with one assist.

Zbiljic followed that up with 10 appearances in 2023, helping Aurora to its second straight Heartland Division title. Her appearances that season included starts in both USL W League playoff contests, including Indy Eleven.

2024 saw Zbiljic equal her single-season best in points, again contributing two goals with an assist. One of her two strikes was a match-winner, a long distance blast against division rival Rochester FC that earned Zbiljic a spot on SportsCenter’s “Top 10 Plays”.

Zbiljic again returned to Aurora for the 2025 season, suiting up in 13 matches and starting 8, helping the club to its fourth straight Heartland Division crown. Under Zbiljic’s captaincy, Aurora would reach the National Semifinal of the USL W League playoffs, the club’s first such appearance since 2023.

Over the course of four seasons, Zbiljic has shown versatility on the field, playing in the back and midfield, all while contributing 11 career points. At the college level, Zbiljic spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota, where she transferred after three seasons at the University of Illinois-Chicago. In 2024, Zbiljic started all 22 matches for the Gophers en route to UMN’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018. Zbiljic helped take the Minnesota squad to the Round of 16, a first for the program in 14 seasons.

Aurora opens their season on May 16th with a preseason match. Season tickets for the 2026 season are on sale now.