Saara Hassoun elevated to President of Minnesota Aurora FC

Minnesota Aurora FC today announced that current Chief of Staff Saara Hassoun has been elevated to President by the Aurora Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled to promote Saara to President of Minnesota Aurora. Her ability to balance day-to-day operations with the strategic vision needed to move the club forward makes her an outstanding fit for this role,” said Aurora Board Chair Allie Schmidt. “Saara has brought a fresh perspective, and we’re excited to see how she continues to shape Aurora into the best club it can be. As a proud women-led organization, we believe big things are ahead – not just for our players and fans, but for the entire Aurora community.”

Hassoun will step into an expanded leadership role immediately with all Aurora departments reporting directly to her including sponsorships, sporting and marketing.  

“From day one, I’ve felt the magic of Minnesota Aurora – a club that’s as ambitious as it is authentic,” said Hassoun. “Our players inspire, our fans uplift, and our team leads with vision and heart. I’m honored to help guide this next stage of growth in this incredibly exciting time for women’s soccer. The opportunities ahead are extraordinary, and I’m confident Aurora will continue to shine as a model for what’s possible when community and purpose lead the way. I’m deeply grateful to the board for their confidence and for the chance to help carry this mission forward.”

Since joining the club in May 2025, Hassoun has continued to build on the vision of the board and founders to create a strong organization led by women that succeeds on and off the field. Hassoun has focused on staffing, game day operations, revenue and positioning the organization for future opportunities in professional soccer.

Prior to joining Aurora, she served as the Chief of Staff at Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), including during the team’s run to the 2023 NWSL Championship. During her time with the club, Hassoun managed soccer operations, oversaw staff and player well-being and directed business operations on the sporting side of the club. Hassoun co-founded HT Sports Consulting, HT Sports Consulting, a consulting firm with a mission to elevate athlete well-being through data-driven insights and athlete-first methodologies. Hassoun first connected with Aurora when she provided research services for the team after the inaugural season.  She also served as the business strategy and project management lead for a group of soccer-specific investors and worked as a management consultant, growing her expertise in project management and organizational strategy. She holds a masters’ degree from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and is a Global Sports Fellow at Harvard University, where she conducts research on topics including structural approaches to player well-being in women’s soccer, and athlete inclusion in governance.