STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC announced Jhenesis ‘Jhena’ Ellerbe as its first returner ahead of its 2023 USL W League title-defending season, pending league and federation approval. Ellerbe returns to Statesboro after a breakout USL W League season, leading the organization to its first-ever USL W League title.
“Jhena quietly had one of the most consistent seasons of anyone on our roster in 2022. She played with a lot of confidence and poise every game. Her pace and one-v-one defending made her one of the best center backs in the league, and her distribution from the back was essential to the way we like to play when in possession. She will be a key piece to our backline again this summer. I am confident that she will bring the same consistency to our team in 2023.”
Jim Robbins, Tormenta FC USL W League Head Coach
In 2022, Ellerbe led the team in minutes played, totaling 1,278 minutes across the regular season and the W League Playoffs. Ellerbe only missed 27 minutes of playtime throughout the entire season, starting every game and becoming one of the best defenders in the league in 2022. Averaging 91.28 minutes in 2022, Ellerbe will hope to bring consistency in the backline again, this time around with a new squad around her.
“Although we already have a title under our belt, I am still hungry for more. Tormenta is more than an organization, it is a family, and I’m prepared to face another season with the Tormenta Nation family behind me. Vamos Tormenta.”
Jhenesis Ellerbe, Tormenta FC USL W League Defender
Ellerbe spent four years at Young Harris College, where she totaled 52 games with the program. In her final year with the program, Ellerbe featured in 15 games, where she contributed three goals and five assists.
In June of 2021, Tormenta FC was named a founding member of the USL W League, an elite pre-professional pathway for women looking to build their careers both on and off the pitch. Tormenta FC won its first-ever USL W League title in 2022 after defeating the Minnesota Aurora in front of 6,500 fans in Eagan, Minnesota.
To stay up to date on Tormenta FC’s new women’s team, fans can follow Tormenta Women on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. To learn more about the USL W League, visit USLWLeague.com or follow the W League on Twitter at @USLWLeague.
For additional information and scheduling interviews, email: epintor@tormentafc.com.
Player Profile:
- Name: Jhenesis Ellerbe
- Pronunciation: jeh-neh-sis el-er-bee
- Position: Defender
- Number: 22
- Height: 5′ 5″
- Birthdate: May 98, 2001 (Age: 22)
- Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
- Citizenship: USA
- Previous Club: Tormenta FC (USL W League), Young Harris College (NCAA Division II)
- Instagram: @jhenesis
- Twitter: N/A
