Wilmington found great success in the US Open Cup in their later years, regularly drawing MLS teams in the late rounds.

The team went on hiatus in 2010 and returned for the 2011 USL PRO regular season, due to local businessman Bill Rudisill and a minority ownership group combining their efforts and financial support to the Port City.

[1] In September 2013, the Wilmington Hammerheads announced that after three years of ownership, Bill Rudisill had sold a majority share to George Altirs, CEO of Capelli New York.

New York City FC announced a one-year affiliation with the Hammerheads in January 2015, in which NYCFC would send players to train and play in Wilmington for further development.

"[6] Six weeks later, the Washington Post reported that the Hammerheads were a possible contender to move to Baltimore, Maryland for the 2018 season, noting that Wilmington is the smallest of the league's twenty-nine markets.