2023 North Carolina Courage season

The 2023 North Carolina Courage season is the team's seventh season as a professional women's soccer team. The North Carolina Courage play in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

North Carolina Courage
2023 season
Managing OwnerSteve Malik
Club PresidentFrancie Gottsegen
Head CoachSean Nahas
StadiumSahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina
(Capacity: 10,000)
NWSL Regular Season3rd
NWSL Challenge CupChampions (2nd title)
Top goalscorerKerolin (9 goals)
Highest home attendance7,070
(May 6 vs POR)
Lowest home attendance4,014
(Jun 17 vs ORL)
Average home league attendance4,800
All statistics correct as of July 9, 2023.

Background
See also: 2022 North Carolina Courage season

Broadcasting

On June 5, 2023, the Courage announced that Bally Sports South would regionally broadcast eight of the team's games.[1]

Team

Current squad
As of July 17, 2023.[2][3][4][5]
No. Pos. Player Nation
0 GK Katelyn Rowland  United States
1 GK Casey Murphy  United States
2 DF Sarah Clark  United States
3 DF Kaleigh Kurtz  United States
4 MF Emily Gray  United States
5 FW Haley Hopkins  United States
6 MF Narumi Miura  Japan
7 DF Malia Berkely  United States
8 MF Brianna Pinto  United States
9 FW Kerolin  Brazil
10 MF Denise O'Sullivan  Republic of Ireland
11 FW Brittany Ratcliffe  United States
12 DF Emily Fox  United States
13 DF Ryan Williams  United States
14 FW Tyler Lussi  United States
17 FW Rikke Madsen  Denmark
18 DF Sydney Collins  Canada
19 MF Frankie Tagliaferri  United States
20 FW Olivia Wingate  United States
21 DF Nikia Smith  United States
22 FW Mille Gejl  Denmark
23 DF Kiki Pickett  United States
24 DF Estelle Johnson  Cameroon
25 MF Meredith Speck  United States
26 MF Clara Robbins  United States
28 FW Tess Boade  United States
29 FW Millie Farrow  England
44 GK Marisa Bova  United States
55 GK Hensley Hancuff  United States
99 MF Victoria Pickett  Canada
— MF Rikako Kobayashi  Japan

Staff
As of April 29, 2023.[6][7][8]
Executive
Chairman Steve Malik
President Francie Gottsegen
Chief soccer officer Curt Johnson
Assistant general manager Bobby Hammond
Coaching
Head coach United States Sean Nahas
Assistant coach England Nathan Thackeray
Assistant coach England Emma Thomson

Regular season

Matches
March 25, 2023 (2023-03-25) 1 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Kansas City Current Cary, North Carolina
14:00 EDT
  • Gejl 23'
 Report Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,948
Referee: Alex Billeter
April 2023 (2023-04T01) 2 San Diego Wave FC 3–1 North Carolina Courage San Diego, California
20:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: John Griggs
April 15, 2023 (2023-04-15) 3 North Carolina Courage 1–2 Washington Spirit Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,160
Referee: Adorae Monroy
April 22, 2023 (2023-04-22) 4 NJ/NY Gotham FC 1–0 North Carolina Courage Harrison, New Jersey
19:30 EDT
Report Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Matthew Thompson
April 28, 2023 (2023-04-28) 5 Houston Dash 0–1 North Carolina Courage Houston, Texas
19:30 CDT Report
Stadium: Shell Energy Stadium
Referee: Thomas Snyder
Note: Match abandoned at 56' due to weather, result awarded to the Courage[9]
May 6, 2023 (2023-05-06) 6 North Carolina Courage 3–3 Portland Thorns FC Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 7,070
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
May 14, 2023 (2023-05-14) 7 North Carolina Courage 1–0 OL Reign Cary, North Carolina
15:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,059
Referee: Alex Billeter
May 20, 2023 (2023-05-20) 8 North Carolina Courage 0–0 Angel City FC Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT
Report Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,723
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
May 27, 2023 (2023-05-27) 9 Racing Louisville FC 1–2 North Carolina Courage Louisville, Kentucky
20:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 5,874
Referee: Danielle Chesky
June 3, 2023 (2023-06-03) 10 Kansas City Current 1–0 North Carolina Courage Kansas City, Kansas
18:30 CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 10,294
Referee: JC Griggs
June 10, 2023 (2023-06-10) 11 Chicago Red Stars 0–5 North Carolina Courage Bridgeview, Illinois
18:00 CDT
Report
Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Attendance: 3,541
Referee: Karen Callado
June 17, 2023 (2023-06-17) 12 North Carolina Courage 3–0 Orlando Pride Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,014
Referee: Calin Radosav
June 24, 2023 (2023-06-24) 13 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Racing Louisville FC Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,041
Referee: Elton Garcia
July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) 14 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Houston Dash Cary, North Carolina
20:30 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,387
Referee: Rebecca Pagan
Note: Kickoff delayed from 19:30 by thunderstorms in the area.
July 9, 2023 (2023-07-09) 15 Angel City FC 2–1 North Carolina Courage Los Angeles, California
17:00 PDT
Report
Stadium: BMO Stadium
Attendance: 17,876
Referee: Jeremy Scheer
August 20, 2023 (2023-08-20) 16 Portland Thorns FC 2–1 North Carolina Courage Portland, Oregon
19:30 PDT
Report
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 22,107
Referee: Matthew Thompson
August 27, 2023 (2023-08-27) 17 North Carolina Courage 1–1 Chicago Red Stars Cary, North Carolina
14:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4000
Referee: Kevin Broadley
September 2, 2023 (2023-09-02) 18 North Carolina Courage 3–3 NJ/NY Gotham FC Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 6,389
Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
September 17, 2023 (2023-09-17) 19 Orlando Pride 2-1 North Carolina Courage Orlando, Florida
19:00 EDT Watt 1' Adriana 32' Report Matsukbo 52' Berkely Red card 78' Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Attendance: 5,907
Referee: Danielle Chesky
October 1, 2023 (2023-10-01) 20 OL Reign 1-1 North Carolina Courage Seattle, Washington
17:00 PDT
Report
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 10,345
Referee: Elton Garcia
October 7, 2023 (2023-10-07) 21 North Carolina Courage 0–0 San Diego Wave FC Cary, North Carolina
19:00 EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 10,434
Referee: Anya Voigt
October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15) 22 Washington Spirit 0-1 North Carolina Courage Washington, D.C.
17:00 EDT Rodman Red card 23' Report Lussi 7' Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 15,479
Referee: Ricardo Fierro

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 San Diego Wave FC 22 11 4 7 31 22 +9 37 NWSL Shield, playoffs – semifinals
2 Portland Thorns FC 22 10 5 7 42 32 +10 35 Playoffs – semifinals
3 North Carolina Courage 22 9 6 7 29 22 +7 33 Playoffs – quarterfinals
4 OL Reign 22 9 5 8 29 24 +5 32
5 Angel City FC 22 8 7 7 31 30 +1 31
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
22 9 6 7 29 22  +7 33 5 5 1 15 9  +6 4 1 6 14 13  +1

Last updated: July 9, 2023.
Source: NWSLsoccer.com

Results by matchday
Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122
StadiumHAHAAHHHAAAHHHAAHHAAHA
ResultWLLLWDWDWLWWWWL
Position48101087666763211
Updated to match(es) played on July 9, 2023. Source: NWSL
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    Playoffs
    Further information: 2023 NWSL season § Playoffs
    October 22, 2023 First round North Carolina Courage 0–2 NJ/NY Gotham FC Cary, North Carolina
    19:00 EDT Report Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
    Attendance: 4,612
    Referee: Katja Koroleva

    Challenge Cup
    Main article: 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup

    Group stage
    April 19, 2023 (2023-04-19) 1 Orlando Pride 1–1 North Carolina Courage Orlando, Florida
    19:00 EDT
    		Report
    		Stadium: Exploria Stadium
    Attendance: 3,139
    Referee: Gabriele Giusti
    May 3, 2023 (2023-05-03) 2 North Carolina Courage 1–1 NJ/NY Gotham FC Cary, North Carolina
    19:00 EDT Gejl 3' Report
    		Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
    Attendance: 2,761
    Referee: Joshua Encarnación
    June 14, 2023 (2023-06-14) 3 Washington Spirit 1–2 North Carolina Courage Washington, D.C.
    19:30 EDT
    		Report
    		Stadium: Audi Field
    Attendance: 5,778
    Referee: Matthew Corrigan
    July 22, 2023 (2023-07-22) 4 North Carolina Courage 6–0 Washington Spirit Cary, North Carolina
    19:00 EDT
    		Report
    		Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
    Attendance: 4,063
    Referee: Thomas Snyder
    July 29, 2023 (2023-07-29) 5 North Carolina Courage 5–0 Orlando Pride Cary, North Carolina
    19:00 EDT
    		Report
    		Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
    Attendance: 3,543
    Referee: Greg Dopka
    August 5, 2023 (2023-08-05) 6 NJ/NY Gotham FC 2–0 North Carolina Courage Harrison, New Jersey
    19:30 EDT
    		Report
    		Stadium: Red Bull Arena
    Attendance: 3,004
    Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

    Divisional standings

    Pos Team Pld W T L GF GA GD Pts Qualification NC NJY WAS ORL
    1 North Carolina Courage 6 3 2 1 15 5 +10 11 Advance to knockout stage — 1–1 6–0 0–0
    2 NJ/NY Gotham FC 6 3 2 1 10 7 +3 11 2–0 — 1–0 1–1
    3 Washington Spirit 6 3 0 3 10 13 −3 9 1–2 4–2 — 4–2
    4 Orlando Pride 6 0 2 4 5 15 −10 2 1–1 1–3 0–1 —
    Source: NWSL

    Results summary
    OverallHomeAway
    PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
    3 1 2 0 4 3  +1 5 0 1 0 1 1  0 1 1 0 3 2  +1

    Last updated: June 14, 2023.
    Source: NWSLsoccer.com

    Results by matchday
    Matchday123456
    StadiumAHAHHA
    ResultDDW
    Position23
    Updated to match(es) played on June 14, 2023. Source: NWSL
    A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    Knockout stage
    September 6, 2023 Semifinal Kansas City Current 0–1 North Carolina Courage Kansas City, Kansas
    Report
    		Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
    Attendance: 4,590

    Championship
    September 9, 2023 Championship North Carolina Courage 2–0 Racing Louisville FC Cary, North Carolina
    12:30 EDT
    		Report
    		Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
    Referee: Alex Billeter
    MVP: Manaka Matsukubo

      Transactions

      2023 NWSL Draft
      Main article: 2023 NWSL Draft

      Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2022 NWSL Draft was held on December 18, 2021.

      R P Nat. Player Pos. College Status Ref.
      1 6 United StatesOlivia Wingate FW Notre Dame Signed through 2025. [10][11]
      8 CanadaSydney Collins MF California
      9 United StatesClara Robbins MF Florida State
      11 United StatesHaley Hopkins FW Virginia

      Contract options
      Date Nat. Player Pos. Notes Ref.
      November 15, 2022 United StatesMarisa Bova GK Option exercised. [10][12]
      United StatesKaleigh Kurtz DF
      United StatesTess Boade MF
      United StatesEmily Gray MF
      JapanFuka Nagano MF
      United StatesFrankie Tagliaferri MF
      MexicoDiana Ordóñez FW
      United StatesJaelene Daniels DF Option declined.

      Re-signings
      Date Nat. Player Pos. Notes Ref.
      November 28, 2022 United StatesKaleigh Kurtz DF Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
      December 6, 2022 United StatesMeredith Speck MF Free agent re-signed through 2024 on a guaranteed contract. [13]
      January 3, 2023 United StatesCasey Murphy GK Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
      January 5, 2023 United StatesBrianna Pinto MF Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
      January 19, 2023 United StatesRyan Williams DF Re-signed through 2025. [10]
      January 23, 2023 United StatesBrittany Ratcliffe FW Free agent re-signed through 2023, with a mutual option to extend through 2024. [10]
      January 24, 2023 United StatesKatelyn Rowland GK Free agent re-signed through 2025. [10]

      Loans In
      Date Nat. Player Pos. Previous club Fee/notes Ref.
      July 27, 2023 Japan Manaka Matsukubo
      MF
      		 Japan MyNavi Sendai Loaned until June 2024. Courage have option to transfer playing rights to the club on a permanent basis following the loan period. [14]

      Loans out
      Date Nat. Player Pos. Destination club Fee/notes Ref.
      November 15, 2022 United StatesTess Boade MF Australia Western Sydney Wanderers Loaned until February 2023. Returned December 17, 2022, due to injury. [12][15][16]
      August 15, 2023 United States Hensley Hancuff
      GK
      		 Sweden Växjö DFF Loan runs through the 2023-24 Damallsvenskan season. [17]

      Transfers in
      Date Nat. Player Pos. Previous club Fee/notes Ref.
      December 1, 2022 CameroonEstelle Johnson DF United States NJ/NY Gotham FC Free-agent signed through 2024 on a guaranteed contract. [18][19]
      January 20, 2023 United StatesTyler Lussi FW United States Angel City FC Acquired in exchange for Merritt Mathias. [10][20]
      DenmarkMille Gejl FW Denmark BK Häcken Signed through 2024. [10][21]
      January 23, 2023 United StatesEmily Fox DF United States Racing Louisville FC Acquired in exchange for Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett. [10][22]
      February 7, 2023 JapanNarumi Miura MF Japan Tokyo Verdy Beleza Acquired for an undisclosed transfer fee. Under contract through 2024. [10][23]
      April 7, 2022 CanadaVictoria Pickett MF United States NJ/NY Gotham FC Acquired in exchange for $200,000 in allocation money. [24][25]
      June 27, 2023 United StatesHensley Hancuff
      GK
      		 Australia Brisbane Roar FC Short-term national team replacement player signing. [4]
      United StatesSarah Clark
      DF
      		 United States Virginia Cavaliers
      United StatesNikia Smith
      DF
      		 Israel F.C. Ramat HaSharon
      July 17, 2023 JapanRikako Kobayashi
      MF
      		 Japan Tokyo Verdy Beleza Free transfer signed to a two-year contract with an option for an additional year. [5][26]

      Transfers out
      Date Nat. Player Pos. Destination club Fee/notes Ref.
      November 15, 2022 United StatesRylee Baisden FW Australia Perth Glory Contract mutually terminated. [10][12]
      New ZealandKatie Bowen DF Australia Melbourne City
      December 18, 2022 MexicoDiana Ordóñez FW United States Houston Dash Traded with the 30th-overall selection of the 2023 NWSL Draft in exchange for the eighth-overall selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft, Houston's natural first-round selection in the 2024 NWSL Draft, a 2023 international slot, and $100,000 in allocation money. [10][12]
      December 22, 2022 Brazil Debinha MF United States Kansas City Current Free-agent signing. [10][12]
      January 14, 2023 JapanFuka Nagano MF England Liverpool F.C. Transfer terms not disclosed. [27]
      January 20, 2023 United StatesMerritt Mathias DF United States Angel City FC Traded in exchange for Tyler Lussi. [10][12]
      January 23, 2023 New ZealandAbby Erceg DF United States Racing Louisville FC Traded in exchange for Emily Fox. [10][22]
      United StatesCarson Pickett DF

      Injury listings
      Date Nat. Player Pos. List Injury Ref.
      March 20, 2023 United StatesTess Boade MF 45-day injured reserve Shoulder injury suffered while on loan to Western Sydney Wanderers. [16][28]
      United StatesEmily Gray MF Season-ending injury Anterior cruciate ligament tear during preseason. [28]

      References
      1. "NC Courage partners with Bally Sports South for regional broadcasts" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
      2. "Roster". Retrieved July 9, 2023.
      3. "Courage acquire midfielder Victoria Pickett from Gotham FC" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
      4. "Courage sign three to National Team replacement contracts" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
      5. "Courage sign Japanese midfielder Rikako Kobayashi" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
      6. "Ownership". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      7. "Technical Staff". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      8. "Front Office". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      9. "Courage defeat Dash 1–0 in weather-shortened match". Washington Post. Associated Press. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      10. "2022-2023 Off-Season NC Courage Roster Moves". Courage Country. January 31, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      11. "Courage sign all four 2023 draft picks" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. March 13, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      12. "Courage announce initial off-season roster moves" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. November 15, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      13. "Courage re-sign midfielder Meredith Speck to two-year deal" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      14. "Courage acquire Japanese midfielder Manaka Matsukubo". NC Courage. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
      15. "Boade Signs Loan Deal" (Press release). Western Sydney Wanderers FC. November 15, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      16. "WANDERERS CONFIRM BOADE DEPARTURE". Western Sydney Wanderers FC (Press release). December 17, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      17. "Hancuff extended, loaned to Sweden". NC Courage. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
      18. "Courage sign free agent defender Estelle Johnson" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. December 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      19. Mboh, Brian (December 3, 2022). "FOOTBALL: ESTELLE JOHNSON PENS NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE". Afrik'Sports Magazine. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      20. Calhoun, Damian (January 25, 2023). "Angel City FC continues to trade and build its roster". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      21. Løvig Nielsen, Morten (January 20, 2023). "Landsholdsspilleren Mille Gejl skifter til amerikansk klub" [National team player Mille Gejl switches to an American club]. DR (in Danish). Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      22. "Courage acquire Emily Fox from Racing in trade for Carson Pickett, Abby Erceg". ESPN. Reuters. January 23, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      23. "ベレーザ一筋のなでしこジャパンMF三浦成美がアメリカ移籍！初の海外挑戦へ" [Beleza's Nadeshiko Japan midfielder Narumi Miura moves to the United States! For the first overseas challenge]. Soccer Digest (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. February 8, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      24. "Courage acquire midfielder Victoria Pickett from Gotham FC" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
      25. "North Carolina Courage acquire Canadian Victoria Pickett in trade with Gotham FC". CBC. The Canadian Press. April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      26. "日テレ東京V小林里歌子、米ノースカロライナ・カレッジへ移籍「ベレーザという場で成長できた」" [Nippon TV Tokyo V. Rikako Kobayashi transferred to North Carolina Courage in the United States: "I was able to grow in Beleza"]. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
      27. "Liverpool FC Women complete signing of Fuka Nagano" (Press release). Liverpool F.C. January 14, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
      28. "Courage announce regular season roster" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. March 20, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
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