2023 North Carolina Courage season

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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)
PlayoffsQuarterfinals
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
← 2022
2024 →
All statistics correct as of July 9, 2023.

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

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
2:00 pm EDT
  • Gejl 23'
 Report Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,948
Referee: Alex Billeter
April 2023 (2023-04T01) 2
San Diego, California
8:00 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
7:30 pm EDT
Report Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Matthew Thompson
April 28, 2023 (2023-04-28) 5
Houston, Texas
7:30 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
3:00 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
8:00 pm 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
6:30 pm 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
6:00 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
8:30 pm EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,387
Referee: Rebecca Pagan
Note: Kickoff delayed from 7:30 pm by thunderstorms in the area.
July 9, 2023 (2023-07-09) 15
Los Angeles, California
5:00 pm 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
7:30 pm 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
2:00 pm EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Kevin Broadley
September 2, 2023 (2023-09-02) 18 North Carolina Courage 3–3 NJ/NY Gotham FC Cary, North Carolina
7:00 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
Seattle, Washington
5:00 pm 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
7:00 pm EDT
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 10,434
Referee: Anya Voigt
October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15) 22
Washington, D.C.
5:00 pm 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 (S) 22 11 4 7 31 22 +9 37 Playoff semifinals
2 Portland Thorns FC 22 10 5 7 42 32 +10 35
3 North Carolina Courage 22 9 6 7 29 22 +7 33 Playoff 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
(S) NWSL Shield

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
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
ResultWLLLWDWDWLWWWWLLDDLDDW
Position481010876667632113
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
7:00 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
7:00 pm EDT Gejl 3' Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 2,761
Referee: Joshua Encarnación
June 14, 2023 (2023-06-14) 3
Washington, D.C.
7:30 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
7:00 pm 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
7:30 pm 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

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
6 3 2 1 15 5  +10 11 2 1 0 12 1  +11 1 1 1 3 4  −1

Last updated: October 26, 2023.
Source: NWSLsoccer.com

Results by matchday

Matchday123456
Stadium
A
HAHHA
ResultDDWWWL
Position231
Updated to match(es) played on June 14, 2023. Source: NWSL

A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Knockout stage

Kansas City Current v North Carolina Courage
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 pm 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 States Olivia Wingate FW Notre Dame Signed through 2025. [10][11]
8 Canada Sydney Collins MF
California
9 United States
Clara Robbins
 		MF Florida State
11 United States Haley Hopkins FW Virginia

Contract options

Date Nat. Player Pos. Notes Ref.
November 15, 2022 United States Marisa Bova GK Option exercised. [10][12]
United States Kaleigh Kurtz DF
United States Tess Boade MF
United States Emily Gray MF
Japan
Fuka Nagano
 		MF
United States Frankie Tagliaferri MF
Mexico Diana Ordóñez FW
United States Jaelene Daniels DF Option declined.

Re-signings

Date Nat. Player Pos. Notes Ref.
November 28, 2022 United States Kaleigh Kurtz DF Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
December 6, 2022 United States Meredith Speck MF Free agent re-signed through 2024 on a guaranteed contract. [13]
January 3, 2023 United States Casey Murphy GK Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
January 5, 2023 United States Brianna Pinto MF Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
January 19, 2023 United States Ryan Williams DF Re-signed through 2025. [10]
January 23, 2023 United States Brittany Ratcliffe FW Free agent re-signed through 2023, with a mutual option to extend through 2024. [10]
January 24, 2023 United States Katelyn 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
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 States Tess 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 Cameroon Estelle Johnson DF United States NJ/NY Gotham FC Free-agent signed through 2024 on a guaranteed contract. [18][19]
January 20, 2023 United States Tyler Lussi FW United States Angel City FC Acquired in exchange for Merritt Mathias. [10][20]
Denmark Mille Gejl FW Sweden BK Häcken FF Signed through 2024. [10][21]
January 23, 2023 United States Emily Fox DF United States Racing Louisville FC Acquired in exchange for Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett. [10][22]
February 7, 2023 Japan Narumi Miura MF
Tokyo Verdy Beleza
 Acquired for an undisclosed transfer fee. Under contract through 2024. [10][23]
April 7, 2022 Canada Victoria Pickett MF United States NJ/NY Gotham FC Acquired in exchange for $200,000 in allocation money. [24][25]
June 27, 2023 United States Hensley Hancuff
GK
 Australia Brisbane Roar FC Short-term national team replacement player signing. [4]
United States Sarah Clark
DF
 United States Virginia Cavaliers
United States Nikia Smith
DF
 Israel F.C. Ramat HaSharon
July 17, 2023 Japan Rikako 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 States Rylee Baisden FW Australia Perth Glory Contract mutually terminated. [10][12]
New Zealand Katie Bowen DF Australia Melbourne City
December 18, 2022 Mexico Diana 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 Japan
Fuka Nagano
 		MF England Liverpool F.C. Transfer terms not disclosed. [27]
January 20, 2023 United States Merritt Mathias DF United States Angel City FC Traded in exchange for Tyler Lussi. [10][12]
January 23, 2023 New Zealand Abby Erceg DF United States Racing Louisville FC Traded in exchange for Emily Fox. [10][22]
United States Carson Pickett DF

Injury listings

Date Nat. Player Pos. List Injury Ref.
March 20, 2023 United States Tess Boade MF 45-day injured reserve Shoulder injury suffered while on loan to Western Sydney Wanderers. [16][28]
United States Emily 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. ^ a b "Courage sign three to National Team replacement contracts" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "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. Washington Post. Associated Press
    . April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "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. ^ a b c d e f "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Courage announce regular season roster" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. March 20, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
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