Wikipedia

2023 North Carolina Courage season

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.

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.

Background edit

See also: 2022 North Carolina Courage season

Broadcasting edit

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

Team edit

Current squad edit

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 edit

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   Sean Nahas
Assistant coach   Nathan Thackeray
Assistant coach   Emma Thomson

Regular season edit

Matches edit

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 Wave FC 3–1 North Carolina Courage 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 Dash 0–1 North Carolina Courage 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 Angel City FC 2–1 North Carolina Courage 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   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
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 Spirit 0-1 North Carolina Courage Washington, D.C.
5:00 pm EDT Rodman   23' Report Lussi   7' Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 15,479
Referee: Ricardo Fierro

League table edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

Main article: 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup

Group stage edit

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 Spirit 1–2 North Carolina Courage 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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

Matchday123456
StadiumAHAHHA
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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

2023 NWSL Draft edit

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   Olivia Wingate FW Notre Dame Signed through 2025. [10][11]
8   Sydney Collins MF California
9   Clara Robbins MF Florida State
11   Haley Hopkins FW Virginia

Contract options edit

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

Re-signings edit

Date Nat. Player Pos. Notes Ref.
November 28, 2022   Kaleigh Kurtz DF Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
December 6, 2022   Meredith Speck MF Free agent re-signed through 2024 on a guaranteed contract. [13]
January 3, 2023   Casey Murphy GK Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
January 5, 2023   Brianna Pinto MF Re-signed through 2025 on a guaranteed contract. [10]
January 19, 2023   Ryan Williams DF Re-signed through 2025. [10]
January 23, 2023   Brittany Ratcliffe FW Free agent re-signed through 2023, with a mutual option to extend through 2024. [10]
January 24, 2023   Katelyn Rowland GK Free agent re-signed through 2025. [10]

Loans In edit

Date Nat. Player Pos. Previous club Fee/notes Ref.
July 27, 2023   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 edit

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

Transfers in edit

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

Transfers out edit

Date Nat. Player Pos. Destination club Fee/notes Ref.
November 15, 2022   Rylee Baisden FW   Perth Glory Contract mutually terminated. [10][12]
  Katie Bowen DF   Melbourne City
December 18, 2022   Diana Ordóñez FW   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   Debinha MF   Kansas City Current Free-agent signing. [10][12]
January 14, 2023   Fuka Nagano MF   Liverpool F.C. Transfer terms not disclosed. [27]
January 20, 2023   Merritt Mathias DF   Angel City FC Traded in exchange for Tyler Lussi. [10][12]
January 23, 2023   Abby Erceg DF   Racing Louisville FC Traded in exchange for Emily Fox. [10][22]
  Carson Pickett DF

Injury listings edit

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

References edit

  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. ^ "Courage defeat Dash 1–0 in weather-shortened match". 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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