Cary, NC (October 22, 2020)- The North Carolina Courage announced today the acquisition of OL Reign goalkeeper Casey Murphy and allocation money for Crystal Dunn. The allocation money will be paid over two years, $65,000 in 2021, $75,000 in 2022, and will be reinvested in the 2021 roster and beyond. The trade happens ahead of the NWSL Expansion Draft scheduled for November 12 and helps to facilitate Dunn’s desire to be closer to home with her husband. OL Reign subsequently traded Dunn to the Portland Thorns.

Murphy joins the NC Courage from OL Reign where she has been the team’s starting goalkeeper since signing a contract with the team in May of 2019. During her first year in the NWSL, the 24-year-old made 20 starts, recorded six clean sheets, and made 79 saves. Against the NC Courage in the 2019 NWSL Semifinal, Murphy made a season-high and NWSL career-high 11 saves. “Casey is a young, super talented goalkeeper,” said NC Courage head coach Paul Riley. “She has a ton of fantastic qualities and as she garners experience, we thoroughly expect her to be banging on the USWNT door. She comes to a team with a consistent, dynamic lineup and that will help her settle and grow into a bonified exceptional professional goalkeeper.” The goalkeeper played in six matches and had three clean sheets during the shortened 2020 season. She made six saves during the Challenge Cup and 18 saves during the Fall Series. Murphy was drafted 13th overall in the 2018 NWSL draft but decided to play for Montpellier in the Division 1 Féminine in France in 2018 and 2019 before joining the league. She made 29 total appearances over the two years and was named the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2018. She was also voted to the Best XI. Murphy played college soccer at Rutgers from 2014-2017. She had 45 clean sheets in her college career earning her awards such as Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, and All-Region First Team. The Bridgewater, NJ native has experience with the United States Youth National Team at the U14, U15, U18, U20, and U23 levels, including the U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was called up to the US Women’s National Team for the first time in 2018 for friendly matches. The North Carolina Courage trade Dunn who has been a member of the team since 2018 and made 44 appearances with the Club over three seasons, including the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. The midfielder was one of four Courage players who played collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The trade enables Dunn to be closer to her husband and family. “Crystal has been an integral part of the Courage success story,” said Riley. “Her professionalism and performances at our club have been nothing short of fabulous. Sometimes a player’s personal needs take precedent and we wish her a successful future with her new club.”