**Match Info:
North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars
Saturday, April 13 – 7 p.m.
Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Broadcast: Yahoo Sports**

Cary, NC (April 11, 2019) – The North Carolina Courage kick off the 2019 season as the defending NWSL Champions and shield-winners on Saturday, April 13 against the Chicago Red Stars. The match will take place at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park at 7:00 p.m. The team will receive championship rings courtesy of Charles and Colvard, the presenting sponsor of the match, in a ceremony preceding kick off.

The NC Courage look to build off the record-breaking 2018 season against a Chicago Red Stars team they have met in the NWSL semifinals during the previous two seasons. With both teams welcoming back international players after the closing of the FIFA window, the match will be a competition between many of the best players in the world. The Courage will be returning nine players from their respective international teams including Stephanie Labbé who was acquired by the team in the off-season. Other new faces for the Courage will include Swedish forward, Julia Spetsmark and Wake Forest graduate, Ally Haran. On the Red Stars side, Australian stand out Sam Kerr and United States stars Alyssa Naeher and Casey Short will be joined by the overall number one draft pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft, Tierna Davison as she makes her NWSL debut. The series history between the Courage and Red Stars sits even at 3W-3L-2D, with the most recent meeting between the two teams being in last season’s semifinal match in Portland, Oregon. The Courage came out of the match victorious with goals by Jessica McDonald and Sam Mewis. The North Carolina Courage went undefeated in preseason, winning four straight games after starting the preseason with a 1-1 draw against Clemson University. The team outscored their opponents 13-1 in five matches.

Fact to Know:
Charles & Colvard, the official jewelry sponsor of the North Carolina Courage, will present the members of the 2018 NWSL Championship team with championship rings in a ceremony preceding the match.

Players to Watch:

North Carolina Courage – #14 Jessica McDonald McDonald returns to the pitch for the Courage recently out of camp with the US Women’s National Team. The 2018 NWSL Championship MVP ended the season on fire, scoring three goals in the playoffs alone. She will look to add more goals in this first match, picking up where she left off. Chicago Red Stars – #20 Samantha Kerr
Kerr spent most of the offseason with the Australian Women’s National Team. The two-time NWSL golden boot winner is not shy around the net. She has speed and knack for scoring big goals. Kerr will look to test the Courage defensive line in the opening match of the NWSL season.