**CARY, N.C. (Feb. 14, 2024) –** The North Carolina Courage today announces Sam Mewis as the first inductee into the newly-formed Courage ‘Ring of Honor’ with a ceremony set for **March 16** during the 2024 NWSL season opener at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Ring of Honor is implemented to recognize and immortalize longstanding members of the organization who have contributed substantially to the success and legacy of the North Carolina Courage. Mewis played for the Courage from the inaugural 2017 season through 2021 and has six trophies with the club, several individual NWSL honors, and ranks highly among numerous Courage career statistical categories. The celebration will include commemorative giveaways, a FanFest autograph session with Mewis prior to the match, and tributes to Mewis throughout the night, culminating in a special induction ceremony on the field immediately following the Courage 7:00 p.m. ET home match against the Houston Dash ([purchase tickets here](https://www.ticketmaster.com/north-carolina-courage-vs-houston-dash-cary-north-carolina-03-16-2024/event/2D00603FA6094EC8)). A full schedule of events will be announced soon. “Sam Mewis is the perfect representative of the Courage, and she is so deserving of this honor. She was a force on the field and is one of the kindest, most genuine people off it. Sam set the tone for what it means to be a member of the Courage and she built such a strong connection with our community in her time here. I know all of Courage Country is just as excited as I am to welcome her back and celebrate her the way she deserves,” said Courage majority owner and chairperson **Steve Malik**. Mewis announced her retirement from professional soccer earlier this year in conjunction with a new role as Editor-in-Chief of Men in Blazers Media Network’s *The Women’s Game*. Her contributions to the Courage and continued endeavors to propel women’s soccer are paramount to the current position of the game and its incredible potential. “I am so humbled and grateful to receive this recognition from the Courage. As a member of the team from 2017-2021, I think back on my time in North Carolina with such joy. Our club brought home three NWSL Shields and two NWSL Championships during that short time, and our success was a direct reflection of the standards set by my teammates. “Upon my retirement and as I transition into a new role with The Women’s Game, I cannot imagine a greater privilege than to be inducted into the Ring of Honor. I’m so excited to come to North Carolina to celebrate the team’s home opener and see the fans who I remember so fondly. Thank you to everyone at the Courage for this amazing opportunity to celebrate my career with the club that has already given me so much,” **Mewis said**. Mewis was a leading member of Courage teams that won three NWSL Shields (2017, 2018, 2019), a pair of NWSL Championships (2018, 2019), and the inaugural Women’s International Champions Cup (ICC) in 2018. She’s a part of six of the Courage’s eight trophies and five of the league-best seven NWSL trophies in club history. She was also a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team that captured the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “All of our on-field success as a team starts with Sam. Her work ethic, commitment, passion, and energy for this game are unmatched. She laid the foundation for our culture of outworking the competition every single day. Everything we do today is built upon what Sam and those early teams started. More than that, she is an incredible human being. We couldn’t be prouder to kick off our Ring of Honor with someone so special to this club and to this generation of American soccer,” said Courage Chief Soccer Officer **Curt Johnson**. “Honoring Sammy in the proper manner means everything. She is the foundation of this club and has helped to bring so many great memories into our history. While her career may have been cut short, the memories of Sammy being one of the best players in the world will last forever here in Courage Country. She deserves this recognition! She’s one of the humblest people I know and am fortunate to have coached. She has left an indelible mark on all of us here, is a true legend of our club, and someone I have the utmost respect for. I know Courage Country will show up to honor her the way she has always deserved. Right at home at Wake Med Soccer Park! We need to get ready to honor and celebrate not only a legend of the Courage but the women’s game as a whole. She’s one of the greats,” said Courage Head Coach Sean Nahas. Originally drafted by the Western New York Flash in 2015, Mewis was a 2017 NWSL MVP finalist and Best XI first team honoree in the Courage’s inaugural season. She would earn five NWSL Team of the Month honors and a Player of the Week in her time with the club. She ranks within the Courage all-time top-15 in several categories across all competitions, including games played (15^th; 69), started (13^th; 59), minutes played (13^th; 5,431), goals (7^th; 15), assists (9^th; 9), and total goal contributions (7^th; 24). She also ranks in the top five in club history in playoff games played (T-5^th; 6), goals (T-3^rd; 2), and total goal contributions (T-3^rd; 3). Her 12 regular season goals and 19 total contributions each rank seventh and seven assists rank 10^th in Courage annals. **ABOUT THE NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE** The North Carolina Courage begin their eighth season of competition in 2024 since beginning play in the National Women’s Soccer League (USSF Division I) in 2017. The Courage were formed after Steve Malik purchased the Western New York Flash and relocated the franchise to Cary, North Carolina, and play their home games at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Courage are the winningest club in NWSL history, claiming seven league trophies as three-time NWSL Shield winners (2017, 2018, 2019), two-time NWSL Champions (2018, 2019), and two-time UKG NWSL Challenge Cup champions (2022, 2023). The Courage also won the 2018 ICC Championship. Follow the Courage on the web at www.nccourage.com and on social media @TheNCCourage