News

CARY, NC (January 11, 2022) – The North Carolina Courage announced today that defender Kaleigh Kurtz has re-signed a one-year contract with the club, with a year option.

“I am looking forward to coming back to the Courage as we continue to move forward as a club,” Kurtz said. “I’m excited to continue solidifying my partnership with Abby Erceg and progressing my career to new heights!”

Kurtz had a breakout year last season, becoming a regular member of the Courage starting lineup and contributing in immense ways defensively. The centerback appeared in 22 matches, all of which were starts, clocking 2,010 minutes and adding 113 clearances, 32 blocks, and 44 interceptions throughout the season. Kurtz also maintained a 69.5% success rate in duels and an 82.1% passing success rate while remaining disciplined, only conceding five fouls over the course of the year. The Greer native also took eight shots, tallying an assist and four key passes.

“Bringing Kaleigh back in 2022 was important for us after her breakout year in 2021,” said Head Coach Sean Nahas. “Her focus each day was to be better than the last and having the opportunity each and every week to step into a starting role helped her development. Her level of confidence was at its highest point of her pro career, and we as a team benefited from that. We know the best is still yet to come from her and what she will provide for our team moving forward. We look forward to working with her daily to help her get to where she wants to be and know she too will put the work in to get there. Welcome back, KK!”

CARY, NC (January 10, 2022) – The North Carolina Courage today announced that they have signed forward Kerolin Nicoli Israel Ferraz to a three-year contract. The Courage utilized allocation funds to buy out the remainder of her contract with Madrid Club de Fútbol Femenin. 

“The addition of Kerolin is one we are really excited about,” said Head Coach Sean Nahas. “She is a dynamic player who is extremely dangerous in the final third. She is a technically proficient player who will add a lot to our attacking side of the game. Her recent rise on the international stage, both for national team and club, was something that caught the club’s attention. Having the chance to add her to our roster is something we are looking forward to.”

Kerolin signed with Madrid Club de Fútbol Femenin of the Spanish Primera División during the second half of the 2020/21 season.  Over two seasons with the club, she appeared in 24 matches for a total of 1,588 minutes of playing time, scoring five goals. 

The 22-year-old has also represented Brazil on the international stage, competing in the 2016 South American U17 Women’s Championship, the 2016 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, and the 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, where she scored two goals in three games. Her outstanding performance at the youth World Cup caught the attention of the senior team, as she subsequently received her first call up in September of 2018. Kerolin later earned her first cap in a friendly against England as a substitute for future Courage teammate Debinha. 

“We are thrilled to add a very talented player to our Courage attack who will keep fans on the edge of their seats,” President and GM Curt Johnson said. “Kerolin has made a name for herself on the world stage and has proven she can play with the best and score goals. This investment in one of the best young players is another important step as we build our roster for 2022 and beyond.”

Most recently, Kerolin appeared in seven matches for the Brazilian senior national team over the course of 2021 and capitalized on her opportunity, scoring five goals. Ahead of her transfer to Madrid CFF last year, the young forward played with Brazilian clubs Valinhos, Ponte Preta, Palmeiras, and Osasco Audax, continually asserting her dominance and goal-scoring abilities across several teams. 

Upon her emergence as a rising star on the senior national team, the forward was praised by veteran Formiga, who currently holds the record as the most-capped player on the Brazilian national team. Formiga complimented Kerolin’s talents and fearlessness, noting that she had a ‘huge future’ ahead of her and could ‘go as far as she wants [in her career].’ 

“Only God, my family, and my close friends know how much I struggled daily to make my dreams come true,” Kerolin said. “I have always dedicated myself to achieving great successes in my career, and today I feel honored and extremely fulfilled to join this incredible club. NC Courage supporters can expect only my best, as I am coming to this club fully dedicated to winning titles and making history.”

CARY, NC (January 10, 2022) – The North Carolina Courage have traded forward Lynn Williams to the Kansas City Current in exchange for $200,000 in allocation money, the rights to goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland, and the Current’s natural first round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, the club announced today.

Following the trade, the Courage now hold three first round picks in the 2023 NWSL Draft.

“Since coming to North Carolina, Lynn has represented the Courage jersey with the utmost respect and passion,” Head Coach Sean Nahas said. “She has given so much to this club, her teammates, the fans, and staff in helping to win titles. More importantly, she has always carried herself with class and she is someone I will truly miss having here. I will always continue to be one of her biggest supporters and will always wish her much success. I cannot thank Lynn enough for what she has done here and the trust she has shown me personally in helping her along the way on her journey. She’s a special person who will always be a massive part of the Courage legacy.”

Drafted sixth overall to Western NY in 2015, Williams helped lead the Flash to their first ever NWSL Championship just one year later. To conclude her championship season, the Fresno, CA native was named the 2016 NWSL MVP and also earned the Golden Boot Award prior to the club relocating to North Carolina in 2017. Throughout her time with the Courage, Williams played an integral role procuring two more NWSL Championship titles, three NWSL Shields, and an ICC Championship title.  A powerful forward on and off the ball, Williams collected 48 goals and 20 assists in 100 appearances while with the Courage. During the 2021 season, she became the league leader in assists, breaking a league record.

“Lynn has been such a massive part of our Courage history and we are so grateful for the significant impact she’s made on this club,” President and GM Curt Johnson said. “It’s a bittersweet goodbye, as we will miss her presence on and off the field here. However, we understood her desire to continue to pursue new challenges and we honored her decision to make that transition in her career.”

“We are thrilled to bring Katelyn back to North Carolina as a part of this trade,” Johnson added. “She has also been an important part of our championship rosters for many years, an active member in the community, and returns with a wealth of veteran experience. Also, we are excited for more player news soon as we’ve been working on a parallel path to reinvest these resources immediately.”

Katelyn Rowland returns to the Courage roster after being traded to Kansas City in July of last season. With the Current, Rowland logged four appearances and 360 minutes of playing time.

“First, I would like to thank the Kansas City organization, my teammates, staff, and fans for the opportunities, experiences and support provided to me during my time here,” Rowland said. “They have an amazing group of people with a bright future in the NWSL. This opportunity to return back to Carolina feels like I’m returning home. I know this year is going to look a lot different in many ways, but I am excited to be a part of the next chapter. I’m ready to put the crest on and eager to get back to work.”

Prior to her time in KC, Rowland appeared in 30 matches for the Courage, and has been an integral part of the team’s continued success throughout the years, likewise winning two NWSL Championship titles, three NWSL Shields, and a Women’s ICC Championship title. Rowland also began her career with the club in Western New York, making six appearances in net.

“The opportunity to bring Katelyn back to North Carolina was one we didn’t want to pass up,” Head Coach Sean Nahas said. “She will be a great addition back into our locker room, knowing our staff and many of our players. I know how much she grew both on and off the field here under the guidance of our goalkeeper coach, Nathan Thackeray. We are excited to welcome back someone with championship pedigree and a player who will be working each day to better herself for the team. We are excited to welcome Katelyn back home.”

Season Tickets are now available for the 2022 season! We can’t wait to see you all season long. 

All season ticket options can be found here.

All season ticket member benefits can be found here.

As soon as the schedule is available, you will be able to find it on our site!

If you have any questions, reach out our Ticketing Department via tickets@northcarolinafc.com or call (919) 459-8144.

In response to the recent news of re-signing Jaelene Daniels, we as a club acknowledge the impact this announcement has on our community. We’ve spent the past few days reading your messages and reflecting on our actions. We are very sorry to all those we have hurt, especially those within the LGBTQIA+ community.

The decision to re-sign Jaelene was not made lightly and included significant conversations between organization leadership and Jaelene. The priority expressed in those conversations is the safety of our players and maintaining an inclusive, respectful space for the entire team. 

With that, the discussion around the club supporting Pride initiatives was paramount, considering the importance it holds for us and for so many others. As team leadership has detailed in discussions with our players, and as we reinforce here today, players will be supported in expressing pride in who they are and will continue to wear their Pride number with confidence and honor. 

We actively support Head Coach Sean Nahas’ clear mission: To make sure Courage players have a voice and feel empowered to be who they are, without fear of judgment. 

Jaelene and organization leadership have a productive conversation about the expectations we have set for our entire team, in and out of the locker room, and she will continue to uphold the Courage’s standards of respect and inclusion without reservation. 

Many of you have asked what we, as an organization, are going to do to remedy the harm. Here is our immediate plan:

1. Continue to host and enhance Pride games celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, especially our fans and players.
2. Continue to outfit players in custom-made Pride jerseys.
3. Continue to participate in local Pride events, parades and festivals. 
4. Continue to produce Pride x Courage merchandise with proceeds going to local LGBTQIA+ groups.
5. Continue to fully support our Athlete Ally ambassadors on both the Courage and NCFC sides.
6. We will actively facilitate additional diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives alongside supporters and community members to improve our club culture. 
7. We will amplify organizations that bring awareness to LGBTQIA+ causes. 
8. We will identify volunteer opportunities to support LGBTQIA+ initiatives.
9. We will welcome ideas from our Courage community who will help hold us to account.

We recognize we have a responsibility to our soccer community to maintain a space built around inclusion, equity and diversity, and we know we have work to do to once again prove the North Carolina Courage stands with the LGBTQIA+ community.

CARY, NC (December 19, 2021) – The North Carolina Courage today announced they have agreed to terms with defender Jaelene Daniels on a one-year deal, with an additional one-year option in 2023. This marks Daniels’ return to professional soccer following her retirement in 2020 and the birth of her first child in August of this year.

“I’m so excited to get back to playing with the Courage,” Daniels said. “This past year has truly been so refreshing for my body and mind. I’m thankful I said I was retiring because it truly allowed me to be able to take a step back, enjoy my family and friends, become a mom and be reminded of how much I love soccer. It was a season of life I didn’t know I needed. I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead and I’m grateful to the Courage for giving me the opportunity to play again.”

Daniels was drafted seventh overall out of Texas Tech in the 2015 NWSL Draft to the Western New York Flash where she started all 20 games as a rookie defender. Daniels was also prominent in the Flash’s NWSL Championship season in 2016, starting 15 matches including the NWSL Semifinal and Final. She converted her penalty kick in the championship match to help secure her first of three NWSL Championships.

“The addition of Jaelene back into our team is one that we are excited to have,” Head Coach Sean Nahas said. “Having stepped away from the game to start a family, she recognized the love and passion she still had for the game, as well as for her time here in NC, where she had so much success to help the club win titles. Jae and I had some very good conversations leading up to her signing and bringing her back into where she wanted to be, and that is here in NC. To add such a great talent to our team, one who knows us and is comfortable with what we do, is something that we are looking forward to as we begin to move forward into the 2022 season.”

As a defender for the NC Courage, Daniels consistently made an impact on the field with 22 starts during both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2018, Daniels was part of the backline that broke the record for the fewest goals conceded in an NWSL season as the team only lost one match and clinched the NWSL Championship. 

In 2019, Daniels played every minute of all 24 Courage regular-season matches as the team won their second-consecutive NWSL Championship and third-consecutive NWSL Shield. She was voted by her teammates as the team’s Defender of the Year. She had six assists during the year, which put her tied for third-most assists in the league.

“It was a huge blow when Jae decided to retire after the Challenge Cup in 2020, but we understood her decision and are thrilled for her and Matthew on the arrival of their baby, Zoe,” President and GM Curt Johnson said. “Jae has been a huge part of our biggest moments as a Club and she is someone that we are excited to welcome back.  She is one of the most decorated players in league history and will be a valuable part of our 2022 team and beyond”

In her six-year professional career, Daniels won three NWSL Championships, a Women’s International Champions Cup Championship, and three NWSL Shields. She was on the field for 50 of the NC Courage’s wins over the past four seasons, and started and played in 99 regular-season games, five Challenge Cup matches, and eight playoff matches. Daniels scored three career goals and had 18 assists in the NWSL. She also totalled eight caps with the United States Women’s National Team with her first call up to the team coming in 2015.

“The possibility of a player returning with such impact, both on and off the field, sparked a lot of discussion internally, and with a cross section of fans,” Club Owner Steve Malik said. “As a result of those discussions, we made the decision to welcome Jae back based on her positive impact she had on the Courage’s successful history. We look forward to seeing Jaelene on the field and welcoming her and her family back into our club.”

CARY, NC (December 18, 2021) – The North Carolina Courage participated in their sixth NWSL Draft tonight, selecting Emily Gray, Diana Ordoñez, Kaitlin Fregulia, Haleigh Stackpole, and Marisa Bova ahead of the 2022 season. 

Emily Grey, Midfielder, Virginia Tech

Round 1, Pick 3

Gray, a midfielder from Virginia Tech, was selected third overall in the first round of the NWSL Draft. In her senior year, the Sewell, NJ native was one of three players to appear in each of Virginia Tech’s 17 matches, leading the team with 26 points, nine goals, and eight assists. She also broke the single-game school record for assists with four and was subsequently named to the All-ACC Third Team, the United Soccer Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region Second Team, and the All-ACC Academic Team. 

“I am super excited about this opportunity with the Courage,” Gray said. “They have such an impressive history in the league and I can’t wait to get started. I know many are saying the Courage are rebuilding this year but I am ready to work and hope we can get after it from the start!”

“Emily was someone we wanted immediately,” Head Coach Sean Nahas said. “She is a tidy footballer with a great soccer IQ and dynamic thinking in the final third. She is good on the ball and likes to attack players and look for the final ball, and has improved on her scoring quality as well, which has made her a player that becomes a lot more dangerous in how she is defended. We are really happy to secure Emily to our Courage family.”

Diana Ordoñez, Forward, University of Virginia

Round 1, Pick 6

With their sixth overall pick in the first round, the Courage selected Ordoñez, a forward from the University of Virginia. A Prosper, TX native, Ordoñez scored 45 goals, 15 of those being game-winners, and tallied 102 points for the Cavaliers. In her freshman and junior year, Ordoñez led the ACC in goals. Indicative of her talents, the forward was named a 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, a 2021 All-American by United Soccer Coaches, and was thrice named to the ACC Championship All-Tournament Team. 

“I’m just very grateful to the coaches for picking me and giving me the opportunity to start my pro career,” said Ordoñez. “I think where I want to contribute is just scoring goals! I think the greatest thing about joining a league like this is the people who came before us and paved the way for players like me. I’m so excited to learn, I know this is going to be a huge opportunity for growth. I just want to soak in as much as I can!”

“Having the ability to select Diana with the sixth pick was important for us,” said Nahas. “Her career at UVA was spectacular. Her efficiency in the final third has been proven and something that will be developed even more at this level. She is very good with the ball at her feet, is composed, good with her back to goal, and can stretch backlines as well.  We look forward to having Diana with us and watch her develop in our environment and club.”

Kaitlin Fregulia, Defender, Long Beach State University 

Round 1, Pick 12

Closing out the first round with their twelfth overall pick, the Courage selected Fregulia from Long Beach State University. A tenacious centerback with a plethora of accolades, the Torrance, CA native captained the Beach in her senior season, appearing in all 18 of their regular-season matches. That year, she helped the team to five shutouts and was named the 2021 Big West Co-Defensive Player of the Year, also earning a spot on the 2021 Big West All-Conference First Team and on the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team. 

“I am so grateful for this opportunity with the Courage,” said Fregulia. “What an outstanding club with so much history in the NWSL. I’m beyond stoked to learn from all the amazing players and from the coaches. I honestly don’t even have words. This has been my dream since I was a child. I’m so blessed to have this opportunity and I cannot thank NC enough for believing in me.”

“We felt it was important to find a balance to what we wanted from the draft and adding depth to our back line was important,” Nahas said. “Fregulia is good technically and has a great ability to build out of the back. She’s very composed and has a good range of passing that can help eliminate opposition numbers. Bringing her in to train next to Abby, Kaliegh, and Malia is something that will only help her in her development process. I’m really looking forward to having her here in NC”

Haleigh Stackpole, Midfielder, University of Mississippi

Round 3, Pick 29

In a trade with Orlando, the Courage dealt Deanne Rose’s playing rights to the Pride in exchange for the 29th pick in the second round of the draft. With the pick, the Courage selected Stackpole, a midfielder from the University of Mississippi and product of the NC Courage Academy. The 21-year-old earned Second Team All-SEC honors during her senior year, starting all 21 matches, scoring five goals and ranking third in the nation with 16 assists on the season. She was also named to the 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team. 

“When my name was called to NC Courage, my family and I were so ecstatic,” Stackpole said. “It’s a dream come true, I’ve been imagining this since I was 6 years old and I am so glad I was able to celebrate this day with my family. I am so excited to go back to the program that has played such a big part in shaping the player I have become today. I can’t wait to get back home to play under Sean Nahas again and learn what it takes to be a pro. It’s an honor to be chosen by NC Courage.”

“It is incredibly special to be able to bring Haleigh back home to NC,” Nahas said. “Having seen her journey over the years and watched her career with our academy, it is great to have her now with the full team. She is a versatile player with a great engine and ability on the ball. She’s a very good passer and is always threatening opposition back lines. We look forward to having Haleigh here with us as she begins her professional career.”

Marisa Bova, Goalkeeper, Purdue University

Round 4, Pick 45

With their final pick of the draft, the Courage selected Marisa Bova, a goalkeeper from Purdue University. Bova set several records for the Boilermakers, captaining the team and making 113 saves during the 2021 season and becoming the first goalkeeper to make more than 100 saves in a single season. The Hartland, WI native averaged .91 goals against and a .807 career save percentage, collecting 21 shutouts through four seasons. She was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and the Academic All-Big Ten. 

“I feel so grateful and excited for this opportunity,” Bova said. “I know I will be surrounded by some of the best players, and I look forward to learning from them to become the best player that I can be!”

“I’m delighted to welcome Marisa Bova to the club,” Goalkeeper Coach Nathan Thackeray said. “She’s a fantastic goalkeeper with so much potential to enhance her game. Having spent time with her during our goalkeeper combine, I quickly knew that she would be a perfect fit for us. She is supremely talented with a work ethic to match, and I have no doubt that Marisa will develop into a top goalkeeper when added to our training environment. I’m excited for her and her family, and can’t wait to start working with her.”