CARY, N.C. (March 13, 2024) – The North Carolina Courage today announces the full roster for the 2024 season. The team has 23 players on the active roster heading into the season opener this Saturday, March 16, at WakeMed Soccer Park, hosting the Houston Dash at 7 p.m. ET.
“We are happy preseason is behind us and the start of our season is here. We are looking to build off of last season and feel we have a roster in place that will do so. It will take time with many new faces and with players still returning from injury, but we are excited about the season that’s upon us. The players in the locker room are in a good place, push each other every day to be better, and are a great group to work with. They are eager to learn and represent the crest in the right way. They have been a joy to work with,” said Courage Head Coach Sean Nahas.
The Courage yesterday announced the signing of all three 2024 NWSL Draft selections in second-rounder Talia Staude, third-round pick Julia Dorsey, and fourth-round selection Landy Mertz.
The club also announced injury replacement contracts for the 2024 season with non-roster invitee defenders Jenna Winebrenner and Maya McCutcheon. The team placed defender Sydney Collins on the 45-day injured reserve following an ankle injury suffered with the Canadian National Team during W Gold Cup preparations.
Four players remain on the 2023 season-ending injury list in midfielders Rikako Kobayashi, Meredith Speck and Clara Schilke (nee Robbins) and forward Kerolin Nicoli. Forward Mille Gejl was loaned to French club Montpellier earlier this offseason. Defender Estelle Johnson is away from the club for maternity leave.
Three active players utilize international spots in Manaka Matsukubo (Japan), Narumi Miura (Japan), and Felicitas Rauch (Germany). Kerolin, Gejl, and Rikako each would require an international spot upon activation.
The Courage roster entering the 2024 season is as follows, broken down by position then listed alphabetically. The numbers represent the total players followed by active players at each position:
Goalkeepers (3/3): Marisa Bova, Hensley Hancuff, Casey Murphy
Defenders (10/7): Malia Berkely, Sydney Collins (IR), Julia Dorsey, Kaleigh Kurtz, Estelle Johnson (ML), Maya McCutcheon, Feli Rauch (INT), Talia Staude (NYR), Ryan Williams, Jenna Winebrenner
Midfielders (11/9): Rikako Kobayashi (SEI 23),Riley Jackson, Manaka Matsukubo (INT, LOAN IN), Landy Mertz, Narumi Miura (INT), Denise O’Sullivan, Brianna Pinto, Victoria Pickett, Clara Schilke (SEI 23), Meredith Speck (SEI 23), Dani Weatherholt
Forwards (7/5): Mille Gejl (OUT),Haley Hopkins, Tyler Lussi, Kerolin Nicoli (SEI 23), Ashley Sanchez, Bianca St-Georges, Olivia Wingate
INT: International Spot
IR: 45-day Injured Reserve
LOAN: Loaned in
ML: Maternity Leave
NYR: Not Yet Rostered
OUT: Loaned out
SEI 23: 2023 Season-Ending Injury list
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.
