CARY, NC (December 8, 2021) – The North Carolina Courage today announced they will receive full roster protection from Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC in the upcoming 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft presented by Ally. In return, the Courage send the rights to midfielder Cari Roccaro to Angel City FC and midfielder Angharad James to Wave FC.
Cari Roccaro departs for Los Angeles following four seasons with the Courage, in which she appeared in 51 matches, clocking 2,767 minutes of playing time. The Notre Dame alum also won two NWSL Championship titles, two NWSL Shields, and an ICC Championship title while with the club. This season, Roccaro appeared in 24 matches, eleven of which were starts, posting twelve interceptions, six key passes, and three shots on goal while maintaining a 78.5% passing success rate.
“For the past several years, Cari has been a big piece of our environment and someone who stepped in to fill in an important role for the team,” said Head Coach Sean Nahas. “Towards the end of the season, I feel she was playing more free and earning the minutes each game. I hope she will take this next opportunity and make the most of it as she has here in North Carolina. She is someone who I will always be a fan of and wish her nothing but the best on this new journey and look forward to seeing the progress she makes.”
Angharad James departs for San Diego following one season with the Courage, in which she appeared in 17 matches, ten of which were starts for a total of 827 minutes. While with the club, James scored her first NWSL goal, also tallying six shots and five key passes to create a space for herself among a dominant Courage midfield.
“We cannot thank Angharad enough for her time here with the club, albeit short,” Nahas said. “She is a wonderful professional and person, and on behalf of the club I wish her nothing but the best in the next step of her journey. Haz is a tidy player who loves the game and is someone that players gravitate towards. Every day she wanted more information and detail that would help her master her position. She is someone who I have great respect for both on and off the field, and I look forward to seeing the great steps she will take moving forward.”
