CARY, N.C. (March 1, 2024) – The North Carolina Courage today announces the return of club legend and fan-favorite Jessica McDonald as a club ambassador and front office partner. McDonald, the 2018 NWSL Final MVP who led the Courage to their first NWSL Championship, will begin her reprised role with the club immediately.
McDonald will have a wide scope of duties as club ambassador, including commentary during local broadcasts and team content, community appearances, speaking engagements and special projects designed to further enhance brand awareness and business and community relationships. A player in the NWSL since its inaugural season, McDonald brings a fresh, player perspective to the front office of the most decorated club in NWSL history. “I couldn’t be more excited to return to my second home in North Carolina. My most memorable days as a player have been with this Club and this community. Winning trophies with my Courage teammates and fans helped propel my career to new heights for both club and country. Being able to return to the Courage in a new capacity was an opportunity I could not turn down, and I can’t wait to contribute to the Club as an Ambassador. I had always planned on returning to North Carolina when I left, and I am looking forward to raising my family here,” McDonald said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Jess back to the club. She has indisputable passion for soccer and for this community and she will be a huge asset in this new role. She has first-hand knowledge of our club’s — and this league’s — history, what it means to be a professional soccer player, and what it takes to build strong business and community relationships. There is no doubt her presence will have a deep impact across our entire organization that will have lasting results,” said North Carolina Courage President Francie Gottsegen. McDonald made 36 total goal contributions across 77 regular season appearances for the Courage between 2017 and 2021, helping the team to three NWSL Shields and a pair of NWSL Championships. She has played for six different NWSL clubs during her career, playing for both Chicago and Seattle in the inaugural 2013 season, Portland in 2014, Houston in 2015, and Western New York in 2016 before relocating with the team in 2017. She was with Racing Louisville in 2022 and 2023. McDonald has 19 caps with the senior U.S. Women’s National Team dating back to 2016, including the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was born and raised in Arizona and began her collegiate career at Phoenix College, where she was a multisport star for two years before transferring to the University of North Carolina in 2008, where she immediately led the Tar Heels to a National Championship with five goals and a team-best 10 assists. She played in the WPS in 2010 and for Melbourne Victory in Australia in 2012 and 2013. Adding McDonald to the Courage front office staff follows the implementation of the Courage Ring of Honor, which will induct Sam Mewis as the first member during the team’s season opener on March 16. This furthers the theme of connecting the new era of Courage with keystones of the team’s origins.
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.
