“We have the ability every day to say ‘Look, this can be your path. This can be your path to becoming a professional and it is real.’ We have proof of kids that are doing it.”
– Paul Forster, NCFC Youth Director of Soccer and NC Courage assistant coach
As the saying goes, if you can see her, you can be her. The North Carolina Courage’s connection with NCFC Youth epitomizes this concept. From coaches to staff to players, a beautifully rare pipeline exists between one of the largest youth academies in the country and the most decorated NWSL club in history.
The latest example is defender Maycee Bell, making her Courage debut on Sunday in San Diego after the Courage traded for her late last month.
“When I got the opportunity to come back, I was super excited about it and jumped at the chance. I know a lot of people and it is a great community, so I am happy to be back,” Bell said.
Bell was a stalwart defender for nearby UNC-Chapel Hill, earning First or Second Team All-ACC honors in each of her four full seasons with the Tar Heels and being named ACC Freshman of the Year in 2019.
Prior to her stellar collegiate career, which led to Bell being drafted No. 14 overall by NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 2024 NWSL Draft, she was a star of the NC Courage Academy Team. Leading that team was none other than current Courage first team head coach, Sean Nahas.
“Her maturity, understanding of the game and reading of the game is better. She hasn’t changed physically really, but it is just the little nuances she has improved,” Nahas said.
Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Bell moved to the Triangle her senior season to play for the Courage Academy, viewing the switch to North Carolina as an opportunity to better prepare for college.
“Some of my teammates there weren’t taking soccer as seriously as I wanted to, so I talked to my college coach, Damon Nahas. He set it up with Sean and they got me a host family. It was amazing to train under Sean at the academy,” Bell said.
Damon Nahas, as you may have heard by now, is Sean’s brother. Giving this already rare pipeline another extension into the vaunted college soccer space surrounding the area.
Bell also trained with the Courage during her collegiate offseasons. That connection between college players and the Courage has been a common occurrence over the years.
It’s a win-win-win for the Courage, the colleges and the players, given the abundance of high-level programs on Tobacco Road.
“It’s important for the college players to get out of their comfort zone. To see what this level is like, see what the details are, see what it is going to be like to compete daily at this level, may open their eyes to that. The thing is once they’re in our environment they never want to leave. It’s been great because they help us, they’re at a good level and it helps them bring what they have learned back to their university programs,” Nahas said.
Bell echoed Nahas’ sentiment.
“It paves the pathway for those youth players to be seen by pro coaches and get into a professional environment. I’m a big believer in being comfortable being uncomfortable, so those young players can get some experience playing with professional players is awesome and giving them that pathway gives them an opportunity,” Bell said.
Paul Forster is the NCFC Youth director of soccer and an assistant coach for the Courage.
He’s seen first-hand how first team players can be role models for those in the academy.
“They can physically see these players, interact with them, go and watch them on a weekend and aspire of one day becoming them, and we have seen that. It is difficult, it’s very challenging, but the reality is that it can happen. There’s going to be somebody that is in our academy program right now, there is zero doubt in my mind, that at some point will be on the field at WakeMed Soccer Park, playing for the Courage or another NWSL team,” Forster said.
Despite 14 NWSL clubs nationwide, that tight connection between youth and pro is not yet common.
“There are thousands and thousands of youth clubs, but only 14 NWSL teams right now. Of those 14, very few have a youth system underneath. We have the ability every day to say ‘Look, this can be your path. This can be your path to becoming a professional and it is real.’ We have proof of kids that are doing it,” Forster said.
For Nahas, the examples don’t stop at former academy products like Bell or Brianna Pinto, because every one of the Courage players was just like those youth players at one point.
“All these players were on those fields at one time. It’s not just Maycee or Pinto, it’s every player. They were all at that age and aspired to go pro. From our side, it also pushes the academy program to strive for more success. Even more so than the players, it is the responsibility of the coaching staff and directors to be able to create that environment that’s given our players success over the years. Maycee is just a small piece of that. Anytime the youth players are connected with our first team, there is going to be an instantaneous vision for them to say, ‘I can do that too,’” Nahas said.
Bell is a prime example of the strong Youth-to-Pro conduit build within the Triangle and those same youth players who one day aspire to be like Bell have a wonderful opportunity to do so this weekend, with NCFC Youth players getting to attend this Friday’s game against Bay FC for free. Information on the deal for youth players can be found here.
It will be a great evening of galactic fun for the whole family with the Courage celebrating Star Wars Night, welcoming back the team’s five Olympians and so much more. A special Star Wars themed ticket deal, The Rebel Pass, is also available here.
