North Carolina Courage U23

North Carolina Courage U23, also known as North Carolina Courage USL W, is an amateur women's soccer team that plays in the USL W League. It is affiliated and shares ownership with the professional team North Carolina Courage, which competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

North Carolina Courage U23
FoundedJanuary 27, 2022 (2022-01-27)
StadiumWakeMed Soccer Park
Cary, North Carolina, United States
Head coachWillie Davis
LeagueUSL W League
2024
  • 1st of 6 (South Atlantic div.)
  • Champions (Southern Conf.)
  • Finalists (National playoffs)

History

In January 2022, NWSL club North Carolina Courage added an amateur team to compete in the newly formed W League,[1] becoming the second NWSL club to do so after Racing Louisville FC earlier that month.[2]

In the 2023 USL W League season, the Courage U23s went undefeated with an 11–0–1 record to win the South Atlantic division, then defeated FC Miami City and Tampa Bay United in consecutive 3–0 victories to win the Southern Conference championship and advance to the national championship semifinals.[3] After defeating Eagle FC 4–1, the Courage U23s advanced to the national finals for the first time in club history, facing Indy Eleven, where they lost 2–1 in overtime.[4][5] Former USWNT player Heather O'Reilly joined the team as a player and coach that season.[6][7]

Stadium

North Carolina Courage plays its W League matches at Field Two at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.[8]

Players
As of 17 May 2024
Roster
Pos. Name Team
GKMK DalyDartmouth
GKEmily EdwardsPurdue
DFAven AlvarezNorth Carolina
DFBella AyscuePenn State
DFAmber Brooks(Washington Spirit)
DFTaylor ChismNC State
DFKayleigh HerrPenn State
DFBrooklyn HoltNC State
MFGabby CioccaVirginia Tech
MFBraelynn FrancherUNC Charlotte
MFBaylor GoldthwaiteWake Forest
MFPhoebe GoldthwaiteDuke
MFLauren MartinhoDuke
MFCazzi NorgrenMissouri State
MFBella SemberNorth Carolina
FWMacey BaderUNC Charlotte
FWIvy GardnerLiberty
FWMackenzie GeigleLouisville
FWHannah JibrilNC State
FWMia OliaroDuke
FWLexi StricklandNC State
FWAlyssa TuckerCampbell

Staff

Coaching history
  • 2022–: Willie Davis

Year-by-year
As of 14 July 2023
Season League Division Regular season Playoffs Top goalscorer Ref.
P W D L GF GA GD Pts. Pos.
2022
 USL WSouth Atlantic 126242414+10222nd Did not qualify Emily Sapienza (5) [9]
2023
 South Atlantic 121110467+39341st Finals [10]

References
  1. "USL Welcomes NC Courage U23s to W League" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. January 27, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  2. Hruby, Emma (January 18, 2022). "Racing Louisville first NWSL team to expand into USL W League". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  3. "CHAMPS! Courage U23 win USL-W conference title" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  4. "USL W League: Indy Eleven and NC Courage U23 move into final". Soccer America. July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  5. "Indy Eleven W League rallies around injured teammate, wins championship on wonder-goal". The Indianapolis Star. July 22, 2023.
  6. Hruby, Emma (May 19, 2023). "USWNT Great Heather O'Reilly Stays Unretired With USL W League". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  7. Schnittker, Nicholas (July 8, 2023). "Former Huskies winning, growing with Courage U23s". The Wake Weekly. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  8. "2024 NC Courage U-23 Schedule". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  9. "Standings". USL W League. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  10. "Standings". USL W League. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
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