Welcome to the North Carolina Courage Off-Season Updates page! Here we’re tracking all off-season moves made by the Courage as they prepare for the 2024 NWSL season.
November 17
Goalkeeper Marisa Bova signed a two-year contract extension.
November 20 Trade
A trade was executed between the North Carolina Courage and Utah Royals. North Carolina acquired $30,000 in allocation money and 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft protection in exchange for Emily Gray and Frankie Tagliaferri.
As of the November 20 roster update…
The North Carolina Courage have 23 players under contract for the 2024 season.
Currently, Manaka Matsukubo is on loan from Mynavi Sendai of the Japanese WE League through June 2024. The Courage have the option to purchase her contract outright when the loan expires.
Hensley Hancuff is on loan to Swedish team Växjö DFF while under contract with the Courage.
Riley Jackson turns 18 in December, at which point she will no longer have the NWSL U18 entry protections and will become a tradable asset.
The Courage have exercised their side of a mutual option with forward Brittany Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe has 30 days from the time the option was exercised to decline or accept this option.
New contracts have been extended to Tess Boade and Rikke Madsen, who are out of contract at the end of 2023.
Free agents who were under contract with the North Carolina Courage during the 2023 season include:
- Emily Fox (restricted)
- Kiki Pickett (restricted)
Current Roster:
- Goalkeepers (4): Marisa Bova, Hensley Hancuff (on loan), Casey Murphy, Katelyn Rowland
- Defenders (5): Malia Berkely, Sydney Collins, Kaleigh Kurz, Estelle Johnson, Ryan Williams
- Midfielders (9): Riley Jackson (U18), Rikako Kobayashi, Manaka Matsukubo, Narumi Miura, Denise O’Sullivan, Victoria Pickett, Brianna Pinto, Clara Robbins, Meredith Speck
- Forwards (5): Mille Gejl, Haley Hopkins, Tyler Lussi, Kerolin Nicoli, Olivia Wingate
December 4
Forward Tess Boade signs through 2025.
December 15
Bay FC selects forward Tess Boade and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft.
January 4
The North Carolina Courage announce that goalkeeper Hensley Hancuff has been recalled from her loan, effective January 1.
January 8
Free agent forward Bianca St-Georges is announced to have signed a two-year, guaranteed contract through the 2025 NWSL season, with a mutual option for 2026.
January 12 – NWSL Draft Day
North Carolina traded the 10th overall selection in the 2024 NWSL Draft to the Chicago Red Stars, in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money.
Shortly thereafter, the Courage announced they had traded the fifth overall pick and $250,000 to the Washington Spirit, in exchange for Ashley Sanchez.
The Courage went on to draft defender Talia Staude from the University of Virginia 24th overall.
North Carolina then traded their natural third-round pick (no. 38) to Houston, receiving the 40th overall selection and $10,000 in allocation money. This selection was used to draft defender Julia Dorsey from the University of North Carolina.
The 52nd overall pick was used to select midfielder Landy Mertz from the University of Pittsburgh.
January 16
Free agent midfielder Dani Weatherholt joins the Courage on a two-year guaranteed contract through the 2025 NWSL season, leaving Angel City.
January 17
German defender Felicitas Rauch is acquired via transfer from Vfl Wolfsburg for an agreed upon fee, per the North Carolina Courage. Rauch arrives having signed with North Carolina through 2025.
As of January 17…
Restricted free agent defender Emily Fox will not return to Cary, signing for Arsenal on January 11th. Defender Kiki Pickett remains a free agent.
There are 26 players under contract for the North Carolina Courage. This is the maximum number of players a team can carry, in accordance with the 2023 NWSL Roster Rules and Regulations. Players on the SEI list are not included in counts for compliance with minimum (22) and maximum roster size.
- Goalkeepers (3): Marisa Bova, Hensley Hancuff, Casey Murphy
- Defenders (7): Malia Berkely, Sydney Collins, Kaleigh Kurz, Estelle Johnson, Felicitas Rauch, Bianca St-Georges, Ryan Williams
- Midfielders (11): Riley Jackson (U18), Rikako Kobayashi, Manaka Matsukubo, Narumi Miura, Denise O’Sullivan, Victoria Pickett, Brianna Pinto, Clara Robbins, Ashley Sanchez, Meredith Speck, Dani Weatherholt
- Forwards (5): Mille Gejl, Haley Hopkins, Tyler Lussi, Kerolin Nicoli, Olivia Wingate
January 23
The North Carolina Courage announced that assistant coaches Nathan Thackeray and Emma Thomson have signed multi-year contract extensions.
January 24
2024 North Carolina Courage Preseason Roster:
- Goalkeepers (3): Marisa Bova, Hensley Hancuff, Casey Murphy
- Defenders (10): Malia Berkely, Sydney Collins, Julia Dorsey (DRAFT), Victoria Haughen (NRI), Estelle Johnson (NYR), Kaleigh Kurtz, Felicitas Rauch (NYR; INT-Germany), Natalia Staude (DRAFT), Ryan Williams, Jenna Winebrenner (NRI)
- Midfielders (12): Giovanna DeMarco (NRI), Rikako Kobayashi (NYR; SEI), Riley Jackson, Manaka Matsukubo (LOAN, INT-Japan), Landy Mertz (DRAFT), Narumi Miura (INT-Japan), Denise O’Sullivan, Victoria Pickett, Brianna Pinto, Clara Schilke, Meredith Speck (SEI), Dani Weatherholt
- Forwards (7): Mille Gejl Jensen (NYR; INT-Denmark), Haley Hopkins, Kerolin Nicoli (NYR; SEI), Tyler Lussi, Ashley Sanchez, Bianca St-Georges, Olivia Wingate
January 31
The North Carolina Courage has loaned Danish forward Mille Gejl to Montpellier HSC of the French Division 1 Féminine, effective immediately through June of 2024.
February 7
Tyler Lussi has agreed to a contract extension through the 2025 season with a mutual option for 2026.
February 9
The Courage have added six new non-roster invitees to their preseason roster, bringing the preseason roster to a total of 37 players. 32 of the 37 are in market and available for training with the team at IMG Academy.
The six new non-roster invitees are goalkeepers Lauren Kellett and Cayla White, defender Maya McCutcheon, and forwards Rylee Baisden, Bella Gaetino, and Emma Hawkins.
February 18
North Carolina Courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan sustained the minor injury during the Courage preseason scrimmage with the Orlando Pride last Thursday and is expected to miss a portion of preseason. She will remain in North Carolina to begin the recovery process and is expected to be fit to return to action prior to the 2024 NWSL regular season opener on March 16.
O’Sullivan will not join the Irish National Team for the upcoming FIFA window.
February 20
North Carolina Courage defender Sydney Collins sustained a fractured ankle during preparation camp with the Canadian Women’s National Team ahead of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. Canada has called up forward Bianca St-Georges in her place.