2020 North Carolina Courage season

North Carolina Courage
2020 season
Owner	Stephen Malik
General Manager	Curt Johnson
Head Coach	Paul Riley
Stadium	Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, North Carolina; (Capacity: 10,000)
NWSL Challenge Cup	Quarterfinals
Community Shield	5th place
Top goalscorer	League: N/A; All: Lynn Williams (6)
Biggest win	2–0 (July 4th vs. Washington); 2–0 (July 8th vs. Sky Blue)
Biggest defeat	1–4 (October 4th vs. Houston)
Home colors	Away colors
	← 2019 2021 →

The 2020 North Carolina Courage season was the team's fourth season as a professional women's soccer team. North Carolina Courage plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

Quick Facts season, Owner ...

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Coaching staff

As of October 1, 2020

Source: North Carolina Courage^[1]

More information Position, Staff ...

Position	Staff
Head coach	Paul Riley
Assistant coach	Scott Vallow
Assistant coach	Bill Paladino
Assistant coach	Sean Nahas
Assistant coach	Nathan Thackeray

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First-team roster

As of September 30, 2020^[2]^[3]^[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	CAN	Stephanie Labbé
3	DF	USA	Kaleigh Kurtz
4	FW	USA	McKenzie Meehan
5	MF	USA	Sam Mewis
6	DF	NZL	Abby Erceg *
8	MF	IRL	Denise O'Sullivan (loaned out)
9	FW	USA	Lynn Williams
10	MF	BRA	Debinha
11	DF	USA	Merritt Mathias
13	DF	USA	Abby Dahlkemper
14	FW	USA	Jessica McDonald *
15	DF	USA	Jaelene Daniels *
19	FW	USA	Crystal Dunn *
20	MF	USA	Ryan Williams
21	DF	USA	Cari Roccaro
23	FW	USA	Kristen Hamilton *
25	DF	USA	Meredith Speck


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
26	DF	USA	Hailey Harbison
27	MF	USA	Lauren Milliet
37	GK	USA	Samantha Murphy
99	GK	USA	Katelyn Rowland
—	DF	CAN	Lindsay Agnew (loaned out)
—	DF	USA	Hailie Mace (loaned out)
—	DF	USA	Addisyn Merrick
—	DF	USA	Sinclaire Miramontez
—	FW	USA	Ally Watt
—	FW	USA	Rylee Baisden
—	FW	USA	Danica Evans
—	FW	ALB	Kristina Maksuti
—	MF	USA	Peyton Perea
—	DF	MEX	Arianna Romero
—	FW	JAM	Havana Solaun

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Player opted not to participate in the 2020 NWSL Fall Series.^[3]

2020 NWSL College Draft

Source: National Women's Soccer League^[5]

More information Round, Pick ...

Round	Pick	Player	Previous Team
Round 1	6	Ally Watt	Texas A&M
Round 3	27	Sinclaire Miramontez	University of Nebraska
Round 4	28	Addisyn Merrick	University of Kansas
Round 4	36	Bri Folds	Auburn

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Players in

More information Date, Player ...

Date	Player	Positions played	Previous club	Fee/notes	Ref.
June 19, 2020	Lindsay Agnew	DF	Houston Dash	Signed a one-year contract with one-year option.	^[6]
August 31, 2020	Peyton Perea	MF	Santa Teresa CD	Signed through the 2020 season.	^[7]
September 3, 2020	Rylee Baisden	FW	Brisbane Roar FC	Signed through the 2020 season.	^[8]
September 3, 2020	Danica Evans	FW	Sporting de Huelva	Signed through the 2020 season.	^[8]
September 8, 2020	Kristina Maksuti	FW	MSV Duisburg	Signed through the 2020 season.	^[9]
September 9, 2020	Arianna Romero	DF	Houston Dash	Signed through the 2020 season.	^[10]
September 30, 2020	Havana Solaun	FW	Klepp IL	Signed through the 2020 season.	^[10]
October 22, 2020	Casey Murphy	GK	OL Reign	Acquired with $140,000 in allocation money in a trade for Crystal Dunn.	^[11]
December 7, 2020	Taylor Smith	DF	OL Reign	Acquired with the NWSL rights to Jodie Taylor in a trade for Ally Watt.	^[12]
December 7, 2020	Jodie Taylor (NWSL rights)	FW	OL Reign	Acquired with Taylor Smith in a trade for Ally Watt.	^[12]

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Players out

More information Date, Player ...

Date	Player	Positions played	Destination club	Fee/notes	Ref.
August 4, 2020	Lindsay Agnew	DF	KIF Örebro DFF	Loaned.	^[13]
August 10, 2020	Samantha Mewis	MF	Manchester City W.F.C.	Signed; North Carolina retained NWSL rights.	^[14]
August 14, 2020	Hailie Mace	DF	Kristianstads DFF	Loaned.	^[15]
September 9, 2020	Denise O'Sullivan	DF	Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.	Loaned until December 31, 2020.	^[15]
October 22, 2020	Crystal Dunn	MF	OL Reign	Traded for Casey Murphy and $140,000 in allocation money.	^[11]
October 30, 2020	Rylee Baisden	FW	Unattached.	Contract terminated.	^[16]
October 30, 2020	Danica Evans	FW	Unattached.	Contract terminated.	^[16]
October 30, 2020	Kristina Maksuti	FW	Unattached.	Contract terminated.	^[16]
October 30, 2020	Peyton Perea	MF	Unattached.	Contract terminated.	^[16]
October 30, 2020	Arianna Romero	DF	Unattached.	Contract terminated.	^[16]
November 4, 2020	Jaelene Daniels	DF	Unattached; North Carolina retained NWSL rights.	Retired.	^[17]
November 12, 2020	Addisyn Merrick	DF	Racing Louisville FC	Selected in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.	^[17]
November 12, 2020	Lauren Milliet	MF	Racing Louisville FC	Selected in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.	^[17]
December 7, 2020	Ally Watt	DF	OL Reign	Traded for Taylor Smith and the NWSL rights to Jodie Taylor.	^[12]

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National Women's Soccer League

Preseason

Source: North Carolina Courage^[18]

On March 12, 2020, the preseason match schedule was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[19]

March 21 (21-03)	North Carolina Courage	v	University of North Carolina	Cary, North Carolina
2:00 p.m. ET		Cancelled		Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

March 28 (28-03)	North Carolina Courage	v	West Virginia University	Cary, North Carolina
2:00 p.m. ET		Cancelled		Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

March 29 (29-03)	North Carolina Courage	v	University of South Carolina	Cary, North Carolina
2:00 p.m. ET		Cancelled		Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

April 02 (02-04)	North Carolina Courage	v	Duke University	Cary, North Carolina
5:00 p.m. ET		Cancelled		Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

April 05 (05-04)	North Carolina Courage	v	Sky Blue FC	Cary, North Carolina
1:00 p.m. ET		Cancelled		Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

April 10 (10-04)	North Carolina Courage	v	East Carolina University	Cary, North Carolina
12:00 p.m. ET		Cancelled		Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

Regular season

On May 27, 2020, the NWSL announced that the 2020 NWSL regular season and playoffs were canceled due to the pandemic, and that the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup would mark the league's return to action.^[20]^[21]

Challenge Cup

Preliminary round

June 27, 2020	North Carolina Courage	2–1	Portland Thorns FC	Herriman, Utah
10:30 a.m. MDT	Debinha 75' L. Williams 90+4'	Report	Charley 80'	Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium Referee: Lukasz Szpala

July 1, 2020	Washington Spirit	0–2	North Carolina Courage	Herriman, Utah
8:00 p.m. MDT		Report	L. Williams 50', 61'	Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium Referee: Lukasz Szpala

July 5, 2020	North Carolina Courage	1–0	Chicago Red Stars	Herriman, Utah
10:30 a.m. MDT	Erceg 81'	Report		Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium Referee: Tori Penso

July 13, 2020	Sky Blue FC	0–2	North Carolina Courage	Herriman, Utah
8:00 p.m. MDT		Report	Mewis 7' Dunn 56'	Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium Referee: Lukasz Szpala

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	North Carolina Courage	4	4	0	0	7	1	+6	12
2	Washington Spirit	4	2	1	1	4	4	0	7
3	OL Reign	4	1	2	1	1	2	−1	5
4	Houston Dash	4	1	1	2	5	6	−1	4
5	Utah Royals FC (H)	4	1	1	2	4	5	−1	4
6	Chicago Red Stars	4	1	1	2	2	3	−1	4^{[lower-alpha 1]}
7	Sky Blue FC	4	1	1	2	2	3	−1	4^{[lower-alpha 1]}
8	Portland Thorns FC	4	0	3	1	2	3	−1	3

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Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Host
Notes:

Chicago Red Stars won the tiebreaker against Sky Blue FC on fewer yellow cards (1 to 4).

Quarter-finals

July 17, 2020	North Carolina Courage	0–1	Portland Thorns FC	Herriman, Utah
10:30 a.m. MDT		Report	Weaver 68'	Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium Referee: Lukasz Szpala^[22]

Fall Series

The Courage competed in the South "pod" of the NWSL Fall Series tournament, with the Houston Dash and Orlando Pride.^[23]

September 12 (12-09) 1	North Carolina Courage	4–3	Houston Dash	Cary, North Carolina
	Dahlkemper 18' Debinha 52' (L. Williams), 86' (Speck) L. Williams 83' (Baisden)	Report	Latsko 25' (Groom) K. Mewis 37' (Groom) Chapman 18' 53' Schmidt 70' (Stengel)	Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

September 19 (19-09) 2	North Carolina Courage	0–0	Orlando Pride	Cary, North Carolina
	Roccaro 10'	Report	Listro 35'	Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park

October 04 (04-10) 3	Houston Dash	4–1	North Carolina Courage	Houston, Texas
	Schmidt 30' (K. Mewis) Latsko 30' (K. Mewis) K. Mewis 30' (Latsko) Groom 70' 83' (K. Mewis)	Report	L. Williams 74' (R. Williams)	Stadium: BBVA Stadium

October 17 (17-10) 4	Orlando Pride	3–3	North Carolina Courage	Orlando, Florida
	Krieger 15' Viggiano 54' Edmonds 77' (Lawrence) Haran 90+2' (Marta) Listro 85'	Report	Debinha 19' (Milliet), 45+6' (Speck) L. Williams 45+5' (Debinha)	Stadium: Exploria Stadium

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Portland Thorns FC (C)	4	3	1	0	10	3	+7	10	Community Shield
2	Houston Dash	4	3	0	1	12	7	+5	9	Runners-up
3	Washington Spirit	4	2	1	1	5	4	+1	7	Third place
4	Sky Blue FC	4	2	0	2	6	7	−1	6
5	North Carolina Courage	4	1	2	1	8	10	−2	5
6	Chicago Red Stars	4	1	1	2	7	7	0	4
7	OL Reign	4	1	1	2	6	8	−2	4
8	Orlando Pride	4	0	2	2	5	8	−3	2
9	Utah Royals FC	4	0	2	2	3	8	−5	2

Close

Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

[1]
"Coaching Staff". North Carolina FC. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
[2]
"North Carolina Courage Sign Jamaican Midfielder Havana Solaun". September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[3]
"NC Courage Fall Series Roster Update". September 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[4]
"NC Courage Announces 2020 Roster". June 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[5]
"2020 NWSL COLLEGE DRAFT". www.nwslsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
[6]
"NC Courage Signs Three NWSL Draft Picks, Agnew Ahead of Challenge Cup". June 19, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[7]
"Peyton Perea Signs Contract with NC Courage". August 31, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[8]
"North Carolina Courage Sign Rylee Baisden and Danica Evans to Contracts Through the 2020 Season". September 3, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[9]
"Kristina Maksuti Signs Contract with North Carolina Courage". September 8, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[10]
"North Carolina Courage Sign Defender Ari Romero". September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[11]
"NC Courage Acquire Standout Goalkeeper Casey Murphy and Allocation Money for Crystal Dunn". October 22, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[12]
"North Carolina Courage Acquire Taylor Smith in Trade with OL Reign for Ally Watt". December 7, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[13]
"Lindsay Agnew to Play On-Loan with Kif Örebro in Sweden". August 4, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[14]
"Sam Mewis Signs with Manchester City, NC Courage Retains Midfielder's NWSL Rights". August 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[15]
"Hailie Mace to Play On Loan at Kristianstads DFF in Sweden". August 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[16]
"North Carolina Courage Announce Roster Update Following 2020 Season". October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[17]
"Jaelene Daniels Announces Retirement After Playing Six Years of Professional Soccer". November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[18]
"North Carolina Courage Release 2020 Preseason Schedule". North Carolina FC. March 3, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[19]
"All preseason matches have been canceled" (Press release). National Women’s Soccer League. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
[20]
Levine, Matthew (May 27, 2020). "NWSL announces 2020 Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret". Retrieved May 27, 2020.
[21]
"2020 Champions Cup Presented by P&G and Secret Roster Rules" (PDF). NWSL. Retrieved June 22, 2020. The "2020 NWSL Season" will be defined by the NWSL as the number of games played by a team in the tournament. [...] There will be no "NWSL postseason/playoffs" in 2020...
[22]
"NWSL Challenge Cup Assignments: Quarterfinals [UPDATED 07/17]". Professional Referee Organization. July 17, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
[23]
"NWSL to continue breakout 2020 season with fall series". National Women's Soccer League. August 25, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[table_hth_CHI0.0016478342011794-22] Chicago Red Stars won the tiebreaker against Sky Blue FC on fewer yellow cards (1 to 4).

[1] [1]
"Coaching Staff". North Carolina FC. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.

[solaun-2] [2]
"North Carolina Courage Sign Jamaican Midfielder Havana Solaun". September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[fallseries-3] [3]
"NC Courage Fall Series Roster Update". September 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[4] [4]
"NC Courage Announces 2020 Roster". June 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[nwsl2020-5] [5]
"2020 NWSL COLLEGE DRAFT". www.nwslsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.

[6] [6]
"NC Courage Signs Three NWSL Draft Picks, Agnew Ahead of Challenge Cup". June 19, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[7] [7]
"Peyton Perea Signs Contract with NC Courage". August 31, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[evansbaisden-8] [8]
"North Carolina Courage Sign Rylee Baisden and Danica Evans to Contracts Through the 2020 Season". September 3, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[9] [9]
"Kristina Maksuti Signs Contract with North Carolina Courage". September 8, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[nccourage.com-10] [10]
"North Carolina Courage Sign Defender Ari Romero". September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[dunnmurphy-11] [11]
"NC Courage Acquire Standout Goalkeeper Casey Murphy and Allocation Money for Crystal Dunn". October 22, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[smithtaylorwatt-12] [12]
"North Carolina Courage Acquire Taylor Smith in Trade with OL Reign for Ally Watt". December 7, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[13] [13]
"Lindsay Agnew to Play On-Loan with Kif Örebro in Sweden". August 4, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[14] [14]
"Sam Mewis Signs with Manchester City, NC Courage Retains Midfielder's NWSL Rights". August 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[Hailie_Mace_to_Play_On_Loan_at_Kris-15] [15]
"Hailie Mace to Play On Loan at Kristianstads DFF in Sweden". August 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[postseasonupdate-16] [16]
"North Carolina Courage Announce Roster Update Following 2020 Season". October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[expansiondraft-17] [17]
"Jaelene Daniels Announces Retirement After Playing Six Years of Professional Soccer". November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[18] [18]
"North Carolina Courage Release 2020 Preseason Schedule". North Carolina FC. March 3, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[19] [19]
"All preseason matches have been canceled" (Press release). National Women’s Soccer League. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.

[2020challenge-20] [20]
Levine, Matthew (May 27, 2020). "NWSL announces 2020 Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret". Retrieved May 27, 2020.

[roster_rules-21] [21]
"2020 Champions Cup Presented by P&G and Secret Roster Rules" (PDF). NWSL. Retrieved June 22, 2020. The "2020 NWSL Season" will be defined by the NWSL as the number of games played by a team in the tournament. [...] There will be no "NWSL postseason/playoffs" in 2020...

[23] [22]
"NWSL Challenge Cup Assignments: Quarterfinals [UPDATED 07/17]". Professional Referee Organization. July 17, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

[fall-24] [23]
"NWSL to continue breakout 2020 season with fall series". National Women's Soccer League. August 25, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

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