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

Founded	January 27, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-01-27)
Stadium	WakeMed Soccer Park Cary, North Carolina, United States
Head coach	Willie Davis
League	USL W League
2024	1st of 6 (South Atlantic div.) Champions (Southern Conf.) Finalists (National playoffs)
Home colors Away colors
Current season

Active teams of North Carolina FC
USLC	NWSL	USL2	USLW	Youth

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]

Macey Bader, the most valuable player of the 2024 USL W League final^[8]

The Courage U23s returned to the national final with a 14–0–1 in the 2024 season.^[9] They defeated the Colorado Storm in a 3–2 comeback victory at WRAL Soccer Park in Raleigh.^[10]

Stadium

North Carolina Courage plays its W League matches at Field Two at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.^[11]

Players

See also: Category:North Carolina Courage U23 players

As of May 17, 2024

Roster

Pos.	Name	Team
GK	MK Daly	Dartmouth
GK	Emily Edwards	Purdue
DF	Aven Alvarez	North Carolina
DF	Bella Ayscue	Penn State
DF	Amber Brooks	(Washington Spirit)
DF	Taylor Chism	NC State
DF	Kayleigh Herr	Penn State
DF	Brooklyn Holt	NC State
MF	Gabby Ciocca	Virginia Tech
MF	Braelynn Francher	UNC Charlotte
MF	Baylor Goldthwaite	Wake Forest
MF	Phoebe Goldthwaite	Duke
MF	Lauren Martinho	Duke
MF	Cazzi Norgren	Missouri State
MF	Bella Sember	North Carolina
FW	Macey Bader	UNC Charlotte
FW	Ivy Gardner	Liberty
FW	Mackenzie Geigle	Louisville
FW	Hannah Jibril	NC State
FW	Mia Oliaro	Duke
FW	Lexi Strickland	NC State
FW	Alyssa Tucker	Campbell

Staff

Coaching history

• 2022–: Willie Davis

Year-by-year

As of July 21, 2024

Season	League	Division	Regular season									Playoffs	Top goalscorer	Ref.
			P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.	Pos.
2022	USL W	South Atlantic	12	6	2	4	24	14	+10	22	2nd	Did not qualify	Emily Sapienza (5)	[12]
2023		South Atlantic	12	11	1	0	46	7	+39	34	1st	Finals		[13]
2024		South Atlantic	12	11	1	0	56	6	+50	34	1st	Champions		[14]

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. USL W League [@USLWLeague] (July 20, 2024). "M. V. P. 🥳👏" (Tweet). Retrieved July 21, 2024 – via Twitter.
9. "2024 USL W League Final Preview: NC Courage U23 vs. Colorado Storm". USL W League. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
10. "NC Courage U23 claims 2024 USL W League title after second-half comeback". USL W League. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
11. "2024 NC Courage U-23 Schedule". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
12. "Standings". USL W League. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
13. "Standings". USL W League. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
14. "NC Courage U23 claims 2024 USL W League title after second-half comeback". USL W League. Retrieved July 21, 2024.