CARY, N.C. (Dec. 15, 2023) – The North Carolina Courage saw two members of their roster taken in the virtual 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft Friday night. Forward Tess Boade and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland were both selected by Bay FC in the 12-round draft. The Courage had immunity from Utah via trade.
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Boade, who was selected third overall in the expansion draft, logged 804 minutes in the regular season in 2023. She scored one goal and added a pair of assists. She completed 82.5% of passes and created 12 chances. She also appeared in and started five games in the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup, logging 410 minutes with one goal and one assist to help the Courage repeat as cup champions.
She had a star-studded career at Duke University, where she played five seasons due to the COVID-19 eligibility waiver. She was originally selected by NJ/NY Gotham FC in the 2021 NWSL College Draft but chose to return to Duke for her fifth year. She then joined the Courage as a trialist prior to the 2022 season and signed a contract at the start of the season.
Rowland was selected seventh overall in the expansion draft. She has nine trophies in her illustrious NWSL career. She started all eight Challenge Cup games for the Courage in 2022, helping the team to the championship with 15 saves and a pair of clean sheets. She also served time in goal during the run to the 2023 cup title, helping the Courage become the first team to repeat as Challenge Cup champions.
After a stellar collegiate career at UCLA, where Rowland set NCAA records for both career clean sheets (55) and single season (19), she was selected in the second round of the 2015 NWSL Draft by FC Kansas City. After one season, she signed with Western New York in 2016 and came with the club through the transition to the Courage.
The Courage now have 21 active players on their roster.
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