CARY, N.C. (Jan. 29, 2024) – The North Carolina Courage today announces the roster for the 2024 preseason, which begins Monday in preparation for the National Women’s Soccer League season. The 32-player roster features 26 players under contract, three players selected in the 2024 NWSL Draft and three non-roster invitees.
The team is currently using four of six international spots available for the 2024 season. The club has the five natural spots and an additional spot for the 2024 season obtained from the Kansas City Current. German National Team star and Wolfsburg transfer Felicitas Rauch will join the team upon completion of her P1 Visa and utilize one of those spots. She is expected to join the team in the coming weeks.
Fellow international players Rikako Kobayashi (Japan) and reigning NWSL MVP Kerolin Nicoli (Brazil) remain on the Season-Ending Injury (SEI) list from the end of the 2023 season and thus do not presently require an International Spot. Midfielder Meredith Speck also carries over the SEI designation into the 2024 preseason while Clara Schilke (nee Robbins) is removed from the Season-Ending Injury list ahead of the new year.
Rikako will continue her rehab in Japan and has not yet reported to camp. Forward Mille Gejl Jensen (Denmark) and defender Estelle Johnson have not yet reported due to excused absences. Kerolin is also yet to report and will join the team in preseason upon receipt of her visa.
Manaka Matsukubo, the 2023 UKG Challenge Cup MVP, remains with the team on loan from Mynavi Sendai of the WE League through June, when the Courage will have the option to purchase her contract outright. The team recalled goalkeeper Hensley Hancuff from her loan to Swedish Växjö DFF earlier this month.
The Courage signed unrestricted free agents Bianca St-Georges and Dani Weatherholt during the off-season and acquired U.S. Women’s National Team forward/midfielder Ashley Sanchez from the Washington Spirit via trade on draft night.
The team traded midfielders Emily Gray and Frankie Tagliaferri to the Utah Royals for expansion draft protection, saw forward Tess Boade and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland selected by Bay FC in the expansion draft, did not resign restricted free agents Emily Fox and Kiki Pickett nor unrestricted free agent Brittany Ratcliffe and international Rikke Madsen (Denmark).
The three non-roster invitees include three-time captain of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Giovanna DeMarco, four-year starting defender for Virginia Tech Victoria Haughen, and Jenna Winebrenner, who was on the Kansas City Current roster in 2023.
2024 North Carolina Courage Preseason Roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Marisa Bova, Hensley Hancuff, Casey Murphy
Defenders (11): Malia Berkely, Sydney Collins, Giovanna DiMarco* (NRI), 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 (11): 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
DRAFT: Player selected in the 2024 NWSL Draft but has not yet signed a contract
INT: International Slot
NRI: Non-Roster Invitee
SEI: Season-Ending Injury list
NYR: Not Yet Reported
LOAN: With team on loan
*New to team in 2024
