The North Carolina Courage is a professional women's soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina. The team was founded in 2017 after Stephen Malik acquired National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchise rights from the Western New York Flash. The Courage plays its home games at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.
The Courage have been one of the most successful teams in the NWSL since their inception.
In their first season, they won the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record. They also reached the NWSL Championship, where they lost to the Portland Thorns FC.
In 2018, the Courage won both the Shield and the Championship, becoming the first team in NWSL history to do so. They repeated as Shield winners in 2019, and they won the Championship again in 2022.
The Courage have a number of star players, including Sam Mewis, Abby Dahlkemper, and Lynn Williams.
Mewis is a two-time NWSL MVP, and she was named to the 2019 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.
Dahlkemper is a two-time NWSL Defender of the Year, and she was also named to the 2019 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.
Williams is a two-time NWSL Golden Boot winner, and she was named to the 2019 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.
The Courage's biggest rivals are the Portland Thorns FC and the Orlando Pride.
The Courage and the Thorns have met in the NWSL Championship three times, with the Thorns winning twice and the Courage winning once.
The Courage and the Pride have met in the playoffs twice, with the Courage winning both times.
The Courage are a popular team in North Carolina, and they have a large and passionate fan base. The team's home games at Sahlen's Stadium are often sold out. The Courage are a rising force in women's soccer, and they are poised to continue their success in the years to come.