NC Courage Announce Preseason Roster
Published on February 3, 2026 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release
North Carolina Courage in preseason training
(North Carolina Courage, Credit: Katie Schroeck)
CARY, N.C. - The North Carolina Courage today announced the preseason roster ahead of the 2026 National Women's Soccer League season. Twenty-five players are under contract, with four non-roster invitees also joining the team for preseason.
Two contracted players are not yet in the market. Felicitas Rauch is finalizing the process to obtain a Green Card, after which she will not require an international spot. Evelyn Ijeh, who was acquired by the Courage on permanent transfer from AC Milan, will join the team upon receipt of her P-1 visa. Olivia Wingate remains on the Season-Ending Injury list as she continues recovery from a lower-body injury.
The Courage may continue to add to the roster during the primary transfer window, which remains open until March 16. The season kicks off on March 14, when the Courage host Racing Louisville FC at 7 p.m. ET at First Horizon Stadium.
The Courage preseason roster is below. Listed by position, then sorted alphabetically:
Goalkeepers (4): Erin McKinney (NRI), Molly Pritchard, Kailen Sheridan, Madi White
Defenders (10): Maycee Bell, Cameron Brooks, Natalie Jacobs, Brooke Miller (NRI), Katana Norman (NRI), Felicitas Rauch (NYA), Sydney Schmidt, Natalia Staude, Ryan Williams, Ivy Younce (NRI)
Midfielders (7): Riley Jackson, Shinomi Koyama (INT), Manaka Matsukubo (INT), Oli Peña, Ashley Sanchez, Dani Weatherholt, Carly Wickenheiser
Forwards (8): Hannah Betfort, Evelyn Ijeh (INT, NYA), Payton Linnehan, Chioma Okafor (INT), Ally Schlegel, Lauryn Thompson, Cortnee Vine (INT), Olivia Wingate (SEI)
NYA: Not Yet Arrived
INT: International Spot
SEI: Season-Ending Injury
Images from this story
 North Carolina Courage in preseason training (Katie Schroeck) |
National Women's Soccer League Stories from February 3, 2026
- Washington Spirit CEO Kim Stone Honored as One of ADWEEK's Most Powerful Women in Sports - Washington Spirit
- Bay FC 2026 Season Single Match Tickets Now On-Sale - Bay FC
- Gotham FC Loans Ademiluyi to Ipswich Town FC - NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Bay FC Names Stacy Johns as Chief Executive Officer - Bay FC
- Kansas City Current, Midfielder Bayley Feist Agree to Contract Extension Through 2026 - Kansas City Current
- NC Courage Announce Preseason Roster - North Carolina Courage
- Denver Summit FC Surpasses 40,000 Tickets Sold for the Kickoff - Denver Summit FC
- Chicago Stars FC Acquires Defender Aaliyah Farmer - Chicago Stars FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent North Carolina Courage Stories
- NC Courage Announce Preseason Roster
- NC Courage Acquire Canadian International Carly Wickenheiser
- NC Courage Acquire Defender Cameron Brooks from Napoli
- NC Courage Transfer Forward Aline Gomes to Pachuca
- NC Courage Introduce Mak Lind as Third Head Coach in Club History
