After a turbulent 2025 season, the North Carolina Courage seem to be turning the page for year 10.
Last year, North Carolina stumbled to a 9-8-9 record (win-draw-loss) and missed the playoffs for the second time in team history. Coach Sean Nahas was fired mid-season for “multiple factors,” and Nathan Thackeray was named the interim in early August. The Courage went on to lose five of its last 12 games, capping off the year with a 3-2 loss to the eventual champions Gotham FC with a playoff berth on the line.
Leading up to the 2026 season opener against Racing Louisville FC at home on March 14, the Courage have made major moves in hopes to right the ship.
North Carolina announced Mak Lind as its new head coach on Jan. 24.
Lind, 37, most recently coached the BK Häcken Women from 2023 to 2025, leading the team to its second title in the Damallsvenskan, Sweden’s top division of women’s soccer, in November. He played center back in his professional playing career, spending most of his playing days with BK Häcken, where he was eventually named the club captain. On the international level, Lind earned 10 caps with the Lebanese men’s national team between 2013 and 2015. Over the past decade, Lind has managed and coached multiple professional clubs.
“I am extremely excited and humble by the opportunity to serv as the next head coach of the North Carolina Courage,” Lind said. “This is a club with an incredible history and a clear expectation to compete for trophies. I’m very aligned with the system and style of play already in place and look forward to continuing to evolve it alongside the players and staff.”
Said Courage Chief Soccer Officer Ceri Bowley, “Mak’s ability to combine performance, culture and player development makes him a perfect fit for our club. We believe his leadership will help push us to the next level, and we’re thrilled to have him on board.”
Since the beginning of December, North Carolina has also been retooling its roster.
One of the biggest losses of the offseason was the transfer of longtime midfielder Denise O’Sullivan to Liverpool FC of the Barclays Women’s Super League for an agreed-upon fee on Jan. 17. O’Sullivan finished her nine-year stint with the Courage as the team’s all-time leader in appearances. She helped North Carolina to an NWSL record seven league trophies, including three shields, two championships and two Challenge Cups.
Following the announcement of a new coach, the Courage welcomed defender Cameron Brooks and midfielder Carly Wickenheiser last weekend.
Brooks, signed to a two-year contract through 2027 and a club option for 2028, last played for Napoli in the Italian Serie A Femminile, Italy’s top women’s soccer league. The 25-year-old started her professional career with Fort Lauderdale United in the Gainbridge Super League in 2024, winning 68% of her tackles and 80% of her aerial duels in 19 appearances.
“She’s a center back who enjoys having the ball, takes responsibility in possession and defends with anticipation,” Bowley said.
Wickenheiser, 28, came over with Lind from the 2025 BK Häcken championship team. She also signed a two-year, fully guaranteed contract, adding multiple years of professional experience. Across stints with three teams in the Damallsvenskan, Wickenheiser scored 11 goals in 145 appearances.
Arguably one of the more interesting signings of the offseason was the acquisition of Swedish striker Evelyn Ijeh. Ijeh, 24, is coming over from AC Milan on a four-year contract. In the 2024-25 Serie A Femminile season, Ijeh finished third in the Golden Boot race with 12 goals in 29 games.
“Evelyn is a dynamic attacking player who brings pace, physicality and a real presence in the final third,” Bowley said. “She fits our game model well — aggressive in transition, committed to the press and dangerous attacking space behind the defense.”
The Courage also signed goalkeepers Kailen Sheridan (formerly San Diego Wave FC) and Molly Pritchard (formerly Ohio State) to two-year deals. Sheridan was named to the NWSL Best XI Frist Team in 2021 and 2022 (second team in 2023), and she was named the Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022.
Earlier in the offseason North Carolina signed Nigerian national team forward Chioma Okafor, free agent goalkeeper Madi White and free agent forward Lauryn Thompson, a Wake Forest native.
The Courage extended defender Maycee Bell through 2028.
Regarding more departures, North Carolina transferred forward Aline Gomes to Pachuca of the Liga MX Femenil for an agreed-upon fee.
In exchange for a 2026 international spot, the Courage traded goalkeeper Marisa Jordan to the Kansas City Current. Jordan made nine appearances in NWSL competitions across her four seasons with North Carolina.
