| Event | 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | September 9, 2023 | ||||||
| Venue | Sahlen's Stadium, Cary, North Carolina | ||||||
| Final MVP | Manaka Matsukubo [1] | ||||||
| Referee | Alex Billeter [2] | ||||||
| Attendance | 3,068 | ||||||
The 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup Final, the final match of the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup, was contested by North Carolina Courage and Racing Louisville FC. [3] [4]
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first.
| North Carolina Courage | Round | Racing Louisville FC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result |
| Orlando Pride | 1–1 | Match 1 | Kansas City Current | 3–2 |
| NJ/NY Gotham FC | 1–1 | Match 2 | Chicago Red Stars | 2–0 |
| Washington Spirit | 2–1 | Match 3 | Houston Dash | 3–0 |
| Washington Spirit | 6–0 | Match 4 | Chicago Red Stars | 2–0 |
| Orlando Pride | 5–0 | Match 5 | Houston Dash | 0–1 |
| NJ/NY Gotham FC | 0–2 | Match 6 | Kansas City Current | 0–3 |
| Opponent | Result | Knockout stage | Opponent | Result |
| Kansas City Current | 1–0 | Semifinal | OL Reign | 1–0 |
Most Valuable Player:
| Match rules
|
Abby May Erceg is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Racing Louisville FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She formerly played for the New Zealand national team, where she became the first player from New Zealand to play 100 international matches. She has previously played for German club Jena, the Chicago Red Stars, and the Western New York Flash / North Carolina Courage, with which she won three NWSL Championships.
Jessica Marie McDonald is an American soccer commentator and former professional player. She played for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) clubs including the Chicago Red Stars, Seattle Reign, Portland Thorns, Houston Dash, Western New York Flash, North Carolina Courage, and Racing Louisville. During her time with the Flash / Courage, she won three NWSL Shields and three NWSL Championships. She made 19 appearances for the United States national team and was part of the team that won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Kristen Marie Hamilton is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Carson Leighann Pickett is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left back for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Florida State Seminoles before being drafted by the Seattle Reign in 2016. She received NWSL Best XI honors twice while playing for the North Carolina Courage in 2021 and 2022. She has also played for the NWSL's Racing Louisville FC and the Australian club Brisbane Roar FC. She made two appearances for the United States national team in 2022.
Makenzy Allyson Doniak is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Meredith Madeline Speck is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She is the only active player for the Courage who was part of the club when they were the Western New York Flash. She has won three NWSL Championships, three NWSL Shields, and two NWSL Challenge Cups with the Flash / Courage.
The North Carolina Courage is a professional women's soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina. It was founded on January 9, 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 the WakeMed Soccer Park.
Emily Ann Fox is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the United States national team.
Jordan Elisabeth Baggett is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Baggett played college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal.
Kerolin Nicoli Israel Ferraz, commonly known as Kerolin, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Brazil national team. In 2018, she was elected the breakout female player in the Brasileirão by the Brazilian Football Confederation, having scored 14 goals in 35 games for Ponte Preta. She was named the NWSL Most Valuable Player with the Courage in 2023.
Lauren Milliet is an American professional soccer midfielder who plays for Racing Louisville of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The 2021 Orlando Pride season was Orlando Pride's sixth season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.
The 2021 Washington Spirit season was the club's 11th season of existence, and its ninth in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.
The 2021 Racing Louisville FC season was the club's first season of play. Racing Louisville competed in the National Women's Soccer League, the top flight of professional women's soccer in the United States.
The 2022 NWSL Draft was the 10th annual meeting of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchises to select eligible college players. It was held on December 18, 2021, and hosted remotely by CBS Sports.
The 2022 North Carolina Courage season was the team's sixth season as a professional women's soccer team. North Carolina Courage plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
The 2021 North Carolina Courage season was the team's fifth season as a professional women's soccer team. North Carolina Courage plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
The 2023 Houston Dash season was the team's tenth season as an American professional women's soccer team in the National Women's Soccer League.
The 2023 NWSL Draft presented by Ally was the eleventh annual meeting of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchises to select amateur players above the age of 18 playing in the United States who exhausted, lost, or renounced any remaining collegiate eligibility, as well as select players that the NWSL had already signed in advance. It was held on January 12, 2023, at the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia and covered by various linear and online platforms of CBS Sports.
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