Courtney Petersen

Courtney Petersen

Petersen with the Houston Dash in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Courtney Lynn Petersen [1]
Date of birth	(1997-10-28) October 28, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s)	Defender, Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Racing Louisville
Number	11
Youth career
	Michigan Hawks ECNL
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2019	Virginia Cavaliers	78	(5)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Motor City FC	15	(3)
2020–2022	Orlando Pride	41	(1)
2023–2024	Houston Dash	29	(0)
2024–	Racing Louisville	0	(0)
International career
	United States U14
	United States U15
	United States U17
2016	United States U20
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 2, 2024

Courtney Lynn Petersen (born October 28, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Virginia Cavaliers. She was selected by the Orlando Pride in the first round of the 2020 NWSL draft.

Early life

Growing up in Canton, Michigan, Petersen played youth soccer as a midfielder for Michigan Hawks ECNL and was voted to numerous ECNL Top-11 squads. ^[2] In 2014 she was named as an NSCAA Youth All-American. ^[3] Coming out of high school, Petersen ranked as the No. 23 recruit in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com. ^[4]

Virginia Cavaliers

In October 2013, Petersen committed to playing college soccer at the University of Virginia. ^[4] She played four seasons for the Virginia Cavaliers between 2015 and 2019, sitting out the 2016 season to focus fully on national team duty for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. ^[5] Predominantly a left-sided full-back, Petersen proved to be a versatile player during her collegiate career, also playing in midfield. As a freshman she scored a career-high three goals and added another three assists in 22 appearances, ending the year as an ACC All-Freshman team selection. In her senior year, Petersen was an All-Region First Team selection by United Soccer Coaches, a TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Second Team selection and an All-ACC Second Team selection. ^{[2] [6]}

In the 2018 and 2019 offseasons, Petersen played with hometown WPSL side Motor City FC. ^[7]

Professional career

Orlando Pride, 2020–2022

Petersen was selected in the first round (7th overall) of the 2020 NWSL College Draft by Orlando Pride. ^[6] She signed with the team in March but with the season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, was unable to make her debut until September 19, 2020, in the first Fall Series match, starting in a 0–0 draw with North Carolina Courage. ^{[8] [9]} She appeared in all four Fall Series matches, playing the full 90 minutes in each. ^[10]

Houston Dash, 2023–2024

Petersen had a contract offer extended to her by Orlando at the end of the 2022 season but in February 2023, the club agreed to trade her rights to Houston Dash along with a natural third-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft in exchange for $65,000 in allocation money plus an additional $25,000, pending conditions met. ^[11]

Racing Louisville, 2024–

On August 31, 2024, Petersen was traded from the Houston Dash to Racing Louisville FC in exchange for $45,000 in league allocation money. ^[12]

International career

Petersen has represented the United States at under-14, under-15, under-17 and under-20 levels, mainly playing as a midfielder. ^[6] In 2016, Petersen competed at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, playing two games as the team finished fourth. ^[13]

Career statistics

College

School	Season	Division	Apps	Goals
Virginia Cavaliers	2015	Div. I	22	3
	2016		0	0
	2017		22	1
	2018		15	0
	2019		19	1
Career total			78	5

Club

As of match played July 6, 2024. ^{[10] [7]}

Club	Season	League			Cup [a]		Playoffs		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Motor City FC	2018	WPSL	3	3	—		—		—		3	3
	2019		12	0	—		—		—		12	0
	Total		15	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	3
Orlando Pride	2020	NWSL	—		—		—		4 [b]	0	4	0
	2021		22	1	3	0	—		—		25	1
	2022		19	0	6	0	—		—		25	0
	Total		41	1	9	0	0	0	4	0	54	1
Houston Dash	2023	NWSL	13	0	5	0	0	0	—		18	0
	2024		12	0	—		0	0	—		12	0
Career total			81	4	14	0	0	0	4	0	99	4

1. NWSL Challenge Cup
2. Includes the NWSL Fall Series

References

1. "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016 – List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. November 21, 2016. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
2. "Courtney Petersen - Virginia Cavaliers". University of Virginia Athletics. 28 April 2020.
3. "NSCAA announces 2014 youth boys and girls All-America Teams". SoccerWire. Archived from the original on 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
4. "Top team adds ranked recruit". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
5. "Adjusting to the Loss of Courtney Peterson". hoosplace.com.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
6. "Orlando Pride Trades to No. 3 Overall, Selects Midfielder Taylor Kornieck in the 2020 NWSL College Draft". www.orlandocitysc.com.
7. "Motor City FC Roster - Courtney Petersen". www.wpslsoccer.com.
8. "Orlando Pride Signs 2020 NWSL Draft Selections Courtney Petersen & Konya Plummer". www.orlandocitysc.com.
9. "North Carolina Courage vs. Orlando Pride". www.nwslsoccer.com.
10. "Courtney Petersen player profile". Soccerway.
11. "Houston Dash acquire rights to defender Courtney Petersen from Orlando". www.houstondynamofc.com.
12. FC, Houston Dynamo. "Houston Dash Acquire Allocation Money from Racing Louisville for Defender Courtney Petersen | Houston Dynamo". Houston Dynamo FC. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
13. "Pugh, Sanchez headline USWNT U-20 World Cup roster". The Equalizer. 13 October 2016.

External links

• Courtney Petersen at Soccerway.com
• Courtney Petersen at FBref.com
• Virginia profile