Durham Reporter

The North Carolina Courage have confirmed a contract extension with forward Manaka Matsukubo, ensuring her stay through the 2026 NWSL season. The club decided to exercise their option to purchase Matsukubo's contract outright last June after a year-long loan from Mynavi Sendai.

In 2024, Matsukubo made significant contributions both for the Courage and on the international stage. During the NWSL regular season, she scored two goals and provided one assist while creating 15 chances in just over 1,000 minutes of play.

Internationally, Matsukubo played a pivotal role in leading Japan to a silver medal at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She scored three goals and received three Player of the Match awards, earning the Silver Ball as the tournament's second-best player. Her performances led to her first senior call-up to Japan's national team in October.

Head Coach Sean Nahas expressed his enthusiasm about the extension: “Signing Manaka to an extension is great for us. She is an extremely talented young player who is truly just getting started and we are excited she will continue developing with us in North Carolina. She’s a spry, technically savvy, and intelligent player who can change the game in an instant. The trust she has shown in our club and staff is greatly appreciated and we love the fact she wants to stay in Courage country. We look forward to seeing her continue to grow and shine inside the lines.”

Since joining Cary on loan in July 2023, Matsukubo has been impactful for NC Courage. She quickly adapted during the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup by scoring a decisive goal just two months after joining. In total, across all competitions for NC Courage, Matsukubo has recorded five goals and two assists over 30 appearances.