Durham Reporter

The North Carolina Courage has announced that Jessica McDonald will be inducted into the Courage Ring of Honor. The ceremony is set to take place at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park following the team's 2025 home opener on March 22.

McDonald, known for her advocacy for women in sports, emphasizes mentorship, diversity, and inclusion within soccer. Her efforts include supporting initiatives for young athletes and sharing her experiences as a mother in professional soccer. These contributions, along with her on-field success, make her an ideal candidate for this honor.

Beginning her professional career in 2010, McDonald played for several NWSL teams, most notably the Courage. She was instrumental in securing five league trophies from 2017 to 2021, including three NWSL Shields and two Championships. In total, she scored 24 goals over 84 appearances with the Courage and netted another 10 goals in 20 matches with the Western New York Flash before transitioning with the franchise to North Carolina in 2017.

Internationally, McDonald's career includes four goals across 19 caps with the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2016 to 2020. Her achievements were highlighted by a World Cup victory in 2019, where she became the first mother on a U.S. World Cup-winning roster in nearly two decades.

The Courage Ring of Honor was established in 2024 to recognize iconic members of the organization. Sam Mewis was its first inductee and will be present at this year's celebration on March 22.

Following the match against Seattle Reign FC at 7 p.m. ET, attendees can witness McDonald's induction ceremony. Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased through official channels. Fans will also have an opportunity to meet McDonald at FanFest starting at 5:30 p.m.