Durham Reporter

The North Carolina Courage, the most successful franchise in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) by trophies, is a testament to the region's deep-rooted legacy in women's soccer. The state of North Carolina has played host to numerous significant moments in the sport's history, from collegiate championships to professional leagues.

Jen Cooper, author of Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac, emphasized North Carolina's prominence: "When we’re talking about American women’s soccer history, we have to say North Carolina is No. 1 because of everything Anson Dorrance built at North Carolina, all of the titles, the number of times N.C. has hosted the NCAA Finals. … The Triangle is an incredible hotbed of women’s soccer and that’s not a new thing."

The Carolina Courage was one of the founding teams of the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA), the first fully professional women's league globally. Initially intended for Orlando, it moved to North Carolina due to its strong soccer culture after venue issues in Florida.

Cooper noted this decision: "It was a late decision to move the team, but it speaks to the strength of North Carolina as a soccer market. It speaks to how well-thought-of that market was then."

Carla Overbeck has been integral to women's soccer in North Carolina. A former player for UNC and coach at Duke since 1992, she played for both the USWNT and WUSA. Reflecting on her career and contributions to establishing professional women's soccer in America, Overbeck said: "It was such an important time in women’s soccer... I’m really proud of our team and how we went about our business and fought to bring a women’s professional league to the United States."

The Courage initially played at UNC's Fetzer Field before moving to First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park—the first stadium specifically built for a professional women's team.

Overbeck described this experience: "It was incredible because you had this unbelievable state-of-the-art stadium... You loved going to work... It was Bermuda grass, and it was beautiful."

In addition to Overbeck, international stars like Birgit Prinz and Hege Riise were part of WUSA's roster. Overbeck remarked on their influence: "So many other internationals from overseas came over because outside of the national team environment, it was the best arena for women that wanted to play professionally."

After struggling initially in WUSA's first season, the Courage won both regular season and championship titles in 2002 under coach Marcia McDermott.

Despite WUSA folding after three seasons, its impact laid groundwork for future leagues like NWSL. Overbeck reflected on these achievements: "You have these proud moments... We were a part of its inception..."

North Carolina continues its legacy across all levels—from youth leagues through college programs up into professional ranks—cementing itself as pivotal within U.S. women's soccer history.