"So excited to be here and starting this journey together with the club," head coach Mak Lind said.
Lind prepares for his first test with the Courage after the firing of Sean Nahas mid-season, and interim coach Nathan Thackeray leading the team to a ninth-place finish -- just outside of the playoffs.
"I think we need to start with the basic things, make sure we are a hardworking team," Lind said.
Riley Jackson is in her third season with the Courage. The 20-year-old midfielder joined the team at just 17, but with the massive roster turnover, she's now a Courage veteran.
"It's so weird to me to be considered a veteran," Jackson said. "I think for so long, I was the baby of the team. But I always feel like I've carried myself in a way that it's like preparing myself for this moment."
Thirteen new players have joined, including Swedish national player Evelyn Ijeh. The hope is for more goals, with new firepower.
"Make sure we can try to create many goal-scoring opportunities and hopefully score many goals," Lind said.
With the men's team not competing this year, all eyes are on the women to hopefully put together another championship run. It would be their third, after winning in 2018 and 2019.
The Courage is the only professional soccer team in the Triangle.
They will face Louisville in their season opener at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
"We are here to play in front of the fans," Lind said. "They are very important, and they are giving us the atmosphere we need."
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