NC Courage, It's Vine Time!
After coming off a successful season with Sydney FC, Australian striker Cortnee Vine is taking her talents to the NWSL, and she is not coming alone.
Who is Cortnee Vine?
After The Matilda’s fourth-place campaign in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, many Australians have moved to different teams during the 2023-2024 season. Kyra Cooney-Cross joined her fellow Australian teammates at Arsenal, and Charli Grant joined their North London rivals in Tottenham.
One of Cortnee Vine’s dreams is to play for Chelsea, but she chose to stay with Sydney FC this past season due to her love of her home country. Last season in the A-League, she scored 10 goals and was the top goalscorer in the league. She also led the league in assists with six, making her the league's leading goal contributor at 16.
Though she did not score any goals during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, she scored the historic game-winning penalty that saw Australia knock out France in the quarter-final. That goal arguably changed how women’s football was viewed in Australia and the rest of the world.
Many fans wondered where Vine was going next after winning the grand final with Sydney FC. Would she take her talents to England or stay with the club she has been with for four years? When the news broke, it was shocking to most that she signed a three-year contract with the North Carolina Courage.
The NWSL will be a great fit for Vine and her style of play. Over the past few years, the NWSL has become known for its fast-paced and energetic play, which attracted young talent and international attention. In The Matilda’s most recent documentary, Cortnee Vine stated that she would like to be the fastest player in the world. She will develop into a quicker player in the NWSL and might even attract Chelsea’s attention in the next few years.
She is not coming to America alone, though. Her teammate from Sydney FC, 24-year-old Charlotte Mclean, will also join NC Courage. As a center back, she had 83 interceptions, won 56 deals, and 25 tackles last season in the A-League. The Courage can use defensive help, as their goal differential is -2.
The Australian duo will be making strides on the field as they will make their debut soon. NC Courage is currently in seventh place with 16 points. They are 13 points from first place but in contention for playoffs. These additions could change the trajectory of this two-time championship-winning team.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS:
Order your favorite whiskey or spirit for the big game right to your doorstep and use code STADIUMRANT10 for a 10% discount at Caskers
Use code STADIUMRANT20 for a 20% discount at Bulletproof Coffee, SwingJuice and Performix.
If you love to shotgun beers, use code STADIUMRANT10 at Wild Man Drinking Company.
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!