NC Courage's Kerolin wins NWSL MVP, first in club history

Cary, N.C. — North Carolina Courage forward Kerolin Nicoli has been named the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Most Valuable Player, as announced by the NWSL on Friday. The 23-year-old is the first-ever Courage player and first Brazilian to earn the league’s highest individual honor.

Kerolin finished as the runner-up in the Golden Boot Race, scoring 10 times in the regular season to become just the third Brazilian and fourth Courage player to notch double digit goals in a league campaign. She also added three assists to finish second in the league in total goal contributions (13).

The forward, who missed time to represent Brazil in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, won 115 duels and was a constant threat in the attacking third, leading the Courage to the three-seed and a home playoff contest for the first time since 2019.

She was named to the NWSL 2023 Best XI First Team and was twice a member of the Best XI of the month, presented by Mastercard, earning the honors in June and September/October. Kerolin also scored what would prove to be the winning goal in the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Final, leading the Courage to the seventh league trophy in club history, an NWSL record.

Below is the complete list of NWSL Most Valuable Players:

Season: Player (Club, Nationality)                        

2013: Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City, United States)

2014: Kim Little (Seattle Reign FC, Scotland)

2015: Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit, United States)            

2016: Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash, United States)

2017: Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC, Australia)                         

2018: Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC, United States)          

2019: Sam Kerr – 2 (Chicago Red Stars, Australia)                    

2021: Jess Fishlock (OL Reign, Wales)                        

2022: Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC, United States)            

2023: Kerolin Nicoli (North Carolina Courage, Brazil)                         

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