Raleigh company will be new jersey sponsor for NC Courage in 2023
Posted January 30, 2023 2:00 p.m. EST
The NC Courage, which has reshaped its roster in the offseason, will have a new jersey sponsor in 2023.
Merz Aesthetics, globally headquartered in Raleigh, will have its name on the front of the Courage's home and road jerseys, the National Women's Soccer League franchise announced Monday.
The Courage open the 2023 season in late March. The NWSL Championship will be held on Nov. 11.
"We're so proud to see our logo on the jersey, knowing the confidence, the courage, talent and commitment the players and the team represent," Patrick Urban, North America president of Merz Aesthetics, said in a statement.
The company's products include injectables, devices and skin care treatments. Merz will also serve as sponsor of a new mini soccer field in Raleigh.
Continental Tire had been the club's front-of-the-jersey sponsor since 2018. The company's name appeared on the back of the Courage's jerseys in 2017.
"The front-of-jersey partner is a special relationship in the soccer community, and we are thrilled to expand our partnership with Merz Aesthetics to this level," Francie Gottsegen, president of the NC Courage, said in a statement.
The Courage won the 2022 Challenge Cup, an annual tournament of NWSL teams, but failed to qualify for the NWSL playoffs in 2022.
Since the end of the season, the Courage have made several significant roster moves.
The team declined an option on defender Jaelene Daniels. Midfielder Debinha, a free agent who spent six seasons with the Courage, announced late last year that she would not return. The club traded forward Diana Ordonez and a draft pick for two first-round selections. The club acquired forward Tyler Lussi in a trade for defender Merritt Mathias and traded defenders Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett in a deal to obtain defender Emily Fox.
The Courage added four first-round picks in the January draft, signed Danish forward Mille Gejl Jansen to a two-year contract and added free agent defender Estelle Johnson on a two-year deal.
