Soccer fans have reason to be excited as the upcoming season is just around the corner. The North Carolina Courage, two-time champions, have decided to pay tribute to their former midfielder Sam Mewis, who recently retired. Mewis, a 31-year-old star of the USWNT, has been an integral part of the club since its inception. Despite leaving the team in 2020 to join Manchester City, the Courage still recognizes her as a key figure in their success.
In a move that highlights their appreciation for Mewis, the Courage has established their own version of a Hall of Fame called the ‘Ring of Honor.’ Mewis will be the first player from the club to be inducted into this prestigious group. She originally played for the Western New York Flash, which was later sold to North Carolina FC and transformed into the current franchise.
The announcement of Mewis’ induction into the ‘Ring of Honor’ was met with great excitement by the club. Head coach Sean Nahas expressed his belief that it is a well-deserved recognition for the former USWNT player. Nahas stated, “Honoring Sammy in the proper manner means everything. She is the foundation of this club and has contributed greatly to our history.” Mewis herself felt honored by the gesture and expressed her excitement to return to North Carolina to celebrate with the fans.
Mewis’ impressive statistics further validate her inclusion in the ‘Ring of Honor.’ In her 69 games with the franchise, she scored 15 goals and provided 9 assists, making her the 7th highest contributor to goals in the NWSL for the club. She was a finalist for the 2017 NWSL MVP award and was selected for the league’s best eleven in the same year after scoring six goals and three assists, leading the club to victory. Mewis also received the U.S. Soccer Female POTY award in 2020 and was named the world’s best women’s soccer player in 2022 by ESPN.
In addition to her achievements with the Courage, Mewis had an impressive career with the USWNT. She played a crucial role in their victory at the 2019 World Cup, scoring two goals and providing three assists. Her moment of honor came when she assisted a goal in the finals against the Netherlands. Although knee issues ultimately led to her retirement, Mewis will continue to contribute to the world of soccer as the editor-in-chief of The Women’s Game podcast.
According to the Source essentiallysports.com