Photo Copyright Stephen Brashear for USA TODAY Sports
North Carolina Courage forward Kerolin Nicoli has been named the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Most Valuable Player. A well-deserved honor that comes after Kerolin’s first selection to the NWSL’s Best XI first team, Kerolin was a total game-changer in her second season with the Courage.
Kerolin recorded a team-high 10 goals this season while also co-leading the team in assists with three. Those numbers also allowed Kerolin to stand out among all of the league’s goal-scorers. Kerolin scored the second-most goals in the league, only behind Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith, who won the league’s Golden Boot.
Goals aside, Kerolin was undoubtedly the most crucial part of North Carolina’s attacking strategy. The Courage, who thrived this year with their newly established possession-oriented tactics under head coach Sean Nahas, relied on Kerolin’s on-ball talent to help them in the attacking third. One of the best dribblers in the NWSL, Kerolin led the…
