McDonald, NC Courage team to play for $1M prize at this summer's TST

Jessica McDonald, who recently returned to the NC Courage as a team ambassador, will captain the club's entry into the $1 million The Soccer Tournament this summer at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

The Soccer Tournament, or TST, is a seven-on-seven event in its second year. It added a women's event this season and announced that ESPN will carry all 27 matches including the $1 million winner-take-all men's and women's championships on June 10.

The eight-team women's field now has three entrants: Heather O'Reilly's US Women and SoccerHead FC. No players from the current Courage roster will play in the tournament.

“I am so excited to be involved in the TST this year and to be leading the NC Courage team," McDonald said. "Last year, it was one of the most exciting events in global football, and being able to captain the Courage team will be the greatest honor."

McDonald will help recruit members of her team.

“We are confident we will have a team primed to compete for the cash prize,” Courage President Francie Gottsegen said.

Nearly 400 teams applied to be in the 2023 tournament, which included clubs like Wrexham AFC, Borussia Dortmund, West Ham, Wolverhampton, and sports stars like Clint Dempsey and Steve Nash.

More than two dozen players with U.S. National Team experience and more than 1,400 caps played in the event, including O'Reilly, Dempsey, Kristine Lilly, Jermaine Jones, Geoff Cameron, Chris Wondowlowski and Breck Shea.