A new surprise signing
Last week, the Norwegian newspaper Bergensavisen surprised most everyone in Courage Country by stating that Norwegian international midfielder Vilde Bøe Risa was close to signing with the NC Courage on a free transfer.
Today the club made it official, signing Bøe Risa to a contract through the end of 2028.
The 31-year-old midfielder started her career in the Norwegian league. After stints there and in Sweden, she spent two seasons as a squad player at Manchester United. She has spent the past three seasons at Atlético Madrid as a regular player, starting 69 times across 91 league appearances.
A regular with the Norwegian national team, her first senior cap for Norway was in 2016. Since then she has racked up 95 caps and over 50 starts.
Bøe Risa becomes the second Norwegian to ever play for the Courage, and first since their 2017 inaugural season when Nora Holstad Berge had two appearances.
Bøe Risa at Atlético Madrid #
Of recent European signings for the Courage, Bøe Risa comes from the highest level team in the highest level league. While Atlético Madrid finishes well behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in Liga F, they usually finish above the rest of the pack. Their third place finishes in both 2023-24 and 2024-25 got them into Champions League qualification. In 2025 they won their qualifying tie against BK Häcken, which could have gotten her on coach Mak Lind’s radar. Atlético Madrid has historically sent quality to the NWSL. Recent signings from Atleti include Washington Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos, San Diego Wave forward Ludmila, and former San Diego Wave defender Hanna Lundkvist.
Bøe Risa plays as a central midfielder. At different times at Atleti she’s been one of the two in a 4-2-3-1 and part of the center three in a 3-5-2/5-3-2. Compared to Erica Meg Parkinson, NC’s other recent midfield signing, Bøe Risa sits deeper on the field and doesn’t favor either side. She usually ends up somewhat behind a slightly more attacking midfielder such as Fiamma Benítez.
In terms of raw counting stats, she had five goals (three penalties) and 3 assists in the 2025-26 Liga F season, along with two goals (one penalty) in her 8 UWCL appearances.
She is by her own words a midfielder who focuses on possession and playmaking; she plays a high number of passes at an accurate rate.
Atlético Madrid regularly posts highlights to YouTube. Here she drops a first-touch throughball in for an assist.
Another throughball, this time for a hockey assist.
She can also hit a banger. Even against the best team in the world.
To get an idea of how she approaches the game, we can compare her statistical profile in Liga F against one specific Courage midfielder (all stats per 90, and per FotMob).
| Statistic | Bøe Risa | Mystery Courage Midfielder |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Chances created | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Touches | 62.7 | 54.5 |
| Touches in box | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Completed passes | 40.2 (81%) | 36.1 (83%) |
| Long balls | 2.5 (54%) | 1.2 (53%) |
| Crosses | 1.8 (44%) ¹ | 0.1 (50%) |
| Interceptions | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Tackles | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| Recoveries | 4.8 | 5.5 |
| Clearances | 0.3 | 1.4 |
| Blocks | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Successful dribbles | 0.2 (29%) | 0.1 (14%) |
| Duels won | 2.8 (52%) | 3.0 (55%) |
| Aerial duels won | 0.3 (58%) | 0.4 (35%) |
While I don’t have access to pass maps or advanced stats to compare more directly, that’s a little eerie. On a raw statistical level, Bøe Risa profiles very similarly to a midfielder already on NC’s roster; slightly more shot & shot assist production, slightly less defensively active.
¹ Bøe Risa's cross numbers are higher because, as noted above, she took corners for Atlético.Where Bøe Risa fits in on the Courage #
North Carolina’s midfield depth chart right now consists of:
1a. Riley Jackson
1b. Shinomi Koyama
3.
4.
5.
Before Parkinson was eligible, they played a fullback, Feli Rauch, in midfield. Ashley Sanchez is firmly ensconced at left wing. Dani Weatherholt hasn’t really played in midfield for two years, and recently Lind explicitly referred to her as a defender. Oli Peña has yet to make an appearance after almost a full year on the roster.
The Courage don’t necessarily need a full-time starter in midfield. What they do need is depth they trust to start if needed and to make meaningful sub appearances, especially as the schedule gets more congested. Veteran presence doesn’t hurt as well.
As for who she might swap in for, and where Bøe Risa might be on the field, let’s look to the above mystery midfielder.
Hint: she’s played nearly every minute so far this season.
The Courage’s preferred tactics have one deep-lying midfielder and two more forward-leaning midfielders. Parkinson in her game and a half so far has been a dribbling progressor and chaotic ball-hunter who takes a more forward position. Wickenheiser is a destroyer who can play deeper on the field, but doesn’t provide the same passing progression as either Shinomi or Jackson.
Shinomi can likely slide up and perform in Jackson’s role. Jackson can (and has!) moved back to occupy Shinomi’s role. But if the Courage want to keep two passers on the field at all times, they didn’t have anyone else for that role on the roster before signing Bøe Risa.
There is also the option of playing Bøe Risa in the midfield and having Parkinson play further forward in the right wing spaces; she spends time leaning towards that side already anyways.
Overall #
From a fan perspective, it was a surprise signing. The rumor mill had the Courage as interested in an entirely different Atlético midfielder, and a 31-year-old doesn’t fit the pattern of recent team signings focused on younger players.
But Vilde Bøe Risa brings calm, passing, and a veteran presence, at a position where the team really didn’t have much depth. When she’s called upon, she should be able to immediately contribute.