Sam Mewis gets fitting tribute! North Carolina Courage thrash Houston Dash as former USWNT star becomes first player to be inducted into club's Ring of Honour

North Carolina Courage thrashed Houston Dash 5-1 in their NWSL season opener on Saturday courtesy of a brace by Bianca St-Georges and a goal each from Malia Berkely, Haley Hopkins and Dani Weatherhold.

Last month the American side honoured their club legend and former USWNT star Sam Mewis by making her the first inductee into the club's newly formed Courage 'Ring of Honor'.

Mewis joined the club in their maiden season in the NWSL in 2017 and played at the club until 2021. In between, she moved to Manchester City in 2020 but returned to Courage after just one year. In 2022, the midfielder moved to Kansas City Current where she played until the last season after which she announced her retirement from professional football at the age of 31 due to a knee injury.

After announcing Mewis as an inductee to the 'Ring of Honor', club chairman Steve Malik said, "Sam Mewis is the perfect representative of the Courage, and she is so deserving of this honour. She was a force on the field and is one of the kindest, most genuine people off it. Sam set the tone for what it means to be a member of the Courage and she built such a strong connection with our community in her time here. I know all of Courage Country is just as excited as I am to welcome her back and celebrate her the way she deserves."

The club will be next seen in action on March 23 in the NWSL as they take on Utah Royals FC, who started the new season with a 2-0 loss to Chicago Red Stars.