Kaleigh Kurtz

Club career Östersunds DFF

Following college, Kurtz played for Östersunds DFF in the Swedish Elitettan, fulfilling her desire to play overseas. She made 12 appearances and captained the side.

North Carolina Courage 2018–2019 Kurtz was a non-roster invitee during the 2018 Carolina preseason. She signed with the Courage in March 2018. She debuted on April 18, 2018, starting at center back against the OL Reign. She made six appearances in the 2018 regular season, as well as two in the 2018 Women's International Champions Cup. Kurtz's option for 2019 was picked up in October 2018.

Canberra United (loan), 2019–2020 Kurtz spent the NWSL offseason of 2019–2020 in the Australian W-League playing in the capital for Canberra United, on loan from the North Carolina Courage. She played every minute in the 12-game season for Canberra. During round 6, Kurtz broke her nose in the run of play having to come off shortly to get fully bandaged in order to stop the bleeding, and then competing in the final minutes of the game. She was later named to the round 6 Team of the Week. She tallied one assist during her time in Australia and led the league in clearances with a total of 69 clearances during the regular season. Kurtz capped off her time in Canberra by receiving the 2019/2020 Canberra United Player of the Year award.

2021–2025

Following the departure of Abby Dahlkemper, Kurtz became one of the Courage's starting center backs alongside Abby Erceg in the 2021 season.

Kurtz played every minute of the regular season in 2022, becoming an iron woman for the first time.

Kurtz continued her iron woman streak through the 2023 season and ranked second in the NWSL in blocks (22). She was named to the NWSL Second XI and nominated for NWSL Defender of the Year.

Kurtz broke the NWSL regular-season consecutive minutes record on May 24, 2024, passing Amber Brooks's mark of 6,493 minutes. She accumulated four yellow cards with eight games left in the 2024 season, meaning that one more card would result in a suspension; she managed not just to complete her third consecutive iron woman season without a card but did not commit a single foul in that span.

On April 26, 2025, Kurtz scored a 90th-minute equalizer against the Kansas City Current. Ashley Sanchez scored in stoppage time to give the Courage a 3–2 comeback win against the league leaders, the Courage's first win of the season. On June 15, she marked her 100th consecutive start in a 2–1 win over Angel City FC, becoming the first NWSL player to reach that mark with a single club. She wore the captain's armband for much of the later part of the season with Denise O'Sullivan injured. On September 6, she set an NWSL record with her 107th consecutive start, passing Sam Staab. She completed her fourth consecutive iron woman season in 2025, also an NWSL record. On November 12, the Courage announced that Kurtz would not re-sign with the club as a free agent.

Denver Summit

On November 13, 2025, NWSL expansion team Denver Summit announced that they had signed Kurtz to a three-year contract.

Honors and awards

North Carolina Courage NWSL Champions: 2018, 2019 NWSL Shield: 2018, 2019 Women's International Champions Cup Winner: 2018 NWSL Challenge Cup: 2022, 2023

Individual

NWSL Best XI Second Team: 2023 NWSL Best XI First Team: 2024 Canberra United Player of the Year: 2019/2020 SEC Defender of the Year: 2016 First Team NSCAA All-American: 2016 First Team NSCAA Scholar All-American: 2016

Career statistics College Club Season Apps Goals 2013 18 0 2014 25 0 2015 20 1 2016 24 1 Career totals 87 2

Club