CARY, N.C. – New York City native Kristina Maksuti has signed with the best team in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The Albanian national team forward has joined the North Carolina Courage.

A former standout at Fordham University, Maksuti will be available for the NWSL Fall Series pending the receipt of her ITC.

She is the daughter of Marjan Maksuti, who was a long-time defender with the N.Y. Hota/Bavarians, among other teams in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.

Maksuti joins the Courage from MSV Duisberg, a German team in the Bundesliga in which she played during the 2019-2020 season. She also played in the National Liga A in Switzerland for FF Lugano 1976. Maksuti was the leading goal scorer in the league during the 2018-2019 campaign.

Maksuti has made six appearances for the Albania women’s national team, including four matches in 2019 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in 2019. She has played 390 minutes for her country.

During her tenure at Fordham from 2011-15, Maksuti made 60 appearances and scored 24 goals. Maksuti is a dual citizen of the United States and Albania.

The Courage kicks off its NWSL Fall Series against the Houston Dash Friday at 7 p.m. on Twitch.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.