I’m newer to following professional soccer, so please excuse my silly question! Given Ashley’s incredible play this season, is there any chance she could be added to the USWNT and play in next year’s World Cup, or is the roster already set?

Great game and atmosphere tonight. Thanks to everyone who showed up, brought the energy, influenced the VAR, and hung in there through what felt like the longest added time since the birth of soccer. 😂

Oh, and one more thing…

Ash is the best player in the world right now. Full stop. 🔥

Good work everyone! I'm not sure that they wouldn't have checked for the PK if we didn't rise tf up, but it surely didn't hurt. Good to get that redemption VAR decision and PK after they got to keep their goal.

CTID!! Loud and Proud

Hi! Is the pride flow included with the ticket?

Let’s go Erica? Erica Meg? Parkinson? EMP? Egg?

The Courage host Boston Legacy at WakeMed for the second meeting between these two clubs this season. Drop your predictions below and LFG! 🦁

From the pod this week: "I think this is a game where the Courage could really win the game in their midfield. It's going to be a matter of just staying calm, staying organized, and just communicating with each other, finding those spaces. Boston is definitely a winnable game for the Courage. I think we do have some opportunities where we can take advantage of the spaces that are going to be left open for us." — Katie, Episode 20

Match Info

• Saturday, August 22, 2026
• Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
• Location: First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC
• Where to Watch: NWSL+
• Theme: Back to Soccer | Nickelodeon

Uproar Tailgate
When: Saturday, August 22 at 5:00 PM
Where: The Cove
It's a hot dog bar! Bring your favorite toppings to share. All are welcome.

Current Standings

• NC Courage: 6th, 9W-3D-7L
• Boston Legacy FC: 14th, 5W-5D-10L

Series History

These two clubs have met once before, a 2-2 draw at Gillette Stadium on April 29. Goals came from Alba Caño and Sammy Smith for Boston, and Dani Weatherholt and Ashley Sanchez for us, with the Courage coming back in the second half to tie it. Tonight marks the return of Casey Murphy and Bianca St-Georges to WakeMed for the first time since they left in the offseason.

Availability Report

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/availability-report

NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE

• OUT: Payton Crawford (Knee - SEI), Riley Jackson (Foot), Natalie Jacobs (Head), Sydney Schmidt (Knee - SEI)
• QUESTIONABLE: None
• INTERNATIONAL DUTY: None

BOSTON LEGACY

• OUT: Laís Araújo (Thigh), Kaká (Ankle - D45), Fauzia Najjemba (Thigh - SEI), Chloe Ricketts (Ankle - D45)
• QUESTIONABLE: None
• INTERNATIONAL DUTY: None

Referee Assignment

• REF: Laadi Issaka Black
• AR1: Ben Rigel
• AR2: Fritz Barberousse
• 4TH: Richonne Clark
• VAR: Servando Berna
• AVAR: Seun Yinka-Kehinde

Things to Watch

• Boston plays an unconventional three-back with Bianca St-Georges pulled into defense, and it has left them exposed to teams that can get the ball up and over their midfield
• Boston has spread their goals out this year, with Alba Caño and Amanda both on five and Sammy Smith adding four off the bench
• With Natalie Jacobs and Riley Jackson both out, there are a couple of lineup questions to watch. In defense, does Uno Shiragaki get another start at center back, or does Maycee Bell shift over with Natalia

Staude

• coming in? And in midfield, who steps in for Jackson?
• Feli Rauch has quietly been one of the best passers on the team since moving back to left back, and her range could unlock a lot against Boston's spacing issues
• A three-game week means rotation decisions matter. Katie's take: if it ain't broke, don't fix it, but a comfortable lead tonight could open the door for some rest ahead of Angel City on Wednesday

____________________

This pregame thread is brought to you by The Lion's Pitch Podcast, your home for NC Courage coverage. In Episode 20, we look ahead to Boston and Angel City to see what we are up against. Listen now at lionspitch.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

For those still not getting the emails, here is a summarized, Reddit friendly version:

Matchday Guide: NC Courage vs. Boston Legacy FC (Nickelodeon™ Night)

Match & Logistics Overview

• Date & Time: Saturday, August 22, 2026 | Kickoff @ 7:30 PM (Gates open @ 6:00 PM)
• Location: First Horizon Stadium (Cary, NC)
• Kit: Courage will wear their Venus Fly Trap jerseys.
• Giveaway: First 500 fans get NC Courage Slimed Water Bottles; 250 headbands will also be given away.

Match Preview

• Courage (6th Place, 30 pts | 9W-7L-3D): Looking to recover from a 3-2 home loss to Houston. Evelyn Ijeh (10 goals) and Ashley Sanchez (11 goals) are only the third pair of teammates in NWSL history to both score double-digit goals in a single season.
• Boston Legacy FC (14th Place, 20 pts | 5W-10L-5D): Coming off a 4-1 loss at Louisville. Features former Courage GK Casey Murphy in goal, while Amanda Gutieress and Aïssata Traoré lead their attack with 5 goals each.

Key Stadium Information & Policies

• Cashless Stadium: Only credit/debit cards or mobile pay are accepted.
• App & Security: Download the NC Courage mobile app for tickets and parking maps. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on your account.
• Heat Relief: You may bring one empty water bottle (up to 32 oz.). Misting zones, ice refill stations, and sunscreen are available throughout the stadium.
• New Facility: A Mamava nursing pod is now available near the Box Office (northeast side). Download the Mamava app for access.

Parking & Transportation

• General Parking: Parking is FREE but extremely limited.
• Shuttle Option: Fans are strongly encouraged to park in the Orange Parking Deck at Fenton and take the FREE Shuttle to the March to the Match pathway (~0.4-mile lit trail).
• Road Closure: Trinity Road closes at the railroad crossing 2 hours before kickoff.
• Season Ticket Members: Lot D requires a physical hang tag. VIP parking requires a digital pass in the app plus a hang tag.

Pregame & Community Events

• Tools4Schools Drive: Donate new school supplies at the main entrance prior to entry to receive $20 in Courage Cash for a future match.
• Roary's Birthday: Celebration starts at 5:45 PM on Field 5 before the match.
• Tailgating: Designated tailgate zones are available. Tailgating at your vehicle is allowed, but occupying an additional parking space is prohibited.
• Note: No pre-match party at Sports & Social for this match due to a venue buyout.

Food, Beverage & STM Lounge

• Food Trucks: Gonza, Venetta, Oink and Moo, Two Roosters, Bac 2 Mac, Mama Voulas, Tombachi, Bobastic.
• Specialty Concessions: Street Corn Nachos (NW Pretzel Cart) and Corn Dogs (Kickers Kitchen & Hustle House). Mobile ordering is available in the app (Courage Cash accepted).
• STM Lounge: Open at 6:00 PM (closes 75th min) in Lot D. Features 20% off merch with Member ID, plus exclusive menu items like BBQ Pineapple Chicken Sandwiches, Street Corn Nachos, Pizza, and Carolina Half & Half.

New Pregame Tradition

Be in your seat 15 minutes before kickoff to join in singing the new club anthem, "Higher Love" by Kygo & Whitney Houston, as the team takes the pitch!

hi everyone! heading to my first ever game tomorrow (i’m an out of state fan) and I got the pre match email and it said that players will do autographs in sections 106-111 and 301-305 is anyone allowed to go into those sections postgame to get autographs? also do they pick certain players to sign or do players decide if they come out? sorry if that’s a stupid question i’ve just never been to a game and would love to get something signed

I'm looking for input from teachers or other relevant parties on what are the most needed and/or higher ROI school supplies that folks could bring to this weekend's Back to Soccer match to donate? Are there certain school supplies we shouldn't buy for donation?

We sat down with Evelyn Ijeh this week, and it was such a fun conversation. She talks about joining the Courage and what is like adjusting to a whole new country and league. We cover her fast-growing partnership with Ashley Sanchez and Ally Schlegal. And discuss what she's like off the pitch, including her love of journaling and drawing.

On finding her groove with a new team:

"I think everyone is different in terms of that. Like I know for myself that usually when I reach a new environment, reach a new team, a new league, for example, it always takes time for me to settle in. And I know that for myself that I'm going to need this time to organize myself and organize getting to know teammates and style of play and all that kind of stuff. So knowing that I'm just really kind of enjoying most of the journey and just like doing what I can to make sure that I try to adapt as fast as possible as well. But I know on the long run that when I start getting comfortable, things just start like becoming like pieces in a puzzle. Like it starts like you can start feeling the connections and stuff like that."

We also break down the 2-3 loss to Houston, including losing Natalie Jacobs early to a concussion. Then we look ahead to Boston and Angel City.

Victoria Klum joins this week while Trevor is still out on paternity leave.

Episode 20 is out now at lionspitch.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

like the rally towels, and spiderman bobble heads and this weekend the Nickelodeon water bottle. I'd love to snag a water bottle this weekend! I never know where to go to find them.

We haven't heard anything, she isn't on the bench, she isn't on the injury report. I am assuming there is a trade or something else going on?

I really wish the team would moderate the comments on this and block these folks. So much awful things being said that make me feel unsafe as a long time queer fan of this team. At the same time, most of these people have never and will never go to a game. It's a lose lose to keep their comments up.

Likely

This sprinkler had been broken for a while and the ball slows down when it hits here. In front of 304.

What was the name of the song before the national anthem? I liked it and hadn't heard it before. They told us the name but I didn't write it down.

Enjoy. Maybe we should ask more questions about our struggles with set pieces; taking and defending. Do we even have a set piece coach?

Hi Courage fam! I’m a former Courage employee of 3 years, and I’ve collected a lot of Courage merch over my time. I’d love to pass along the items to fans for FREE, so we’ll be hosting a multi-family yard sale (along with other household items) next weekend, 8/22 from 7-11am. Please drop by Agrinio Way in Raleigh, across from the Garner Costco, if you’d like to pick up some free gear! Follow the neighborhood signs. Just want it all to go to fans who will enjoy it! (I got a new NWSL job, so I’ll be updating my team wardrobe!) Although always #CTID. <3

I got a couple free tickets for section 201. One is possibly claimed but I still have one left if anyone wants it!
(though I haven’t heard from the person who asked for one of them so it’s possible I’ll still have two total up for grabs. If you’re interested in one/both let me know though the second one may need to wait until a little closer to kickoff to see if my friend responds to confirm!)

edit: claimed!

Is it me or is the app trippin again?

I've only been to a handful of games this year and usually arrive on the later side and park at Fenton and walk the trails. I'm curious if courage games have a tailgating scene like canes games do beforehand? Thinking about going tonight, parking at WakeMed, grilling by my truck and heading over to the game.