The NC Courage fall 2-0 to the Washington Spirit in their biggest test of the season so far, but there were plenty of signs of growth in the second half. Trevor and Katie break down the match, grade the Courage's season so far, and look ahead to a rematch at Bay FC.

A tough 2-0 loss at home, but not without its moments. The Courage were outplayed in the first half (as has become the trend of the season) but came back fighting in the second, creating real chances and nearly pulling one back, including an Ashley Sanchez free kick that was controversially ruled out by VAR for an obscure violation. We break down the formation, subs, and why Mak Lind still believes this team can compete with the best.

With more than a third of the season behind us, Trevor, Katie, and producer Mary grade the Courage by position. Listen to see how we think the team is doing. We break down what's working, what still needs fixing, and whether this team can beat the top of the table consistently in the second half of the season.

Bay has stumbled lately but added some real pieces during the transfer window. We discuss Kennedy Fuller, the midfield battle to watch, and why this feels like a must-respond match after last week's loss. Plus, do we see Erica Parkinson's NWSL debut?

Crystal Dunn's Ring of Honor ceremony was a highlight of the weekend. Overall, a quiet week for the Courage.

The USWNT announces two October friendlies against defending World Cup champions Spain. Ashley Sanchez keeps making the case for the national team; is Emma Hayes paying attention? In heartbreaking news, Jeff Kassouf reports former Courage captain Denise O'Sullivan is likely heading to Gotham on loan from Liverpool.

Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.

New episode drops every Thursday.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch

• Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary
• Produced by Mary Pruter
• Edited by Danielle Russell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NC Courage beat Seattle Reign 3-1 on July 4th, making it four wins in a row, the first four-game winning streak since 2023. Trevor and Katie break down the win and catch up on a busy month of roster news.

This week we also welcome Courage Chief Business Officer Ralph Vuono to the podcast for a conversation about fan engagement, theme nights, attendance growth, and the club's vision for the future.

Manaka Matsukubo is traded to Chelsea in the Women's Super League. Erica Parkinson is incoming but won't be available until around July 14th, check out Bill Nottingham's in-depth look at her at https://splat.cc/posts/erica-meg/. Shinomi Koyama's contract is extended. Natalie Jacobs is progressing well in her recovery. Cortnee Vine parts ways with the club. And the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup.

Four wins in a row and life after Manaka. The Courage came out sluggish in the heat but found their footing in the second half to put up a convincing 3-1 scoreline. We break down the midfield adjustments, Dani Weatherholt's quietly excellent defensive performance, and why the depth of this roster is starting to feel like a real competitive advantage.

Washington is one of the most formidable teams in the league with Trinity Rodman and Lacey Santos leading a dangerous forward line. We break down what makes them so hard to contain, why this match feels like the biggest test of the Courage's season so far, and what Crystal Dunn's Ring of Honor night means for the atmosphere at WakeMed.

Ralph sits down with Trevor and Katie to talk about how he ended up at the Courage. Spoiler: he thought the team was based in Charlotte. He shares his bold vision for where women's soccer is headed.

Emma Sears reportedly signals she is ready to leave Racing Louisville and multiple teams have expressed interest. Sam Kerr signs with Gotham. Ally Sentnor moves to Angel City. Plus a busy transfer window as players move between the NWSL and WSL.

Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.

New episode drops every Thursday.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch

• Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary
• Produced by Mary Pruter
• Edited by Danielle Russell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NC Courage close out the first half of the season with a nervy 2-1 win at Angel City, making it three wins in a row for the first time in season since 2024. Trevor and Katie break down two beautiful team goals, celebrate some big international call-ups, and look way ahead to Seattle after the June break.

Two beautiful goals from Evelyn Ijeh and Manaka Matsukubo, both built on brilliant work from Ashley Sanchez, who arguably deserved the player of the match award herself. We break down Angel City's right-side strategy, Dani Weatherholt's quietly outstanding defensive performance, and Kailen Sheridan's late heroics that sealed the three points.

Angel City ended the match with 37 touches in the box compared to the Courage's 17, and took 59% possession in the second half. We dig into what those numbers mean.

After a four-week break the Courage return home to face Seattle on July 4th. Seattle is hard to pin down because of a stingy defense and inconsistent front line. We break down what to expect and why this match will be one of the best tests of the Courage's progress this season.

Riley Jackson, Evelyn Ijeh, Kailen Sheridan, Manaka Matsukubo and Carly Wickenheiser are called up to their respective senior national teams. Lauren Thompson is called up to the England U-20s. Sydney Schmidt tore her ACL in training and is placed on the SEI list. Plus, catch Cameron Brooks on the Women's Soccer Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-womens-soccer-podcast/2852306/

No team is secure at the top of the table with the Courage just seven points behind the number one spot with a game (or in some instances, two) in hand. Anything can still happen in the second half of the season.

Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.

New episode drops every Thursday.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch

• Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary
• Produced by Mary Pruter
• Edited by Danielle Russell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NC Courage pick up a hard-fought 2-1 win at Racing Louisville, making it back-to-back victories, something we may not have been able to do last season. Trevor and Katie break down how we managed to hold on during the last half, look ahead to a tough road trip to Angel City, and celebrate some big news off the pitch.

Evelyn Ijeh continues to make a name for herself. She put up a goal early on, giving the Courage control, but Racing played a dominant second half, making for a nervy finish. Kailen Sheridan was composed all match, Ashley Sanchez's easy finish sealed the win and pushed her to seven goals on the season. We break down the goal sequences, the set-piece defending that still caused us high stress, and what the midfield shift to Shinomi, Manaka, and Jackson is doing for this team.

The Courage controlled 59% possession in the first half before Racing took control in the second. We dig into what that swing tells us and why walking away with three points despite giving up that much control is a sign of growth.

Angel City has lost three of their last five after a hot start, but a cross-country trip before the international break could be a trap game. We break down their tough back four, the midfield rotation questions, and why this is the best test the Courage have faced in a few weeks.

Crystal Dunn announced as this year's Ring of Honor inductee, joining Courage greats Sam Mewis and Jess McDonald. The ceremony is July 11th. The win against Louisville goes down as the Courage's 100th regular season win. And we have a really moving clip from Olivia Wingate you won't want to miss.

Barcelona dominate Lyon in the Champions League final, which means Lindsey Horan is heading back to the NWSL and Denver. Plus red card suspensions, and early table surprises.

Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.

New episode drops every Thursday.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch

• Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary
• Produced by Mary Pruter
• Edited by Danielle Russell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NC Courage dominated with a 4-0 win over a struggling Chicago Stars. Trevor and Katie break down an exciting performance before welcoming midfielder Carly Wickenheiser as a special guest. Then we dive into our next road match against Racing Louisville.

This week, we welcome Courage midfielder Carly Wickenheiser to the podcast.

Four goals. Four different scorers. Evelyn Ijeh gets her first Courage goal, Ashley Sanchez reaches a career-high six, Ally Schlegel scores her first goal for the Courage against her former club, and Manaka Matsukubo caps it off with a patient finish. We break down the left-side attack that caught Chicago off guard.

Four goals on 17 shots with 32 touches in Chicago's box. We dig into what Riley Jackson's 84% passing accuracy in the final third actually means and why it's such an encouraging sign for where this team is heading.

We sit down with Courage midfielder Carly Wickenheiser to talk about her journey from youth soccer through seven years in Sweden and finally to the NWSL. She tells us what she sees coming for this team in the second half of the season and more.

Louisville is sitting in 15th, but they're built to frustrate. We break down their person-to-person defending style and why this feels like a must-win before the June international break.

Ashley Sanchez continues to shine bright this season as NWSL Player of the Month and Sports Illustrated's NWSL MVP of the Month for April. We also discuss English phenom, Erica Parkinson, transfer reports, and what it might mean for the roster.

Fairly slow week, the biggest news being Racing Louisville is reportedly looking to sell a partial stake in the club.

Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.

New episode drops every Thursday.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch

• Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary
• Produced by Mary Pruter
• Edited by Danielle Russell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NC Courage fall 1-0 to Orlando Pride in a fairly evenly matched game. Trevor and Katie break down a strong defensive performance despite the injuries in the back before looking ahead to a home match against the Chicago Stars with special guest Lesley Ryder from Gal Pal Sports.

This week, we're joined by Lesley Ryder, independent journalist and co-founder of Gal Pal Sports. Follow Lesley on Bluesky at @lesleyryder.bsky.social and Gal Pal Sports at @galpalsports.bsky.social.

Kailen Sheridan was outstanding, Natalia Staude had her best match in a Courage jersey so far, and Uno Shiragaki contained Barbara Banda for 87 minutes. We break down what went right, the midfield shift after Marta came on, and why this performance gives us real confidence heading into the stretch before the international break in June.

Both teams finished with nearly identical numbers, except for one that may be cause for concern. We dig into what it might say about the Courage's predictability on the ball.

Lesley Ryder from Gal Pal Sports joins Trevor and Katie to break down a Chicago side decimated by injuries and searching for an identity. We discuss Brianna Pinto's return to WakeMed, what to watch in the midfield, and whether someone other than Ashley Sanchez or Manaka Matsukubo finds the back of the net

The NWSL extended Feli Rauch's suspension to two games, and we still have plenty of questions about why. Plus, it's Star Wars Night at WakeMed. Come for the match, stay for the Grogu bobblehead.

The NWSL officially tables the European calendar discussion through 2030. We share our thoughts on why that's probably the right call.

Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.

New episode drops every Thursday.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch

• Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary
• Produced by Mary Pruter
• Edited by Danielle Russell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NC Courage picked up a draw in Boston and dropped 3 points at home to Kansas City. Trevor and Katie break down both results and look ahead to a road trip to Orlando.

Two games, two slow starts, and too many goals conceded inside the first ten minutes. We break down the goals against Boston and Kansas City, what they reveal about the Courage's consistency challenges, the Feli Rauch red card that nobody in the stadium saw coming, and a few bright spots, including Chioma Okafor's growing impact, Lauren Thompson's electric cameo, and Manaka Matsukubo's knack for being in exactly the right place.

Kansas City won the defensive battle in the first half with the Courage stabilizing in the second. We dig into what the numbers mean.

Orlando is hovering mid-table but don't let that fool you. With Barbara Banda, Marta, and Summer Yates all capable of scoring, they have threats everywhere on the pitch. We break down what the Courage need to watch out for and what a road win could do for their table position.

Ashley Sanchez wins NWSL Player of the Month for April. Riley Jackson hits 50 consecutive caps, becoming the youngest Courage player and fourth youngest in league history to reach the mark. Avenue Capital Group investment clears, bringing serious new financing to the club.

Ashley Sanchez wins NWSL Player of the Month for April. Riley Jackson hits 50 consecutive caps, becoming the youngest Courage player and fourth youngest in league history to reach the mark. Avenue Capital Group investment clears, bringing serious new financing to the club.

Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.

New episode drops every Thursday.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch

• Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary
• Produced by Mary Pruter
• Edited by Danielle Russell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NC Courage grind out a 1-0 win away at Houston Dash, playing more than 20 minutes a player down after Ally Schlegel's red card. Trevor and Katie break down the win at Houston and look ahead to Kansas City at home.

Ashley Sanchez is inevitable, Manaka Matsukubo delivers another moment of magic, and the back four put in one of their best collective performances of the season. We break down how the Courage ground out three points away from home with ten players.

Equal shots at 16 each, but Houston managed just two on target versus our eight. We dig into what that gap tells us about how the match was really won.

Kansas City has the most goals allowed in the league and no clean sheets, but they have the offensive firepower to hurt anyone with Temwa Chawinga, Croix Bethune, and Lo’eau LaBonta leading the way. We break down how the Courage can exploit their defensive struggles and share our picks for the starting XI.

A packed international break with Manaka Matsukubo, Riley Jackson, Evelyn Ijeh, Kailen Sheridan, Carly Wickenheiser, and Lauren Thompson all in action. We run through the results, the highlights, and what stood out. Plus, Chioma Okafor shares her thoughts on her NWSL debut.

Jess Fishlock goes down with an injury after announcing her final season and we're hoping for the best for her. Columbus and Atlanta join the NWSL as the next expansion teams in 2028. And the debate over switching to a European calendar is heating up, so we share our takes.

Welcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.

New episode drops every Thursday.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch

• Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary
• Produced by Mary Pruter
• Edited by Danielle Russell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.