Plus: a special guest on this week’s podcast!
Happy Wednesday!
The Courage looked much better this week in an evenly-played road match against Orlando, but Barbra Banda is tough to outcompete for 90 minutes, and Orlando walked away with the win, 1-0.
Sadly, Payton Crawford tore her ACL during practice, a season-ending injury that leaves the Courage down a talented forward.
This week, they take on the Chicago Red Stars, who sit just above expansion side Boston Legacy at the bottom of the table. If they can play as well as they did last week, they have a shot at picking up another three points.
What we learned: Courage v. Orlando Pride
- First-half consistency improved
By all accounts, a major team goal was to have a more “consistent” first half, meaning not getting caught looking upfield and giving up two goals in the first few minutes of the match, as the team did against both Boston and Kansas City.
That was a major success. Aside from a five-minute span in the middle of the first half, the Courage were the dominant team. They were deeply frustrating Orlando’s players, and it showed, with three different Orlando players receiving yellow cards by halftime.
- Lauryn Thompson and Ivy Younce earn more minutes
Lauryn Thompson earned her first start with the Courage, and looked strong on the right side. Fans have been clamoring for more minutes from her, given how dynamic she’s looked with limited time so far.
She showed an Ashley Sanchez-like ability to spin with the ball and establish creative options. With Payton Crawford out, and a solid attacking performance, Thompson may have earned more minutes here.
Ivy Younce, a familiar face as a former Courage Academy player, made her debut in the second half, subbing in for Sanchez.
- Centerbacks held their own in a key test
Starting centerbacks Natalie Jacobs and Maycee Bell are dealing with temporary injuries, and as we noted, the Courage gave up two goals early in the last two matches. We were curious to see how the Courage would fare against the likes of Barbra Banda and the rest of Orlando’s firepower.
Natalia Staude and Uno Shiragaki stepped up in a big way, often frustrating Banda’s efforts to get to goal. Kailen Sheridan, too, made some huge saves in a couple of fun one-on-one face-offs against Banda. All around, the team should be proud of its defensive effort, despite a heartbreaking last-minute Banda goal for the loss.
Standout stats
Really, what stood out most was the evenness of the match. In almost all key areas, Orlando and the Courage went toe-to-toe, in part because there was pounding rain through much of the first half. The Courage gave up fewer corners and ceded fewer duels than usual.
One glaring exception: Orlando put up 10 interceptions to the Courage’s 5.
Look ahead: Courage v. Chicago Stars
Chicago finished bottom of the league in 2025, and are next-to-last on the 2026 table. With recent injuries, it looks difficult for the team to move up significantly, making space for the Courage to earn three points at home.
Chicago’s biggest weakness is its back line, even with Sam Staab anchoring. The defense looked scattershot last week against a surging Kansas City side, in part because they have to play people out of position due to injuries. That said, keeper Alyssa Naeher is one of the best in the league, a formidable force all on her own.
The team’s brightest spot is its forward line. Nádia Gomes, Jordyn Huitema and Ryan Gareis all are scoring threats. Plus, former Courage player Brianna Pinto should be returning from an injury, ready to go this week.
The match will be a good second test to see if the Courage have truly fixed their early consistency problems. If so, they may have the freedom to attack Chicago heavily and get some points on the table.
Special guest on this week’s podcast
This week, Katie and I are joined by Lesley Ryder of Gal Pal Sports for a terrific discussion about women’s sports, and specifically for Lesley to preview the Chicago Stars matchup.
We had a lot of fun, and it’s awesome to get a more detailed breakdown of an opponent, so check it out wherever you get your podcasts!
Courage news and updates
- The NWSL extended Feli Rauch’s red card suspension by one match, issued for hair pulling in the Kansas City game. While Rauch’s actions weren’t particularly egregious, the league has increasingly tilted at adding at least a one-game suspension for similar cases. She’ll be eligible again May 23 v. Racing Louisville.
- The Courage have some great promotional deals this week to maximize attendance for the Chicago game. If you’ve been thinking about going, now’s the time to snag a deal.
Around the league and beyond
- The league planned a vote to potentially switch the NWSL calendar to a winter one, more in line with European leagues. It’s been a controversial issue, and the league ended up scrapping the vote and announcing the current schedule will remain in place at least through the 2030 season.
- Here’s a Q&A with Trinity Rodman.
That’s it for this week! As always, you can get in touch with tips, suggestions, corrections and more: contact@lionspitch.com.
Next match: Saturday, May 16, 6:30 pm ET
North Carolina Courage v. Chicago Stars
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