Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # The Lion's Pitch A newsletter for North Carolina Courage Soccer Fans ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.lionspitch.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Courage top Orlando 5-0](https://www.lionspitch.com/courage-top-orlando-5-0/) - Plus: previews for Denver match and the Washington rematch Hello Courage Country! Well! After Utah gave the Courage a 4-1 lesson in set piece strategy, the Courage turned around and served up a devastating 5-0 victory over Orlando, no set pieces needed. It was a critical match in a number of ways, starting with reversing - [Well, that Utah match was weird](https://www.lionspitch.com/well-that-utah-match-was-weird/) - Plus: a look ahead to Orlando Hmmmmmmm. 🤔 That Utah match was one of the strangest we’ve seen in professional soccer, so it’s hard to make much of the lopsided 1-4 loss. All of the goals for Utah came from set pieces, and we’ll break down how unusual that is below. On the bright side, we - [Bay crush Courage 3-0, Utah's surprising season](https://www.lionspitch.com/bay-crush-courage-3-0-utahs-surprising-season/) - Plus: Erica Meg Parkinson's debut and news on our end Hello Courage Country! Whew. I promise not to dwell too much on that loss to Bay. This felt different than the loss to the Spirit two weeks ago, when the Courage went down fighting against a team that now tops the league. Against Bay, the - [Washington snaps streak, Bay up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/washington-snaps-streak-bay-up-next/) - Crystal Dunn given Ring of Honor, plus USWNT friendlies Hello Courage Country! The weather improved slightly by Saturday’s match, and the Courage held a lovely ceremony celebrating Crystal Dunn as this year’s Ring of Honor recipient. The Courage also faced a 0-2 loss to the Washington Spirit. The Spirit got creative when their initial attack plan didn’t - [There's life after Manaka: Courage post 3-1 victory over Seattle](https://www.lionspitch.com/theres-life-after-manaka-courage-post-3-1-victory-over-seattle/) - Interview with Courage CBO Ralph Vuono out tomorrow! Hello Courage Country! We tackled the biggest news of the month-long break in our special edition on Monday: the transfer of midfielder Manaka Matsukubo to Chelsea, as well as the acquisition of England National Team midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson. As a reminder, Parkinson is first available to be rostered for next - [SPECIAL EDITION: Manaka Departure, Grading the 2026 NC Courage so far](https://www.lionspitch.com/special-edition-manaka-departure-grading-the-2026-nc-courage-so-far/) - Plus: Interview with Courage CBO Ralph Vuono; team signs England National Team midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson Hi all, I’d planned on sending an analysis of the 2026 Courage sooner, but life got in the way. As it turned out, it’s a good thing I held off, as this week was jam-packed with major news. Let’s - [Evaluating the 2026 NC Courage to date](https://www.lionspitch.com/evaluating-the-2026-nc-courage-to-date/) - With more than a third of the 2026 season complete, we have enough matches to offer a better perspective on the 2026 Courage than we could during the preseason. The club faced numerous changes to the coaching staff and starting lineup in the offseason. With 12 out of 30 matches complete, we're getting a stronger - [NC Courage 2026 Free Agent Tracker](https://www.lionspitch.com/nc-courage-2026-free-agent-tracker/) - We'll track North Carolina Courage player contract signings, renewals and departures here throughout the year. New players: Cameron Brooks (defender) – guaranteed through 2027 with option to renew for 2028; Former University of Texas player acquired for an undisclosed fee from Napoli; adding depth at center back. Evelyn Ijeh (forward) – guaranteed through 2029; Swedish star - [Four things we learned against ACFC, Courage part ways with Vine](https://www.lionspitch.com/four-things-we-learned-against-acfc-courage-part-ways-with-vine/) - plus a look at July 4th opponent Seattle Reign Three wins in three weeks, two of them on the road, one on the West Coast. The Courage carry terrific momentum into the June break after putting together a great 3-game winning streak. We haven’t seen a 3-game streak since 2024. Still, they’re not invulnerable: Angel - [Road win against Louisville, another road match against Angel City up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/road-win-against-louisville-another-road-match-against-angel-city-up-next/) - Hello Courage Country! We said last week that a road win in Louisville would help solidify Courage momentum and prove the Courage can win on the road, which has been a struggle in years past. It wasn’t always pretty, but the Courage walked out with a 2-1 win over Louisville. We’ll break down that match, - [4-0 rout of Chicago; Louisville up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/4-0-rout-of-chicago-louisville-up-next/) - Crystal Dunn to be 2026 Ring of Honor inductee Hello Courage Country! The biggest news this week is a report from The Cutback that the Courage are working to secure midfielder Erica Parkinson. With Manaka’s contract set to expire at the end of this season and no signs of renewal, it raises the question of - [What we learned v. Orlando, Chicago Stars up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/what-we-learned-v-orlando-chicago-stars-up-next/) - 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 - [Win / Draw / Loss in 3 game week; Orlando up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/win-draw-loss-in-3-game-week-orlando-up-next/) - Plus: major investment comes through for the Courage Hello Courage Country! Wow, it’s been a busy week! We saw some beautiful soccer, but also a lot of inconsistency, especially in the first half of each match, leaving the Courage chasing Boston and Kansas City to mixed results. Thankfully, the NWSL continues to have ~all the - [Boston TONIGHT! Courage beat Houston on the road, play KC at home on Saturday](https://www.lionspitch.com/boston-tonight-courage-beat-houston-on-the-road-play-kc-at-home-on-saturday/) - Plus updates from international play Hello Courage Country! Hot off a road win against Houston, the Courage continue on to Boston this evening, an expansion side still looking for their first win. The team returns home on Saturday to play the Kansas City current at the end of a long 3-game week. We break everything - [Bay top Courage, Portland Thorns up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/bay-top-courage-portland-thorns-up-next/) - Hello Courage Country! Coming atcha a day late on a busy week! We’ve seen some of the best teams in the NWSL struggle so far this season, and for a moment, it seemed like the Courage might sneak up the table. Alas, the Courage are not immune to the topsy-turvy NWSL, and Bay FC came - [Courage draw Gotham, face Bay FC at home](https://www.lionspitch.com/courage-draw-gotham-face-bay-fc-at-home/) - Hello Courage Country! The Courage showed a lot of grit and patience in a nil-nil draw against defending champions Gotham FC last weekend. Coming up, they have a favorable matchup against a 1-1 Bay FC, who are traveling to the Triangle area on Saturday. We expect the Courage to show a little more offense-minded setup - [Courage top Louisville 2-1, face 2025 league champs Gotham next](https://www.lionspitch.com/courage-top-louisville-2-1-face-2025-league-champs-gotham-next/) - With a new club anthem, new kits, strong attendance, trio of veteran captains and 3 points on the table, the North Carolina Courage opened the 2026 season with a bang. It will take time for many of the season’s outstanding questions to be answered, but the team demonstrated they could pull together and put up - [Season opener preview; new defenders signed!](https://www.lionspitch.com/season-opener-preview-new-defenders-signed/) - Hello Courage Country! We did it! We made it through the offseason, and are heading into the glorious, unpredictable zaniness of another NWSL season. A new coach, a reformulated team, and two expansion sides await us. It’s all very exciting. But first, the Courage must conquer a familiar foe: Racing Louisville. We’ll break down that - [Marc Lasry's fund commits $40m non-controlling stake in NC Courage](https://www.lionspitch.com/marc-lasrys-fund-commits-40m-non-controlling-stake-in-nc-courage/) - Team valuation now estimated at $155m Sportico today reported that Marc Lasry’s Avenue Sports Fund has committed $40m to the North Carolina Courage. According to Sportico, the deal does not have a path to a controlling stake. Additionally, the deal has to be approved by the league, and is contingent on an estimated valuation of - [Two weeks to the Courage opening match; preseason pod out tomorrow](https://www.lionspitch.com/two-weeks-to-the-courage-opening-match-preseason-pod-out-tomorrow/) - Lussi departs club; Ring of Honor date set Hi Courage fans, Do you sense it? That electric crackle in the air? The distant shrill of a referee’s whistle The distinct smell of grass and sweat? That’s because the 2026 NWSL season is almost here! Tomorrow, our season preview pod drops, and Katie and I get - [1 month to season start! Jackson called up to senior USWNT ](https://www.lionspitch.com/1-month-to-season-start-jackson-called-up-to-senior-uswnt/) - Hi all, With a month remaining before the season opener, last-minute deals across the NWSL are intensifying. It’s also exciting to see who is receiving international call-ups in this window. International Call Ups For starters, the senior US Women’s National Team called up midfielder Riley Jackson for the second consecutive time. That’s a bigger deal than you - [New season, new squad, new coach](https://www.lionspitch.com/new-season-new-squad-new-coach/) - New expansion teams … buckle up for an unpredictable 2027 in the NWSL Hello, Courage Country. Another soccer season is upon us! Like me, you’re probably entering 2027 with trepidation: it’s difficult to focus on soccer while civil liberties are being eroded week over week. My friend Scott wrote a beautiful essay this week called - [Deep dive into the NWSL expansion sides](https://www.lionspitch.com/deep-dive-into-the-nwsl-expansion-sides/) - Sanchez extends with Courage; Speck negotiating her next move After weeks of preseason hype, it’s been a relatively quiet week for the Courage, and the NWSL as a whole. That said, we’ll start with two big updates since last week. First, Ashley Sanchez extended her contract through the 2027 season, a one-year extension. It’s a - [Nearing a complete 2026 Courage roster](https://www.lionspitch.com/nearing-a-complete-2026-courage-roster/) - Plus: a special episode of the pod this Thursday! Hi all, It’s a short newsletter this week, but I wanted to update everyone on two things: First, the Courage announced additional signings, along with their official preseason roster this week. More on that below. We are releasing a special episode of the Lion’s Pitch podcast - [Courage bring on three forwards, including Ally Schlegel, and a goalkeeper](https://www.lionspitch.com/courage-bring-on-three-forwards-including-ally-schlegel-and-a-goalkeeper/) - Plus: Jackson, Bell extend contracts; and Bay FC hires new head coach Emma Coates Hello Courage Country! We are bursting with news for the final 2025 newsletter. We’ll continue to hit your inbox if big news breaks (head coach announcement incoming?); but otherwise things will be a little quiet here as we rest and prepare - [NC Courage 2025 Free Agent Tracker](https://www.lionspitch.com/nc-courage-2025-free-agent-tracker/) - New players: Chioma Okafor (forward) – guaranteed through 2028, option for 2029; Nigerian National Team and UCONN Ally Schlegel (forward) – guaranteed through 2028; free agent from Chicago Stars Lauryn Thompson (forward) – guaranteed through 2029; England Youth National Team and Florida State commit Madi White (keeper) – guaranteed through 2028; free agent from Racing Louisville - [End-of-season roster update: Pinto, Pickett depart; Weatherholt extended](https://www.lionspitch.com/end-of-season-roster-update-pinto-pickett-depart-weatherholt-extended/) - Plus the USWNT ends 2026 on a hot streak Welcome to the second of three season wrap-up newsletters. I’d planned to send this earlier, but hey, life got in the way. Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving week! Today we’re taking a look at the post-season roster and updating our free agent tracker. If you get - [Kaleigh Kurtz departing the Courage, and part one of post-season wrap up](https://www.lionspitch.com/kaleigh-kurtz-departing-the-courage-and-part-one-of-post-season-wrap-up/) - Murphy's departure also official, and Atlanta joining the NWSL Well, this was intended to be the final newsletter of the regular season … but with so much breaking news and plenty of post-season thoughts, I’m going to split it into three parts. You’re welcome! After that, newsletters will be sporadic in the offseason when we - [Season recap: what needs to stay steady for 2026](https://www.lionspitch.com/season-recap-what-needs-to-stay-steady-for-2026/) - In one of our final newsletters of 2025, I described the Courage season as primarily feeling like "unfinished business" – referencing a squad that showed intense promise at times, but fell short of their own goals. In this post, and a related part 2, I consider what needs to hold on to – and what needs - [Despite outstanding home win, Courage won't advance to the playoffs](https://www.lionspitch.com/despite-outstanding-home-win-courage-wont-advance-to-the-playoffs/) - The Courage did what they needed to do this week, putting up a spectacular home win against Gotham, in garbage weather, in front of a record-setting crowd. Unfortunately, with Louisville squeaking past Bay FC 1-0, the Courage season ends here. There are plenty of questions to answer in the offseason. Katie and I discuss these - [Final match of the regular season; playoffs on the line](https://www.lionspitch.com/final-match-of-the-regular-season-playoffs-on-the-line/) - The Courage need a little help from Racing Louisville Hi everyone, Short newsletter this week, since last week we offered a recap and look ahead at this weekend’s Gotham matchup. The league has been on a break to accommodate international friendlies before Decision Day and the playoffs. I’ve done a quick recap of the international - [Massive win at Bay, NWSL playoffs on the line, and a new defender](https://www.lionspitch.com/massive-win-at-bay-nwsl-playoffs-on-the-line-and-a-new-defender/) - Final match announced for 5p ET on Sunday, Nov. 2 So much news this week! Normally I love NWSL chaos, but the Courage are really running it down to the wire this year, vying with Racing Louisville for the final playoff position. The Courage posted a dominant 4-1 performance over Bay FC, with Manaka Matsukubo becoming the - [A rainy draw, playoff hopes remain, Vine called up for Matildas](https://www.lionspitch.com/a-rainy-draw-playoff-hopes-remain-vine-called-up-for-matildas/) - and the NWSL Commissioner receives 3-year contract extension Hello Courage Country! The Courage survived the rainy weekend with a draw against second-ranked Washington Spirit. Ordinarily, this would be a solid accomplishment – Washington beat the Courage 3-1 in their matchup earlier this season. And the DC side seems even tougher under new head coach Adrián González, - [The hunt for a playoff spot continues for the Courage](https://www.lionspitch.com/the-hunt-for-a-playoff-spot-continues-for-the-courage/) - Good evening! After a 2-1 loss on the road in Seattle, the Courage need a couple of decisive victories in the final four matches to make the playoffs. If at all possible, they also want to avoid the 8th and final spot, a matchup against shield champions Kansas City Current. There are some signs of - [Victory over Angel City, two new players join the team, and Orlando up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/victory-over-angel-city-two-new-players-join-the-team-and-orlando-up-next/) - It’s a great week to be a Courage fan, with a convincing victory over Angel City on a glorious day at First Horizon Stadium. The player shuffle continues, with Malia Berkely being traded to Houston Dash, along with $75,000 of intra-league funds. In exchange, defender Natalie Jacobs will join the Courage; her contract runs through - [Jaedyn Shaw departing, a royally rainy draw, and ACFC up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/jaedyn-shaw-departs-a-royally-rainy-draw-and-acfc-up-next/) - Plus some notes on Dr. Ceri Bowley's fan town hall Hello Courage Country! It never fails. 12 minutes after we ended our podcast recording this week … Jeff Kassouf at ESPN reported that Jaedyn Shaw is headed to Gotham, earning the Courage a record $1.25 million intra-league transfer fee. Katie and I hopped back on - [A draw in a sea of draws; new coach for Chicago Stars](https://www.lionspitch.com/a-draw-in-a-sea-of-draws-new-coach-for-chicago-stars/) - Hello all! This week, the Courage landed a 1:1 draw against the Portland Thorns, and are now heading off for a Friday matchup in the Windy City. Chicago will be an interesting opponent, undergoing yet another coaching transition. We are releasing a very short, pre-recorded mini episode on the podcast next week due to conflicting - [Courage rally over Houston, Liga MX Feminil friendlies up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/courage-rally-over-houston-liga-mx-feminil-friendlies-up-next/) - Hello Courage Country! The team posted a quality win over a physical Houston squad, earning another three points on the table. As Alison Gale noted, the Courage were the only team to move up, closing out the first half of the season with a big win and tied for the final playoff spot. The Courage - [Pinto clinches win over Angel City, special podcast guest !!! and Houston for Pride Night](https://www.lionspitch.com/pinto-clinches-win-over-angel-city-special-podcast-guest-and-houston-for-pride-night/) - BRIANNA! PINTO! In an energetic match from both the Courage and Angel City FC, Pinto had another stick-with-it-no-matter-what goal to seal 3 points on the road. I’m also delighted to share we have a special podcast guest this week, Grace, who will be performing in drag as G-Clef ahead of the Pride Night match against - [Stars fall to Courage, road trip to San Diego up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/stars-fall-to-courage-road-trip-to-san-diego-up-next/) - No Courage players called up on the USWNT roster The Courage pulled out a needed win over struggling Chicago. But next, the team have to contend with a road match against San Diego, who have made a surprising run up the table, overtaking Orlando this week. San Diego was such a mess at the end - [Courage drop against San Diego; Spirit in a coaching transition](https://www.lionspitch.com/courage-drop-against-san-diego-spirit-in-a-coaching-transition/) - Plus: a new goalkeeper and USWNT news! A 5-2 loss is hard to take. Aside from the opening match in horrendous weather conditions, this is the first Courage outing in which the team looked truly out of sorts at times. Even so, there were some outstanding moments. The first half was genuinely fun to watch! - [The draw that was almost a win and Chicago Stars up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/the-draw-that-was-almost-a-win-and-chicago-stars-up-next/) - plus first press conference with the new Chief Soccer Officer Happy Wednesday! The Courage pulled a 1-1 draw from one of the best teams in the league, but it’s shaded with a tinge of disappointment after nearly walking away with the win. Still, there was a lot to like about that match, and if we’re - [Dr. Ceri Bowley: Developing People and Pathways for the NC Courage](https://www.lionspitch.com/three-takeaways-new-chief-soccer-officer-and-sporting-director-dr-ceri-bowley/) - His focus on staff, youth development and curiosity could accelerate the trajectory of the club This week, the NC Courage introduced new Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director, Dr. Ceri Bowley, during a press conference. Here's a quick analysis of his leadership philosophy. 1. Curiosity and a culture of improvement will be the major driver. - [Roaring past Utah; 🧨 podcast guest, and major Courage news](https://www.lionspitch.com/roaring-past-utah-🧨-podcast-guest-and-major-courage-news/) - Next up: Orlando Pride at home First of all, let’s hit the most exciting news this week: 2025 Ring of Honor inductee, 3x NWSL Shield winner, 3x championship winner, and all-around Courage legend Jess McDonald joins Katie and I on the podcast. You can search for us wherever you get your podcasts, or have a listen on our website after - [A beautiful win over undefeated KC; Utah up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/a-beautiful-win-over-undefeated-kc-utah-up-next/) - Plus: NWSL applies for a D2 league that includes the Courage! The Courage won their first match of the season, and they did it with such style and flair it stunned fans across the league. It wasn’t just that the team lit up in the second half and reversed a relatively stagnant season; it wasn’t - [Gotham unravels Courage 3-1; Bay FC up next](https://www.lionspitch.com/gotham-unravels-courage-3-1-bay-fc-up-next/) - And the USWNT wraps its friendlies against Brazil Well, that was brutal. In a game that started pretty even, with a lot of great looks from the Courage, Gotham ultimately prevailed, racking up three points mid game. The lone goal from the Courage was literally the last kick of the match. But hey, we’re here - [Bay edges out Courage; prepare for a top form KC Current](https://www.lionspitch.com/bay-edges-out-courage-prepare-for-a-top-form-kc-current/) - Plus, Dani Weatherholt returns and the Spirit beat the Pride! Hello Courage fans! A very beleaguered Washington Spirit managed to take out Orlando this week, a victory that would have been a little sweeter with a Courage win. Alas, the Courage struggles in the final third continue, leaving the team asking a lot of questions - [Road draw against the Thorns, international break](https://www.lionspitch.com/road-draw-against-the-thorns-international-break/) - USWNT takes on Brazil, then get ready for The Gothams! I’ve said it before, but it’s impossible to explain to those who don’t love soccer that a 0-0 draw can be exciting. But thankfully, you and I? We are savvy. We know the score (0-0). We understand the pure, wholesome joy of a high intensity - [There's a new Roary in town, and it's a long road to Portland](https://www.lionspitch.com/theres-a-new-roary-in-town-and-its-a-long-road-to-portland/) - Plus another round of international call-ups, including USWNT friendlies! This week we had an electric crowd, gorgeous weather and a tough home opener for the Courage, falling 2-1 to the Seattle Reign. We continue to see flashes of a great team, and hopefully thinks will settle out in the next few weeks. And friends, let - [A draw in garbage weather; hosting the Reign next](https://www.lionspitch.com/a-draw-in-garbage-weather-hosting-the-reign-next/) - Plus Denver and Bay getting some stunning new facilities Hey Courage fans! It was a week of blowouts by the best and draws for the rest … and we pulled a draw. After watching Orlando trounce Chicago 6-0, followed by Washington and Kansas City turning in dominant performances early in the weekend, I was ready - [Welcome to The Lion's Pitch](https://www.lionspitch.com/welcome-to-the-lions-pitch/) - Greetings, Courage Country! Thanks for checking out The Lion’s Pitch, a weekly newsletter dedicated to news and updates about the North Carolina Courage. Other clubs in the National Women's Soccer League and Major League Soccer have dedicated podcasts and newsletters providing analyses of matches and updates to the team roster. I felt the Courage deserved the - [2024 NC Courage Draft Recap](https://www.lionspitch.com/2024-nc-courage-draft-recap/) - The 2024 draft was stacked with talent, in part owing to some players choosing to play an extra year due to COVID eligibility rules. It made selections more difficult than usual, and arguably some very quality players still remain unsigned. All this to say that even though the Courage gave up two first-round picks in - [Hopkins, Pickett exit; Shaw does her first team press conference](https://www.lionspitch.com/hopkins-picket-exit-shaw-does-her-first-team-press-conference/) - Hello Courage Country! It’s been a fairly slow week, so I hope you’re ok with a short newsletter today. Things should pick up a little closer to the season starting, including kit reveals! Courage news and updates In exciting news, Jaedyn Shaw did her first press conference as a Courage squad member, sitting with Denise O’Sullivan and head coach Sean - [SheBelieves roster announced (ouch!) and new accountability requirements for NWSL](https://www.lionspitch.com/shebelieves-roster-announced-ouch-and-new-accountability-requirements-for-nwsl/) - plus an AWESOME training facility announcement out of Portland Hello Courage Country! The cold, drizzly weather here in the Triangle is matching my mood in any number of ways. The sunshine of a new soccer season can’t get here fast enough, am I right? It’s been relatively quiet on the news front this week, but - [THE 2025 SEASON IS HERE!!! 🎉](https://www.lionspitch.com/the-2025-season-is-here/) - Jessica McDonald will join Sam Mewis as a Ring of Honor recipient Hello Courage Country! The news slowed to a crawl again last week, so I spared cluttering your inboxes with a newsletter. Now here we are! FINALLY! AT LONG LAST! THE 2025 SEASON IS HERE! And there’s plenty of news this week, so let’s - [Double whammy week and buckle up for the KC Current](https://www.lionspitch.com/double-whammy-week-and-buckle-up-for-the-kc-current/) - Plus: The Soccer Tournament updates! Hello Courage Country! I’m back from vacation, all refreshed and ready to pretend I didn’t watch two back-to-back losses while traveling (but of course I did). The Courage will need to find a way to quickly shake off defeats from Orlando Pride and NJ / NY Gotham, because they face - [USWNT rocking SheBelieves, and BSG departs](https://www.lionspitch.com/uswnt-rocking-shebelieves-and-bsg-departs/) - plus some Lions Pitch updates! Hello Courage Country! Happy Wednesday! I didn’t send a newsletter last week, as the only real piece of substantive Courage news was the depressing announcement of the departure of Bianca St-Georges, but we’re back this week with more fun SheBelieves news and some Lions Pitch updates. First up: The pod is back this - [It's always reign-y in Seattle, Meredith Speck is back, TWO matches this week!](https://www.lionspitch.com/its-always-reign-y-in-seattle-meredith-speck-is-back-two-matches-this-week/) - Courage Country! Another week, another victory and our team is sitting at #2 on the table. It’s a great position this early in the season with a team that has this much depth and stamina. This is the final week of my vacation before returning to our normal format, thank you for your understanding! Katie - [Angel City tops Courage; look ahead to hosting Seattle](https://www.lionspitch.com/angel-city-tops-courage-look-ahead-to-hosting-seattle/) - Welcome to this week’s edition of The Lion’s Pitch. Thanks for reading, and we are really putting up numbers with the podcast, so thanks for listening as well! I’m on vacation this week and next (Katie will have some guest co-hosts on the pod), so we’ll keep the newsletter short and sweet, and return to - [Thorns thwarted and seeking a new head coach; Courage traveling to LA](https://www.lionspitch.com/thorns-thwarted-and-seeking-a-new-head-coach-courage-traveling-to-la/) - Courage Country!!! A quality 2-0 win over Portland still has me energized mid-week, how about you? That first half showed us this squad playing near potential, and it was GLORIOUS. Recap: Courage v. Portland Thorns There was so much to love about this game. Picturesque goals, another clean sheet from Murphy and notching a 100th - [Portland Thorns preview, USWNT in a DC friendly, SheBelieves Cup](https://www.lionspitch.com/portland-thorns-preview-uswnt-in-a-dc-friendly-shebelieves-cup/) - Game on! We’re back after an international break and ready to face the Portland Thorns. If you caught the USWNT this week, you really had a treat. The team was in fine form for their SheBelieves Cup matches against Japan, and while we saw a different look against Canada, it feels like they’re really honing - [Outlasting Gotham, SheBelieves Cup this weekend](https://www.lionspitch.com/outlasting-gotham-shebelieves-cup-this-weekend/) - Courage Country! Happy Wednesday, your second favorite day of the week after match day, because it’s time for another edition of The Lion’s Pitch! This week we look at our grinding win against Gotham FC, celebrate Kerolin as league MVP and get ready for the SheBelieves Cup, which will give us a near-final look at - [Match Week 3: Utah defeat, Gotham FC next, Liga MX and more](https://www.lionspitch.com/match-week-3-utah-defeat-gotham-fc-next-liga-mx-and-more/) - Howdy Courage fans! Our 2-1 loss is a humbling reminder that yes, this is still the NWSL and yes, it’s still among the most competitive leagues in the world, even among expansion sides. That’s why we love it, even when the losses hurt. We still got to see some outstanding play, plus exciting news about - [BIG NEWS! Match Week 1, NEW podcast, TST and more! [Issue #3]](https://www.lionspitch.com/issue-3-big-news-match-week-1-new-podcast-tst-and-more/) - GOOD MORNING COURAGE COUNTRY! IT IS FINALLY HERE! MATCH. WEEK. 1. THE 2024 SEASON IS UPON US! Welcome to Issue #3 of The Lion’s Pitch. Thanks for hanging in through our pre-season retrospectives, and for being patient as we smooth out details and logistics with this newsletter. Like the warmth of the spring sun, the - [Match Week 2: Huge victory at home; Utah Royals next [Issue #4]](https://www.lionspitch.com/match-week-2-huge-victory-at-home-utah-royals-next/) - Hello Courage Country! Welcome to Issue #4 of The Lion’s Pitch. It’s hard to imagine a more eventful NWSL opening weekend. We saw the Courage post a victory against Houston Dash, a great Challenge Cup match, ample week 1 highlights across the league and San Diego Wave being sold for a mountain of money. 2024 - [Trailer](https://www.lionspitch.com/trailer/) - [Issue #1: New kits! Plus: offseason recap](https://www.lionspitch.com/issue-1-new-kits-plus-offseason-recap/) - Hi Courage Country! Welcome to the first “official” edition of The Lion’s Pitch. Issue #1. Be sure to encase this in archive-quality plastic to sell as a collector’s item one day. We’ll take a look at the 2024 season kits, as well as a retrospective on offseason roster moves. I’ve made this as brief as - [Issue #2: 2024 NC Courage Schedule Overview](https://www.lionspitch.com/2024-nc-courage-schedule-overview/) - Welcome! Thanks for checking out Issue #2 of The Lion’s Pitch, a weekly newsletter dedicated to news and updates about the North Carolina Courage. You’ll notice we continue to evolve and improve our branding as we go along; hope you enjoy the new header and fonts! Let’s take a look at the ups and downs ## Pages - [Welcome to The Lion's Pitch](https://www.lionspitch.com/) - North Carolina Courage soccer, covered with the heart of a lionPreviews, analysis, interviews, league news, and more delivered each week with roaring energy. Subscribe Go to Archive See Blog Posts Listen Now - [Subscribe](https://www.lionspitch.com/subscribe/) - Subscribe to the newsletter Subscribe to the podcast - [Blog archive](https://www.lionspitch.com/blog/) - Blog Posts We occasionally write supplemental posts for the newsletter to keep it streamlined. You can read additional news and analysis. - [The Lion's Pitch Newsletter Archive](https://www.lionspitch.com/newsletter-archive/) - Newsletter ArchiveCurious whether our newsletter is for you? 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