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 into predictions, a schedule overview and some recent league news. It’s a fun way to pass the time while we wait to see what this reformulated team will look like.
While the players and coaches are on a fun team-building trip to Spain, news is sparse, so let’s hit the highlights with some quick bullet points.
Courage news and updates
- Let’s get a sad one out of the way: Tyler Lussi’s contract was not renewed, but for fans who miss her, they won’t have to travel far. She’ll be down the road playing for the Gainbridge Super League’s Carolina Ascent.
- On a more fun note, Courage legend Sam Mewis interviewed incoming keeper Kailen Sheridan, in part discussing her decision to join the Courage.
- We had a surprise update on the potential Courage stadium! While most presumed the real estate deal was dead, developer John Kane appeared on the Bottom Line Triangle podcast to say they’re still hopeful the stadium gets built in the next few years. The brief conversation is worth your time. The link should take you to around the 7-minute mark, when discussion turns to the stadium development for a bit.
- The club recently announced its promotional schedule for 2026. With the league-wide break in June, Pride Night will be held in August this year. Additionally, the schedule has a tantalizing hold for a July 11 Ring of Honor inductee, the club’s mechanism for recognizing legendary players.
- Apparently, Cortnee Vine was not called up for Australia’s campaign in the AFC Asian Women’s Cup; several outlets had reported it, but a proper roster was released last weekend, and Vine wasn’t listed. Apologies for the confusion!
Around the League
- Denver Summit did an amazing job with their kit reveal. The fun video shows their inspiration for the kit colors, and the kits themselves are gorgeous. They also received a ton of local media coverage for their release.
- Boston revealed their kit as well. I think it’s fun seeing both expansion sides roll out first. Also, New Kids on the Block is playing at halftime of their home opener.
- KC Current announced a large expansion of its training grounds. It includes a 2,000-seat Riverside Stadium and Performance Center, which will host its second team, and support youth development programs. The Current has invested $52 million total into the Riverside training facilities.
Until next time, Courage Country!
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North Carolina Courage v. Racing Louisville
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