NC Courage Faces San Diego Wave in Key Showdown

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 25, 2025) — The North Carolina Courage are ready for a crucial match against the San Diego Wave, who currently sit in second place in the league. The game is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Head Coach Sean Nahas has made a single change to his starting lineup. Feli Rauch returns in place of Tyler Lussi, who played in last week’s 2-0 victory against the Chicago Stars. Rauch was originally considered questionable due to a lower-body injury but is fit to play.

This match marks the second time this season the Courage will field the same starting XI. The first instance was during their 3-2 win over Kansas City, initiating an impressive four-match unbeaten streak. Throughout this period, the lineup has seen few alterations, primarily in the No. 10 position, with players Shinomi Koyama and Jaedyn Shaw alternating starts.

The starting XI for the Courage, in a 3-4-3 formation, is as follows: Casey Murphy in goal; Natalia Staude, Kaleigh Kurtz, and Maycee Bell in defense; Feli Rauch, Riley Jackson, Denise O'Sullivan, and Ryan Williams in midfield; and Jaedyn Shaw, Ashley Sanchez, and Manaka Matsukubo leading the attack. Substitutes include Marisa Jordan, Brianna Pinto, Tyler Lussi, Dani Weatherholt, Shinomi Koyama, Brooklyn Courtnall, Meredith Speck, Hannah Betfort, and Aline Gomes.

In related news, Jaedyn Shaw and Riley Jackson from the Courage have been called up by the U.S. U-23 team for matches in Germany. They will join the squad competing against German teams on May 30 and June 2, highlighting the growing depth of talent within the Courage.