Courage Prepare for Spirit Showdown in D.C. This Weekend

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The North Carolina Courage are set to face the Washington Spirit this Sunday, June 8, at 4 p.m. ET. The match will take place at Audi Field and will be broadcast live on NWSL+, Paramount+, and Golazo.

After a challenging road game against San Diego that ended in a 5-2 loss, the Courage are looking to bounce back following an international break. Key players, including Denise O’Sullivan from Ireland and Manaka Matsukubo from Japan, participated in international matches during the break.

Currently, the Courage hold a 3-4-3 record and sit in 10th place in the league standings. Despite their recent defeat, only two points separate them from the sixth-place Seattle, highlighting the competitive nature of the league.

In San Diego, Matsukubo stood out by contributing a goal and an assist, following her impressive performance against Chicago where she scored twice. This marks a notable achievement as she is the first Courage player to have multiple goal contributions in consecutive games since 2022.

The Spirit, on the other hand, are in fourth place with a record of 6-3-1. Their last five games have produced mixed results, with two wins, two losses, and a draw. Despite a recent 3-0 defeat to Gotham and a 4-3 thriller against Angel City, they managed to secure narrow victories over Chicago and Seattle.

Trinity Rodman, a vital forward for Washington, remains sidelined due to a back injury, prompting Ashley Hatch to step up as the team’s leading scorer with six goals this season. Hatch, a former Rookie of the Year who began her career with the Courage, has shown her scoring prowess, especially in aerial attacks.

Washington’s coaching situation is also evolving, as Jonatan Giráldez will transition to OL Lyon next month, and Adrián González is set to take the helm in July.

As the Courage prepare to face the Spirit, they understand the importance of this match in their playoff pursuit. Fans can expect an intense showdown this Sunday in D.C.