North Carolina Courage 0–2 Washington Spirit, NWSL Matchday 12

North Carolina Courage v Washington Spirit

North Carolina Courage7th 21 pts

0

0–2

Full time

Sat 11 Jul

Expected goals: North Carolina Courage 1.22, Washington Spirit 1.23

Washington Spirit2nd 27 pts

L. Santos 38′
T. Rodman 45+3′

2

Sat 11 Jul, 6:30 pm EDT First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park NWSL 2026, Matchday 12

The match story

Ashley Sanchez portrait — Courtesy North Carolina Courage

NWSL News

Ashley Sanchez returns as a scorer, and a link for others

Sanchez’s Courage season has brought more frequent shooting. Her return against Spain also showed the value of moving the ball on.

17 October 2026

Key moments

38′Goal L. Santos (Washington Spirit)0–1
45+3′Goal T. Rodman (Washington Spirit)0–2

Top performers

North Carolina Courage

A. SanchezMNCshirt 20G2SH
C. WickenheiserNCshirt 14, came off the bench0G2SH
F. RauchDNCshirt 110G2SH

Washington Spirit

T. RodmanMWASshirt 21G5SH
L. SantosMWASshirt 101G2SH
G. MondayFWASshirt 210G1SH

Three per club, chosen from the match record: goals, then shots.

What it means

North Carolina Courage

7thNo change

In the playoff places, 5 points above Angel City FC, with 17 to play.

Washington Spirit

2nd▲1 from 3rd

In the playoff places, 11 points above Angel City FC, with 17 to play.

Season series

Matchday 12 Sat 11 Jul

North Carolina Courage0

Washington Spirit2

Matchday 16 Sat 8 Aug

Washington Spirit3

North Carolina Courage4

North Carolina Courage won one, Washington Spirit won one; 5–4 on aggregate to Washington Spirit.

Team stats

NC WAS

Expected goals: North Carolina Courage: 1.22; Washington Spirit: 1.23
Possession: North Carolina Courage: 42%; Washington Spirit: 58%
Shots: North Carolina Courage: 13; Washington Spirit: 8
Corners: North Carolina Courage: 4; Washington Spirit: 2

NWSL table 2026

Standings →

NWSL table
#	Club	P	GD	Pts
1	San Diego Wave FC	14	+8	28
2	Washington Spirit	13	+12	27
3	Portland Thorns FC	14	+10	27
4	Gotham FC	13	+7	24
5	Utah Royals FC	14	+5	24
6	Kansas City Current	14	+1	24
7	North Carolina Courage	13	+4	21
8	Orlando Pride	14	+2	20

After this result

By the numbers

North Carolina Courage have 6 points from last 5, in step with their season. 1.2 a match, against 1.5 all season. NWSL average 1.4.

Washington Spirit have 28 goals conceded, the 2nd fewest in the NWSL. 0.9 a match. NWSL average 1.4.

North Carolina Courage have scored 52 goals, the 4th most in the NWSL. 1.7 a match. NWSL average 1.4.

Washington Spirit have 9 away wins from 15 away, and 8 from 15 at home. 2.0 points a match away, 1.7 at home.

Every recorded action

Match events are not available right now.

Lineups

North Carolina CourageFormation 5-4-1

North Carolina Courage, 5-4-1, each line from right to left. Goalkeeper: 1 K. Sheridan. Line 1: 13 R. Williams, 18 U. Shiragaki, 25 M. Bell, 17 D. Weatherholt, 11 F. Rauch. Line 2: 35 A. Schlegel, 16 R. Jackson, 20 S. Koyama, 2 A. Sanchez. Line 3: 10 E. Ijeh.

North Carolina Courage lineup: 11 starters, then 5 substitutes who came on, then the team, with minutes, goals, assists and expected goals for this match
#	Player	Min	G
1	K. Sheridan	90	0
13	R. Williams	90	0
11	F. Rauch, off at 88′	88	0
17	D. Weatherholt, off at 81′	81	0
25	M. Bell	90	0
18	U. Shiragaki	90	0
35	A. Schlegel, off at 81′	81	0
16	R. Jackson	90	0
10	E. Ijeh, off at 81′	81	0
20	S. Koyama, off at 88′	88	0
2	A. Sanchez	90	0
Substitutes
6	I. Younce, on at 81′	9	0
8	C. Okafor, on at 88′	2	0
12	N. Staude, on at 81′	9	0
14	C. Wickenheiser, on at 88′	2	0
33	H. Betfort, on at 81′	9	0
Team			0

Unused: M. White, C. Brooks, O. Wingate, O. Peña

All player stats

North Carolina Courage lineup: 10 outfield starters, then 9 substitutes, then the team, with every figure for this match
#	Player	Min	G	Sh	CC	Pass %	Tkl	Int
13	R. Williams	90	0	1	0	75%	1	3
11	F. Rauch, off at 88′	88	0	2	0	76%	1	2
17	D. Weatherholt, off at 81′	81	0	0	0	82%	1	2
25	M. Bell	90	0	1	0	96%	0	0
18	U. Shiragaki	90	0	1	0	72%	1	2
35	A. Schlegel, off at 81′	81	0	0	0	67%	0	0
16	R. Jackson	90	0	0	4	77%	3	0
10	E. Ijeh, off at 81′	81	0	1	0	50%	0	0
20	S. Koyama, off at 88′	88	0	1	0	79%	2	0
2	A. Sanchez	90	0	2	0	47%	1	0
Substitutes
99	M. White	–
5	C. Brooks	–
6	I. Younce, on at 81′	9	0	0	0	30%	0	0
8	C. Okafor, on at 88′	2	0	1	0	100%	0	0
9	O. Wingate	–
12	N. Staude, on at 81′	9	0	0	1	70%	0	1
14	C. Wickenheiser, on at 88′	2	0	2	0	50%	0	2
33	H. Betfort, on at 81′	9	0	1	2	100%	0	0
80	O. Peña	–
Team			0	13	7	74%	10	12

North Carolina Courage goalkeeper
#	Goalkeeper	Min	Saves	SOT faced	Save %	GA	Claims
1	K. Sheridan	90	3	5	60%	2	0

Washington SpiritFormation 4-1-4-1

Washington Spirit, 4-1-4-1, each line from right to left. Goalkeeper: 18 S. MacIver. Line 1: 14 G. Carle, 9 T. Rudd, 24 E. Morgan, 6 K. Wiesner. Line 2: 12 A. Sullivan. Line 3: 19 R. Kouassi, 17 H. Hershfelt, 10 L. Santos, 2 T. Rodman. Line 4: 21 G. Monday.

Washington Spirit lineup: 11 starters, then 5 substitutes who came on, then the team, with minutes, goals, assists and expected goals for this match
#	Player	Min	G
18	S. MacIver	90	0
14	G. Carle	90	0
6	K. Wiesner	90	0
12	A. Sullivan, off at 67′	67	0
9	T. Rudd	90	0
24	E. Morgan	90	0
19	R. Kouassi, off at 67′	67	0
17	H. Hershfelt	90	0
21	G. Monday, off at 67′	67	0
10	L. Santos, off at 83′	83	1
2	T. Rodman, off at 82′	82	1
Substitutes
16	T. Bolt, on at 82′	8	0
20	D. Abiodun, on at 67′	23	0
26	P. Metayer, on at 67′	23	0
4	R. Bernal, on at 83′	7	0
27	S. Cantore, on at 67′	23	0
Team			2

Unused: S. Wojdelko, C. Martínez, É. Tsé, L. Di Guglielmo

All player stats

Washington Spirit lineup: 10 outfield starters, then 9 substitutes, then the team, with every figure for this match
#	Player	Min	G	Sh	CC	Pass %	Tkl	Int
14	G. Carle	90	0	0	0	78%	0	1
6	K. Wiesner	90	0	0	1	78%	3	0
12	A. Sullivan, off at 67′	67	0	0	0	96%	0	0
9	T. Rudd	90	0	0	1	94%	0	5
24	E. Morgan	90	0	0	0	95%	0	4
19	R. Kouassi, off at 67′	67	0	0	0	79%	2	0
17	H. Hershfelt	90	0	0	0	82%	0	2
21	G. Monday, off at 67′	67	0	1	2	85%	1	0
10	L. Santos, off at 83′	83	1	2	2	77%	0	1
2	T. Rodman, off at 82′	82	1	5	0	71%	2	1
Substitutes
28	S. Wojdelko	–
11	C. Martínez	–
16	T. Bolt, on at 82′	8	0	0	0	50%	1	0
20	D. Abiodun, on at 67′	23	0	0	0	64%	2	2
26	P. Metayer, on at 67′	23	0	0	0	67%	0	1
5	É. Tsé	–
13	L. Di Guglielmo	–
4	R. Bernal, on at 83′	7	0	0	0	60%	0	1
27	S. Cantore, on at 67′	23	0	0	0	71%	0	0
Team			2	8	6	84%	11	18