West Wake News

CARY, N.C. (July 19, 2024) — The North Carolina Courage are set to host the Orlando Pride in their first match of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup on Saturday, July 20, with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match will stream live on Paramount+.

The Courage and Pride concluded their regular season series for 2024 in June, with the Pride securing a win in Orlando and both teams playing to a scoreless draw in Cary.

Both teams will be missing key players who are participating in the Olympics. For the Courage, Casey Murphy (USA), Kerolin Nicoli (Brazil), Sydney Collins (Canada), Feli Rauch (Germany), and Cortnee Vine (Australia) are all in Paris for the Games. Orlando will be without Barbra Banda (Zambia), Marta (Brazil), Adriana (Brazil), Rafaelle (Brazil), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (USA), and Grace Chanda (Zambia).

The Courage entered the Olympic break with positive momentum, winning their final three games of the regular season and earning points in their last four matches, including the scoreless draw against Orlando. This streak brought the Courage to an 8-7-1 record for the season.

Ashley Sanchez has been instrumental during this period, scoring in each of those wins and leading her team with seven goal contributions this season.

Orlando sits atop the NWSL standings with an undefeated 11-0-5 record heading into the Summer Cup but will miss MVP front-runner Banda, who has recorded 12 goals and five assists in 12 games this season. Banda, Marta, and Adriana have collectively scored 20 of Orlando’s 30 goals this season.

Summer Yates, Ally Watt, and Julie Doyle are expected to lead Orlando's attack in the absence of their Olympians. Yates has scored four goals this season while Watt and Doyle have each contributed two goals and one assist.

Anna Moorhouse has played every minute as goalkeeper for Orlando this season, maintaining an 82.09 save percentage and allowing just 12 goals.