Venue: WakeMed Soccer Park
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET Broadcast: Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo
Weather Update — Cary, NC
Temperature: 82–86°F at kickoff
Humidity: 65–75%
Wind: 4–8 mph (light southerly breeze)
Rain Chance: 20% (isolated summer showers)
Pitch Condition: Firm natural grass, excellent drainage
Impact: Ideal attacking conditions; humidity may slow tempo late.
Team Records & Standings
Washington Spirit — 7‑2‑3 (23 pts, 3rd place)
Strong defensive structure
Elite counterattacking pace
One of the league’s best road defenses
North Carolina Courage — 6‑3‑3 (21 pts, 5th place)
High‑possession, high‑pressing system
Excellent at home
Struggles when forced into transition defense
Injury Report
Washington Spirit
Alyssa Thompson — Probable (hamstring tightness)
Andi Sullivan — Questionable (ankle)
Haley Hopkins — Out (knee)
Gabby Carle — Probable (illness)
North Carolina Courage
Denise O’Sullivan — Probable (groin)
Kerolin — Out (ACL recovery)
Malia Berkely — Questionable (foot)
Narumi Miura — Probable (hip)
Impact:
Spirit missing Hopkins reduces aerial threat.
Courage missing Kerolin significantly impacts vertical attacking speed.
Recent Team Form
Washington Spirit — Last 5 Matches
W vs. Chicago
D vs. Orlando
W vs. Louisville
L vs. Portland
D vs. Courage
Trend: 2‑2‑1; strong defensive form, inconsistent finishing.
North Carolina Courage — Last 5 Matches
D vs. Washington
W vs. Houston
L vs. Kansas City
W vs. Seattle
D vs. Gotham
Trend: 2‑1‑2; possession dominant, but inconsistent chance conversion.
Series History
All‑Time Series: Courage lead 13–7–4
Last 10 Meetings: Courage lead 6–3–1
2026 Season Series: 0–0–1
Last Meeting: 1–1 draw — Courage dominated possession (62%), Spirit created better xG through counters.
Key Note: Courage have won four straight home matches vs. Spirit.
Key Player Matchups
Ashley Hatch (WAS) vs. Kaleigh Kurtz (NC)
Hatch: 6 goals, elite movement in channels
Kurtz: Courage’s most reliable CB, strong in duels Edge: Slight to Hatch — better form, but Kurtz can neutralize physical strikers.
Alyssa Thompson (WAS) vs. Emily Fox (NC)
Thompson: 4 goals, 3 assists, elite pace
Fox: Best 1v1 fullback in NWSL Edge: Fox — defensive advantage, but Thompson’s speed can break lines.
Andi Sullivan (WAS) vs. Denise O’Sullivan (NC)
Sullivan: Spirit’s midfield anchor
O’Sullivan: Courage’s tempo controller Edge: O’Sullivan — superior possession control, if fully fit.
Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury (WAS) vs. Casey Murphy (NC)
Kingsbury: 1.00 GA, elite shot‑stopping
Murphy: 1.25 GA, strong aerial presence Edge: Kingsbury — better current form.
Tactical Breakdown
Washington Spirit
Style: Compact mid‑block → explosive counters
Strengths:
Fast transitions
Strong defensive shape
Efficient finishing from Hatch/Thompson
Weaknesses:
Struggle breaking down possession teams
Vulnerable to sustained pressure
North Carolina Courage
Style: High possession, positional rotations
Strengths:
Elite midfield control
Strong home‑field advantage
High pressing triggers
Weaknesses:
Susceptible to counters
Lack vertical threat without Kerolin
Statistical Comparison (2026 Season)
| Category | Spirit | Courage |
| Goals Scored | 18 | 20 |
| Goals Allowed | 12 | 15 |
| xG | 17.4 | 21.1 |
| xGA | 13.2 | 16.4 |
| Possession | 46% | 61% |
| Shots per Match | 13.1 | 15.4 |
| Counterattacks | Top 3 in NWSL | Mid‑table |
Key Insight: Courage dominate possession, Spirit dominate transition efficiency.
Betting Trends
Washington Spirit
Unders hit in 7 of last 10
4‑1 ATS in last five road matches
Spirit have scored first in 8 of 12 matches
North Carolina Courage
Overs hit in 6 of last 9
5‑2‑1 at home in last eight
Courage have conceded in 8 straight matches
Head‑to‑Head Trends
BTTS has hit in 6 of last 8
Courage dominate possession but Spirit create better xG
Home team has won 6 of last 9 meetings
MATCH ODDS
Washington Spirit + 110
North Carolina Courage + 195
Draw + 255
Over 2.5 – 130 Under 2.5 – 110
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, July 10, 2026
