Growing Pains

The NC Courage suffered their first loss, 1-3 to Bay FC. Trevor and Katie break down what went wrong and what gave them hope. Then they look to bounce back at home against our bitter rivals, the Portland Thorns.In This EpisodeLooking Back: NC Courage vs Gotham FCA frustrating result, but there are things to build on. We break down the defensive shape, midfield control issues, and offensive questions still needing answers, alongside the bright spots from Mak Lind, Ally Schlegel, and Ryan Williams.Standout StatsPossession was nearly even, making the scoreline even more concerning. We dive in to see what it all means.Looking Ahead: Bay FCPortland currently sits fourth in 2026 and has averaged just 37% possession across their opening matches, which could play right into the Courage's hands or set a trap. We break down their forward line and debate the back four versus back five question.Courage NewsThe international break is coming after Portland. We catch up on what that means for Manaka Matsukubo and the Courage heading into the next stretch of the season.Around the LeagueA record-breaking attendance milestone and a follow-up on the red card conversation from last week.About The Lion’s Pitch PodcastWelcome to The Lion’s Pitch, your go-to podcast for everything North Carolina Courage. Every week, Trevor and Katie break down the latest matches, preview upcoming opponents, discuss NC Courage news, and take a look around the NWSL. Plus, we’ll bring you bonus episodes with interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and some fun surprises along the way.New episode drops every Thursday.Subscribe & FollowSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitchHosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie ClearyProduced by Mary PruterEdited by Danielle Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.