Sanchez, Sheridan, and Three Points

The NC Courage kicked off the 2026 NWSL season with a 2-1 win over Racing Louisville. Trevor and Katie are joined by special guest Bill Nottingham, stats analyst and writer at splat.cc, to break down the win. We also look ahead to a tough road match against defending champions Gotham FC, and catch up on the latest Courage news. Follow Bill on bsky @notting.bsky.social. In This Episode ⚽ Looking Back: NC Courage vs Racing Louisville The season started with an Ashley Sanchez brace and a debut to remember for Kailen Sheridan. We break down everything that went right, what still needs work, and why we are feeling good about where this team is headed. 📊 Standout Stats The numbers from the Louisville match tell a surprisingly confusing story. We dig into what the stats actually mean and what we can and cannot take away from week one. 🔮 Looking Ahead: Gotham FC Defending champions, a dangerous new attacking core, and an away match in week two. We break down what the Courage need to do differently against Gotham and why getting Evelyn Ijeh back could be a difference maker. 📰 Courage News It was a big week off the pitch for the Courage. We catch up on the latest roster and leadership news coming out of the club. 🌎 Around the League Opening weekend delivered across the board. We look at the biggest storylines from around the league and what they might mean for the 2026 NWSL season. About The Lion’s Pitch Podcast Welcome 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 & Follow Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and find us online at lionspitch.com, follow us on Bluesky @lionspitch.bsky.social, or on Instagram @thelionspitch Hosted by Trevor Knoblich and Katie Cleary Produced by Mary Pruter Edited by Danielle Russell