#1 vs. #2 — Courage and Pride Battle for Top Spot on the Table

A win Sunday would place NC in the #1 spot

The Courage take their three game win streak to Orlando for a showdown with the league’s top team. NC is riding high off a dominant performance against the former #2 team, the Portland Thorns. NC has begun to look like the dominant team fans remember: high pressure, speed, and many chances.

But as we begin to move into the Olympic period, we’ll have to see if the momentum can hold.

This game will be played without two USWNT starters, Sam Mewis and Orlando striker Alex Morgan. I’d call that an even trade. It will also be the last game for Debinha and the NWSL’s June Player of the Month, Lynn Williams.

Lynn has been on fire since being named an alternate for the USWNT, scoring four goals in two games last week. Carson Pickett fed her 3* of those 4 goals, and has been an exceptional addition to this team. (*Only got credit for 2 assists because of a deflection, but in the official Michael Scattergood scorebook it’s three assists). Pickett will be facing her former team Sunday.

Orlando’s hot start has taken a lot of people by surprise. They’ve been a team with a lot of talent who couldn’t quite put it together for years now. Well, they’ve finally put it together. Brazilian legend Marta will be playing her last game Sunday, before heading off to the Olympics with Debinha. Sydney Leroux is also a serious goal scoring threat up front, and outside back Courtney Petersen was just named to the NWSL team of the month.

This could be the game NC re-introduces themselves as the league’s best. It’s been fun being the underdog again for a few months after a shaky start to 2021. But if we knock off the #2 and #1 team in back to back games, I think it would be hard for anyone to say the NC Courage aren’t the top dog once again.

Hopefully we’ll see some FIREWORKS for 4TH OF JULY (little 4th of July humor for the people).

-Mike Scattergood