Courage 1-0 over Reign FC in Seattle to jump up in playoff position

Seattle Reign FC 0
North Carolina Courage 1
October 2, 2026
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season

North Carolina Courage made the trek across country to visit Seattle Reign FC on Friday night at Lumen Field.

The two clubs entered the match at numbers eight and nine in the table, with Seattle being above the line by one point over the Courage.

With all clubs having four matches to play points are at an absolute premium. With two clubs battling for the playoff line getting one crack at gaining points and preventing points the stakes were clearly high.

Paul Kahl Photos

Both teams came out on the front foot and it got interesting in a hurry. The Courage got in on goal missing just wide in the second minute. The Reign’s Ainsley McCammon got a yellow in the third. A crossbar was hit within five. Both goalies had front of the goal tests in the early minutes.

The first half was end to end. There were hard tackles. Both sides got good looks on goal and had set pieces in dangerous places.

But, no goals.

Seattle’s run of goalless minutes at home was several games long. Ashley Sanchez has had a historic season and the Courage offense has been dangerous.

It was nil-nil at the half.

It did not last long into the second half. The Courage’s Gianna Paul found a goal via deflection in the 48th minute and the Seattle home goalless streak was over.

With so much on the line Seattle would begin to press even more. The Courage began to nurse their lead; not by hunkering down, but by slowing it a bit and sending fewer numbers forward.

The match continued to be played with pace.

Deep into stoppage Seattle continued to look for the equalizer, but could not. The single goal held up.

Three points for North Carolina means they jump over Seattle and above the playoff line. Seattle had pulled up above the line a few weeks ago, but only grabbing three points in the four matches since has dropped them back under the line a couple points off the pace.

There is now an international break to be followed by three final league match days.

BOX

SCORING SUMMARY

NC – Gianna Paul 48’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Ainsley McCammon (caution) 3’
NC – Erica Meg Parkinson (caution) 73’
SEA – Nerilia Mondesir (caution) 78’
NC – Carly Wickenheiser (caution) 80’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC – Claudia Dickey; Sofia Huerta, Phoebe McClernon, Ryanne Brown (Madison Curry 62’), Jordyn Bugg; Jess Fishlock © (Emeri Adames 79’), Ainsley McCammon (Sally Menti 71’), Sam Meza; Maddie Mercado, Maddie Dahlien (Brittany Ratcliffe 79’), Mia Fishel (Nerilia Mondesir 61’) Substitutes not used: Cassie Miller, Angharad James-Turner, Holly Ward, Emily Mason

Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 6
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 0

North Carolina Courage – Kailen Sheridan; Natalie Jacobs ©, Feli Rauch, Ryan Williams, Uno Shiragaki; Riley Jackson (Natalia Staude 90+7’), Erica Meg Parkinson (Carly Wickenheiser 77’), Shinomi Koyama; Ashley Sanchez, Evelyn Ijeh (Hannah Betfort 66’), Gianna Paul (Bia Gomes 77’)
Substitutes not used: Madi White, Cameron Brooks, Chioma Okafor, Dani Weatherholt, Vilde Bøe Risa

Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 11
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 5

Referee: Mark Verso
Assistants: Matthew Rodman, Fernando Fierro
Fourth Official: Drew Klemp
VAR: Joshua Encarnacion
Attendance: 6,952
Weather: 63 degrees and mostly cloudy