Courage Host Portland Thorns in Rivalry Match
NWSL North Carolina Courage

Courage Host Portland Thorns in Rivalry Match

Published on April 3, 2026 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
North Carolina Courage News Release


CARY, N.C. - The North Carolina Courage wrap up a two-game home stand on Saturday, April 4, against the Portland Thorns. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the match will be broadcast on ION. Tickets are available here.

The Courage enter the rivalry matchup looking to bounce back from a 3-1 loss against Bay FC. The loss put the Courage at 1W-1L-1D on the season. The Thorns head to Cary with a 3-1-0 record, beating Kansas City Current 2-0 at Providence Park last weekend.

Reigning NWSL Midfielder of the Year Manaka Matsukubo made her return to the Courage in Saturday's match, scoring the team's lone goal. Manaka missed the first two matches of the season while on international duty, helping Japan claim the country's third AFC Women's Asian Cup title. The match also marked Manaka's 50th NWSL regular season appearance.

Forward Ally Schlegel, who joined the Courage this offseason as a free agent, also made her club debut in the match. Appearing as a second-half substitute, Schlegel brought an energetic spark off the bench, winning seven of 11 duels, including a perfect three for three on aerial duels. Schlegel's seven duels won were tied for a team-best on Saturday.

On the defensive end, Maycee Bell won all five of her attempted tackles. A league-best mark for the weekend, no other player won as many tackles as Bell's five, and no player who attempted more than three equaled her 100% win rate.

Second-year forward Pietra Tordin out of Princeton has been the star of the show for Portland early in the season with two goals and two assists. Olivia Moultrie and Reilyn Turner have each also found the back of the net twice, while the attack has been further bolstered by Sophia Wilson's return from maternity leave.

Former Penn State goalkeeper Morgan Messner was solid in net for Portland through the first three matches of the season, but Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold seems to have reclaimed the starting spot following her return from the Asian Cup. Arnold and Australia fell in the final, 1-0, to Manaka and Japan. Arnold had four saves against the Current in her first appearance of the season.

Saturday will also be a battle of two first-year Swedish head coaches with Portland's Robert Vilahamn and the Courage's Mak Lind squaring off. Lind succeeded Vilahamn at BK Hacken when the Thorns' new head coach left for Tottenham in 2023.

The Details

What they'll wear:

Courage - Players: Venus Fly Trap (navy) & GK: Purple

Thorns - Electric Bloom (atomic pink) & GK: Green

2026 Records:

Courage - 1W-1L-1D (11th, 4 points)

Thorns - 3W-1L-0D (4th, 9 points)

Courage vs. Thorns (Regular Season): 8W-5L-6D

Last time out:

Courage - 3-1 Loss, vs Bay FC

Thorns - 2-0 win, vs Kansas City Current

Up next:

Following the international break, the Courage will head to Houston for the first of a two-match road trip on Saturday, April 25, at 8 p.m. ET. The match will stream on NWSL+.

Check out the North Carolina Courage Statistics

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from April 3, 2026


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