North Carolina Courage win season finale but miss NWSL playoffs
The Courage beat Denver Summit 1-0 in Cary but were eliminated from NWSL postseason after Seattle's win.
The North Carolina Courage ended their 2026 season with a 1-0 victory over Denver Summit FC at First Horizon Stadium in Cary, according to WRAL News. The winning goal came late in the match during the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, resulting from an own goal by a Denver defender.
Despite the win, the Courage did not qualify for the National Women's Soccer League playoffs. They needed both a win and a Seattle Reign loss or draw to advance, but Seattle secured the final playoff spot with a 1-0 victory over Orlando.
The Courage finished the regular season with a 14-13-3 record and 45 points in front of about 10,803 fans. Star player Ashley Sanchez earned the 2026 NWSL Golden Boot as the league's top scorer with 20 goals, although she did not score in the last four matches.
Sanchez also had a potential record-breaking goal disallowed for offside in the first half of the final game, leaving her tied for the single-season scoring record in the NWSL.
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