The North Carolina Courage are set to host the Portland Thorns in a highly anticipated rivalry match on Saturday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m. ET. This match will take place at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. After a tough 3-1 loss against Bay FC, the Courage are looking to bounce back and improve their record of 1W-1L-1D this season. The Thorns, on the other hand, come into the match with a strong record of 3W-1L-0D, having recently defeated Kansas City Current 2-0. A key player to watch for the Courage is Manaka Matsukubo, who made her return to the team after international duty and scored the team's only goal in the last match. Additionally, Ally Schlegel, who joined the Courage this offseason, made her debut and showcased her skills off the bench. On the defensive side, Maycee Bell had an impressive performance, winning all five of her tackles, a league-best for the weekend. The Thorns will rely on their star forward, Pietra Tordin, who has already scored two goals this season. This match will also feature two first-year Swedish head coaches, Mak Lind for the Courage and Robert Vilahamn for the Thorns, adding another layer of intrigue to this exciting matchup. Fans can catch the action live on ION, and tickets are still available for those looking to support the Courage in person.