North Carolina Courage is set to kick off the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season at home against Racing Louisville on Saturday, March 14, at 7 p.m. ET. The match will take place at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, and fans can watch the action live on NWSL+. This season opener marks a new era for the Courage, as Head Coach Mak Lind will lead the team in regular season action for the first time after joining the club from BK Hacken, where he won a Damallsvenskan title. The Courage's roster has undergone significant changes, with nearly half of the 27 signed players being new to the club, including three new goalkeepers. This fresh lineup is expected to bring excitement to Courage Country. The Courage will also debut a new captain group, featuring defenders Natalie Jacobs and Ryan Williams, along with goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. However, they will be without reigning NWSL Midfielder of the Year Manaka Matsukubo, who is on international duty with Japan. In contrast, Racing Louisville returns a strong core from last season, with 84% of their minutes returning from 2025. The Courage have a strong history against Louisville, boasting an impressive record of 8 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw in regular season matchups. After this match, the Courage will hit the road to face NJ/NY Gotham FC on March 21, at 6:30 p.m. ET.