Ashley Sanchez, fresh off a USWNT roster recall, needs one goal to rewrite the NWSL stats record book, and she gets her next chance to score it on Saturday when the NC Courage — holding the final playoff spot in the 2026 NWSL standings — welcome San Diego Wave to WakeMed Soccer Park.
A New Position in North Carolina Gives Sanchez Her Breakout Season
The 27-year-old already matched Temwa Chawinga's single-season mark of 20 goals earlier this season after Courage coach Mak Lind converted her from a central playmaker into a wide attacker. Before 2026, Sanchez had scored 19 goals across five full NWSL seasons combined, but she matched that total in a single year with the change in position.
Her NWSL stats surge earned a fresh USWNT call-up along the way, ending a three-year gap between national team caps. Sanchez earned the start in Tuesday's friendly against top-ranked Spain, putting one away in the US's 2-2 draw against the World Cup Champions.
"She believes more in herself right now," Lind said of his player's return to form. "She [is] brave in the way she plays."
NWSL Standings, Playoffs Spot on the Line Against San Diego
Still, with three regular-season games left, the stakes extend beyond a single player's record books.
The Courage sits eighth in the 2026 NWSL standings with 42 points, holding the final playoff spot after missing out by a single point last season. A win against San Diego would go a long way in shoring up their postseason plans this time around.
