North Wake News

While the North Carolina Courage played at CPKC Stadium against the Kansas City Current in the NWSL Playoffs, fans gathered nearly 1,000 miles away in Downtown Raleigh. The Carolina Ale House on Glenwood Avenue hosted nearly 200 supporters who came together to enjoy the game and show their support for the team.

Scott Bynum, a new season ticket holder who became a fan after attending his first game in 2023, was among the early arrivals at the watch party. "I knew flights to Kansas City were a little too expensive, so I figured this was the next best thing. I wanted to support the team as much as I possibly could," Bynum said.

Bynum emphasized the sense of community among fans as a key reason for attending such events. "The Courage have built a great community of people who just love the Courage and love soccer in the area. It is a great thing that they have built," he added.

Fans traveled from various locations to attend, including Katherine and Olivia McKinney, a mother-daughter pair who drove over an hour to join fellow supporters. Katherine expressed her enjoyment of watching games with other fans: "We like coming out and hanging out with other Courage fans, just being about to watch together is really nice."

Olivia brings a sign to every game but struggles to pick a favorite player, choosing instead "the whole team" when asked. During the match, big saves and close chances elicited cheers from those present. However, Manaka Matsukubo's disallowed goal led to boos from attendees.

"I do wish that one goal counted," Olivia commented at halftime, reflecting shared feelings among fans.

With strong attendance both at regular-season games and playoff watch parties, excitement is growing within Courage Country as they look towards the offseason.