Wave returns to win column, remains in fourth place

The San Diego Wave has two home matches remaining until the start of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.

The local kickers made the most of Saturday’s home match against the North Carolina Courage with a well-timed 2-1 victory to build on a 1-0 setback in Seattle the previous week.

With a record of 13-8-3, the Wave shares an identical record with the Utah Royals in the standings but in fourth place due to tiebreakers. Both teams have 42 points — just one point behind the second place Washington Spirit (13-7-4).

Gotham FC (14-4-6) continues to top the 16-team table with 48 points.

The win over the Courage (12-9-3) was especially timely as the North Carolina team sits just three points behind the Wave  along with the Portland Thorns (11-7-6).

Gia Corley put the hosts ahead 1-0 in the 23rd minute, followed by a goal in the 72nd minute by Melanie Barcenas for a 2-0 lead.

But the Courage challenged with a goal in the 82nd minute by Ashley Sanchez to draw the teams back to within one goal. Sanchez scored her 19th of the season, putting her one goal shy of tying the single-season league record.

Player Notes:

• Melanie Barcenas scored her sixth goal of the season, tying the NWSL single-season record for goals by a teenager.
• Barcenas leads the NWSL in goals and goal contributions by a teenager this season.
• Gia Corley scored her first goal of the 2026 season.
• Barcenas’s eighth career goal moved her into fourth place in NWSL history for goals scored by a teenager.
• Barcenas recorded her second game-winning goal of the season.
• Brooklyn Courtnall made her first start for San Diego, went the full 90 minutes and led the team with four interceptions.

Match Notes:

• San Diego extended its unbeaten run at Snapdragon Stadium to four matches, its longest of the season.
• The Wave improved to 11-0-3 when scoring the opening goal this season.
• San Diego improved to 6-0-3 when leading at halftime.

Goals by Half:

San Diego Wave FC	1	1	2
North Carolina Courage	0	1	1

 Scoring Summary: 

23?	San Diego Wave	Gia Corley (1)
72?	San Diego Wave	Melanie Barcenas (6)
82?	North Carolina Courage	Ashley Sanchez (18)	Shinomi Koyama (5)

 Misconduct Summary:

44?

NC

Chioma Okafor

Yellow

Boxscore: 

SD	9	5	5	1	9	1	53%
NC	13	6	3	3	9	2	47%

San Diego Wave FC: GK Sandra Paños, D Perle Morroni, D Kristen McNabb, D Kennedy Wesley ©, D Brooklyn Courtnall, M Gia Corley (Laila Harbert 63’), M Kimmi Ascanio (Laurina Fazer 81’), M Kenza Dali, F Lia Godfrey, F Trinity Byars (Adriana Leon 81’), F Melanie Barcenas (Nya Harrison 90+3’) 

Unused Substitutes: GK Didi Haracic, M Tatum Wynalda, M Gabi Portilho, F Ludmila 

Head Coach: Jonas Eidevall 

North Carolina Courage: GK Kailen Sheridan, D Feli Rauch (Dani Weatherholt 81’), D Natalia Staude (Hannah Betfort 90’), D Ryan Williams, D Uno Shiragaki, M Erica Meg Parkinson, M Shinomi Koyama, M Vilde Boe Risa (Bia Gomes 81’), F Ashley Sanchez, F Chioma Okafor (Carly Wickenheiser 63’), F Evelyn Ijeh 

Unused Substitutes: GK Madi White, D Cameron Brooks, D Ivy Younce, F Olivia Pena, F Olivia Wingate 

Head Coach: Mak Lind 

Attendance: 9,853 

Photo Gallery by Paul Martinez