North Carolina Courage Host Angel City FC Amidst Crucial Roster Changes for Playoff Bid

The 2025 NWSL regular season is drawing to a close, intensifying the playoff race for contending teams and creating a desperate scramble for those further down the table. This Saturday, a crucial encounter sees 11th-place North Carolina Courage host 10th-place Angel City FC at 12:30 p.m. ET, a match both teams view as a must-win to keep their postseason aspirations alive. The game will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.

North Carolina enters this pivotal game winless in their last five outings. The club recently made headlines with a record-setting intraleague transfer fee, trading midfielder Jaedyn Shaw to Gotham FC. Angel City finds itself in a similar predicament, having secured only one victory in their previous five matches, and is striving to regain momentum after their key player, winger Alyssa Thompson, departed for Chelsea FC.

Despite recent struggles, the West Coast side, Angel City, is far from giving up on their season. They`ve been actively building for the future, with German head coach Alex Strauss joining mid-season. Strauss recently bolstered the squad by acquiring German defender Sara Doorsoun-Khajeh and NWSL veteran Nealy Martin via an intraleague trade.

Angel City manager Alex Strauss expressed considerable enthusiasm about Nealy Martin`s arrival, emphasizing her invaluable winning experience with Gotham FC and her impressive versatility across midfield and defensive positions. “She knows what it takes to win,” Strauss remarked, viewing her as a significant asset for the team.

Martin`s transfer to Los Angeles is particularly significant given the late stage of the season, with only seven match weeks remaining. She transitions from a playoff-contending team (Gotham FC, who won the NWSL Championship just two years prior) to a franchise currently three points shy of a playoff spot, tasked with helping them quickly retool and climb the standings. For Martin, the move was appealing due to the promise of increased playing time compared to her reduced role at Gotham FC. Her presence could bring the much-needed stability to Angel City`s midfield. Strauss further praised her, stating, “We need players with experience who have played championship games before… she’s a very intelligent football player. She wins a lot of situations and, yeah, smart football. I’m happy she’s here.”

While Martin is expected to make her Angel City debut this weekend, veteran centerback Sara Doorsoun-Khajeh already made her first appearance last weekend. Strauss confirmed that the 33-year-old German international was brought in to strengthen a somewhat depleted defensive line. He explained, “When I came here, we felt that we were a little bit thin in the center of the defensive positions. We lost Savy King before I arrived, so we knew that we were a little bit underloaded in that position.” Strauss actively sought a player with a unique profile, someone who could introduce a new dynamic to the squad. He recalled Doorsoun-Khajeh as an opponent he always found “very good, very difficult to play against, and smart.”

Doorsoun-Khajeh, familiar with Strauss from their competitive days in the Frauen Bundesliga, acknowledged his successful track record. She found reassurance in joining a team led by a coach who deeply understands European football tactics. Initially, she admitted to feeling “a little bit jealous” when she learned Strauss would coach Angel City, only to be thrilled weeks later when he personally called to invite her to join the club, recognizing her playing style from Frankfurt.

Reflecting on her debut, Doorsoun-Khajeh expressed immense pride in wearing the Angel City crest, underlining her commitment to achieving success and adapting to the nuances of the NWSL. She quickly experienced the league`s faster, more aggressive pace, even receiving a yellow card just two minutes into her first game. “Okay, welcome to the U.S. league,” she quipped, recognizing the need to evaluate if her current style fits or if adjustments are necessary to thrive.

Both Martin and Doorsoun-Khajeh could play crucial roles, potentially as game-changers off the bench, against North Carolina. Strauss is already strategizing for the challenges Angel City will face. There`s still time in the season to push for a playoff spot, but their ability to navigate the remaining games against other ambitious squads will truly test their resolve. “They’re a very high-pressure team, aggressive, and when they have the ball, they have a lot of rotations,” Strauss commented on North Carolina. “They have some players that are really good at playing between the lines and good in the buildup, good central defenders, and good ball-playing, so it is challenging.” He concluded by anticipating an “interesting” contest: “I think we are a challenge for them as well. It’s a game where two teams are trying to find themselves again.”