North Carolina Courage sporting director Ceri Bowley said there were a “multitude of factors” that led to the firing of coach Sean Nahas but would not elaborate.

Through tears and a smile, Alex Morgan waved to the crowd and walked off the field for the last time on Sunday.

The Chicago Red Stars are looking for an alternative venue for their Sept. 21 home game against the San Diego Wave because of a just-announced music festival at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Finally, professional women’s soccer is back this weekend.

(AP) – Kristie Mewis had a goal and three assists and the Houston Dash beat the North Carolina Courage 4-1 in the National Women’s Soccer League fall series Sunday night. After Lynn Williams scored for the Courage to avoid the shutout, Shae Groom scored the final Dash goal in the 83rd minute. The Dash (2-1-0), who hadn’t ever defeated the Courage, close the fall series next week against the Orlando Pride in Kissimmee, Florida. The Courage (1-1-1), the two-time defending NWSL champions, wrap up the series on Oct. 17 against the Pride in Orlando. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)HERRIMAN, Utah Lynn Williams scored in stoppage time and the North Carolina Courage defeated the Portland Thorns 2-1 in the opening game of the National Women's Soccer League's Challenge Cup tournament on Saturday. Williams scored the go-ahead goal on a header off a cross from Samantha Mewis. The Courage are the NWSL's two-time defending champions and considered the favorites at the Challenge Cup. In the previous meeting between the two teams last season, the Courage routed the Thorns 6-0, led by Williams with three goals. It is our duty to demand that the liberties and freedoms this nation was founded upon are extended to everyone, the Thorns and Courage said in a joint statement released before the game.