If you like excitement, get ready because the Washington Spirit are about to face a fiery test against the North Carolina Courage. At Audi Field this Saturday, during Pride Night, the league leaders will square off against one of the most resilient and defensively solid teams in the NWSL.

The Washington Spirit, with their ten wins, are making NWSL history. They became only the third team in league history to win ten of their first fourteen regular season matches, a feat only Seattle and the North Carolina Courage themselves have managed before. Coming off a physical and decisive win against Gotham FC, the Spirit are fired up and confident. Courtney Brown and Croix Bethune were outstanding in the last match, with Bethune collecting her ninth assist of the season, a milestone that puts her among the best in league history.

Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).

On the other hand, the Courage, despite an uneven start, have been recovering with an iron defense and an attack that has finally found its rhythm. They are coming off an impressive win against the Chicago Red Stars, where three different players scored. This result is a sign that the Courage are not messing around and can surprise any opponent.

The Spirit know it won’t be easy. The Courage have dominated possession this season, leading the league with 58% possession and over 5,800 passes completed. That means the Spirit need to be surgical in the opportunities they get. And speaking of opportunities, the Spirit attack is one of the most lethal in the league. With Trinity Rodman, Ouleymata Sarr and Croix Bethune leading the charge, the Spirit have an offensive line that can pick apart any defense.

This clash also marks the return of Ashley Sanchez to Audi Field. Sanchez was traded at the beginning of the year, and her performance has been solid with two goals and three assists this season. Will she put on a show against her former team? It’s the kind of storyline that makes this sport so exciting.

What’s more, the Spirit’s unbeaten run in their last six matches adds an extra layer of pressure. They know that a stumble could cost them dearly in the title race. On the other hand, the Courage are still looking for their first away win this season, and toppling the leaders would make a powerful statement.

And if you think Spirit will settle for the lead, think again. This team has shown an insatiable hunger for victories, and Pride Night is the perfect setting for yet another spectacle. With the fans on their side and extra motivation, Spirit are determined to maintain their position at the top.

The team needs to be alert and take advantage of every opportunity, while the Courage are looking to keep possession and exploit any gaps in the defense. The question remains: who will emerge victorious? No matter the result, one thing is certain – high-quality soccer and lots of excitement are guaranteed. Let’s follow along and hope for a great spectacle!

The legislature advanced a new financing program Thursday that aims to make clean energy upgrades more accessible, including rooftop solar, energy efficient HVAC systems, and LED lighting.

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) financing allows businesses to borrow money for upgrades and pay it back over time through a small increase in property taxes.

Clean energy advocates, including Matt Abele with the North Carolina Clean Energy Association, applaud the move.

“It’s a monumental step in clean energy here in North Carolina,” Abele said.

More than 38 states have already passed legislation for CPACE programs and more than $2 billion in projects have been financed nationwide, according to the Department of Energy.

“This is going to help those businesses put more money back into their pocket, be able to pay their employees more money, and continue to reinvest in the communities that they are already invested in,” Abele said.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell has strongly opposed efforts to introduce a state C-PACE program in recent years.

“CPACE is a form of predatory lending,” Folwell said. “It manipulates the free market to incentivize small businesses to be offered loans that will have higher interest rates and a higher rate of default. It’s also particularly concerning that when used for so-called green energy projects, that by the time the borrower has a problem, the lender is far removed from the transaction and has no liability if the project never meets its cost savings targets, leaving small business owners holding the bag to keep paying for something that isn’t working.”

Supporters say the treasurer’s concerns apply more to PACE lenders in the residential sector.

“It’s a voluntary option for commercial entities who are looking for an additional opportunity to finance the system,” Abele said. He also noted that clean energy upgrades could help businesses be more resilient in the face of climate change.

“It’s not only a clean energy and sustainability tool, it’s also a resiliency and a bottom line tool for businesses to decrease their utility bills and keep their doors open in the face of increasingly severe storms coming through the region,” Abele said.