NC Courage head coach Sean Nahas spoke with WRAL's Chris Lovingood about the team's playoff berth, the team's first since 2021, and what to expect from the playoff atmosphere at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday.
WEDNESDAY AT 04:00PM THE PARK UPGRADES ARE EXPECTED TO BE DONE IN LATE 2026. THE NC COURAGE CLINCHED A SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS LAST NIGHT DURING THEIR GAME AGAINST THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT. THE WOMEN WILL BE HOSTING IN THE NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, GOTHAM NEXT SUNDAY AT WAKE MED SOCCER PARK. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE COURAGE MADE THE PLAYOFFS SINCE 2021 JOINING US NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT AS HEAD COACH ON THE HOUSE. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. COACH. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. SO THIS IS A BIG MOMENT. WHAT EXACTLY DID IT TAKE TO GET TO THIS POINT? >> YEAH, I MEAN, IT TOOK ALL 26 PLAYERS. YOU KNOW, I YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. A U.S. FINISHING OR PREDICTING US TO FINISH DEAD LAST BECAUSE A LOT OF PLAYERS THAT WE LOST. BUT WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP THAT WORKS HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER, PUT THE WORK IN EVERYDAY REPRESENT THE CLUB AND THE AREA IN THE PROPER WAY. SO I THINK EVERYBODY THIS YEAR IS ALWAYS DOES. AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE GROUP. >> NOW THEY SAY IT TAKES EVERYBODY THERE. I DID CHECK THE AVAILABILITY REPORT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS UPDATED 2 DAYS AGO SHOWING THAT AT LEAST 8 PLAYERS ARE LISTED AS OUT. WELL, THAT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE TEAM HAS BEEN UPDATE. >> YEAH, I MEAN, A LOT HAS BEEN OUT SINCE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU GET THE SEASON ENDING BUT THAT'S WHY WE BUILD THE ROSTER THE WAY WE DO AND THAT THOSE THINGS HAPPEN LIKE ANY OTHER TEAM YET THAT PLAYERS STEP UP. YOU KNOW, WE WE LOST PLAYERS FOR THE WORLD CUP AS WELL. WE STILL ABLE TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE WITH THE CHALLENGE CUP. SO IT'S BEEN A REAL WAS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. AND AGAIN, IT'S CREDIT TO THE PLAYERS IN THE WORK THAT THEY PUT IN. >> AND AS I'M ROBIN ON, THE TEAM ARE THE LEAGUE'S EXCITED ABOUT BEING IN THE PLAYOFFS? >> OH, YEAH. AS YOU CAN EXPECT ITS. YOU KNOW, WE WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE AND THE WAY THIS LEAGUE WAS THIS YEAR AND GOING TO THE LAST DAY WITH, YOU TEAMS HAVING A CHANCE TO COOK THE QUEST, THE WEST FOR YEAH, THE GROUP'S THRILLED AGAIN, NO ONE PREDICTED US TO BE HERE EXCEPT FOR US. AND THERE YOU ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS STILL STANDING. SO WHERE CAN THE FANS GET TICKETS FOR SUNDAY'S GAME? >> YEAH, I'M ACTUALLY WANT TO PACK OUT THE PARK IN THE LAST HOME GAME WE HAVE HAD OVER. YOU KNOW, I WAS 15 TO 10,500 PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO ANTIQUE CARS DOT COM SLASH TICKETS. >> YOU KNOW, GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE GAME THIS WEEKEND AND CREATE A GREAT ENVIRONMENT WHEN THAT PLACE IS PACKED DOWN THERE, THERE'S REALLY NO BETTER BEEN IN THE LEAGUE. >> AND SEE COURAGE. HEAD COACH ON A HOUSE. THANKS SO MUCH FOR