The beautiful game

The GIST: The NWSL’s Challenge Cup is well underway, and not to brag or anything, but the North Carolina Courage are kicking ass and taking names, just as we predicted.

Tell me more!: The Courage have won all three of their group stage matches and are the only team to do so. They’ll have the chance to make it four straight next Monday when they face the struggling Sky Blue FC (FC stands for Football Club), who are 0-1-1 (no wins, one draw and one loss).

• Goalkeeping has been the highlight of the tournament, with numerous 0–0 draws and shutouts recorded. And the goals that have been let in, like Houston Dash Shea Groom’s Saturday night header, have been pretty jaw dropping too.
  

• Next matchday is Wednesday, where we’ll see Utah Royals FC host OL Reign at 12:30 p.m. ET followed by the Houston Dash playing Sky Blue FC at 10 p.m. ET.

And what’s up with the MLS?: TBH, things are not looking too hot over on the men’s side. Although the MLS Is Back Tournament is set to begin on Wednesday in Florida, the Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Dallas game has been postponed, due to six Dallas players testing positive since arriving in Florida.

• One team, Toronto FC, hasn’t even made it to Florida yet. They’ve had to postpone their flight twice, the most recent time after an unnamed travel party member began experiencing symptoms. The league hasn’t said what this all means yet, but we don’t like the looks of it.