By OkayGoal 
Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Ashley Sanchez secured her second brace of the season Saturday, propelling the North Carolina Courage to a 3-1 victory at home over the Seattle Reign.
Sanchez has now scored nine goals for the 2025-26 season, a career best for the 27-year-old midfielder. The tally puts her second in the National Women’s Soccer League Golden Boot race.
She overtakes the Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga, who scored her eighth goal Friday in a win over the Denver Summit, and is now behind only Barbra Banda of the Orlando Pride in the race. Banda has been out since late May with a thigh injury.
Following an opening goal Saturday from Reign midfielder Sally Menti in the 19th minute, Sanchez responded less than four minutes later with a shot from the edge of the box.
The Courage went on to score two more unanswered goals, including a penalty from Riley Jackson in the 64th minute. Sanchez’s strike finished the job in the 71st minute.
Sanchez scored her first brace of the season in North Carolina’s 2-1 season-opening win over Racing Louisville. The Courage have now won four straight, leapfrogging to sixth place in the league table.
