Ashley Sanchez scores late equalizer for North Carolina in 2-2 draw with Boston

Ashley Sanchez scored in the 76th minute and the North Carolina Courage rallied in the second half for a 2-2 tie with the Boston Legacy on Wednesday, preventing the National Women’s Soccer League expansion team from winning its first match.

Elsewhere, the San Diego Wave lost 2-0 at the Portland Thorns; Gotham FC beat the Chicago Stars 2-0; and Racing Louisville fell to the Washington Spirit 1-0.

The Legacy did earn the first point in club history, but they remain at the bottom of the standings.

Alba Caño scored in the fifth minute off a pass from Nichelle Prince on the right wing to give Boston a quick 1-0 lead at Gillette Stadium. Eight minutes later, Prince cut back on the edge of the six-yard box and found Massachusetts native Sammy Smith, who fired a shot into the top right of the net.

North Carolina's Dani Weatherholt scored in the 53rd minute off a corner kick to make it 2-1. Uno Shiragaki had the initial shot and Casey Murphy’s knockdown block fell right at Weatherholt’s feet as she punched it to the left side of the net.

In a match between the league's top two teams at Providence Park in Portland, the Thorns snapped San Diego's five-game winning streak to climb to the top of the standings.

Marie Muller scored her first career NWSL goal in the 10th minute to put the Thorns on the board. Sophia Wilson extended the lead in the 64th, scoring her second goal of the season.

It was the second time these two teams met this season. San Diego won the first battle last month 3-1.

Despite just scoring two goals before the international break earlier this month, Gotham FC’s scoring woes appear to be over.

In their first two games back, they scored five goals defeating Bay FC 3-0 at home and then got two more goals in the shut out of the Stars on the road.

Jordynn Dudley scored in the first minute of the match after Jaedyn Shaw’s cross ran through the back line of the Stars' defense. It was the second-fastest goal in club history.

In the 10th minute, Rose Lavelle was left wide open and volleyed a shot past Alyssa Naeher.

Katie Atkinson, who played in the Stars’ previous two matches, was inactive with a thigh injury.

Trinity Rodman scored her 30th career goal in the 15th minute with a cross-body volley strike from the middle of the penalty box at Audi Field in Washington.

Andi Sullivan came on in the 63rd minute after a long absence. She tore her ACL at the end of the 2024 season and was on maternity leave in 2025.

The Spirit have shut out four straight opponents, winning three and drawing against Denver 0-0.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - NC Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez in action during an NWSL soccer match against Louisville Racing in Louisville, Ky., March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Lawrence Butler hit a three-run home run, Luis Severino gave up one run and struck out eight in seven innings, and the Athletics beat Kansas City 5-2 on Wednesday night to snap the Royals' four-game win streak.

Nick Kurtz hit an RBI double and walked, his 18th consecutive game with a walk, extending his franchise record and tying him with Barry Bonds for the longest such single-season streak in nearly 80 years. Bonds walked in each of his final 18 games in 2002.

Detroit’s Roy Cullenbine set the record when he drew a base on balls in 22 straight games in 1947 — the last of his 10 MLB seasons. Boston’s Ted Williams had a 19-game walk streak in 1941.

Severino (2-2) gave up four hits and walked two and now has a career 6-1 record against the Royals.

Mark Leiter Jr. got the final out for his third save.

Kansas City starter Michael Wacha (2-2) allowed four runs on eight hits and walked four in five innings.

Bobby Witt Jr. went 2 for 4, scored both of Kansas City's runs and extended his hit streak to 10 games. Salvador Perez had an RBI forceout in the first inning and Michael Massey had sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Carlos Cortes went 2 for 3 with a walk, extended his hit streak to nine games and is hitting .400 this season. Jacob Wilson and Jeff McNeil added two hits apiece for the Athletics.

Butler's 404-foot shot in the fourth gave the Athletics a 4-1 lead.

Kurtz appeared to beat right fielder Lane Thomas' throw home on a single by Cortes. The play was challenged and, after review, Kurtz was ruled out to end the fourth inning.

Wilson hit a leadoff double the second and scored when McNeil followed with a double to make it 1-1.

Kansas City's Noah Cameron (2-1, 5.13 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday against Jeffrey Springs (3-2, 3.79) in the second of a three-game set.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Athletics pitcher Mark Leiter Jr., left, and catcher Shea Langeliers celebrate the Athletics win over the Kansas City Royals in a baseball game Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler watches his three run home during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen, left, attempts to tags out Athletics' Nick Kurtz, right, at home plate for the final out of the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler watches his three run home during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)