The Courage shut out the Reign 1-0 to climb above playoff line

Forward Gianna Paul scored her first National Women's Soccer League goal to lift the North Carolina Courage over the Seattle Reign 1-0 on Friday night.

In the first game of the NWSL’s Friday lineup, the San Diego Wave beat the Orlando Pride 2-1.

Paul scored the game’s only goal in the 48th minute with her deflected shot finding the back of the net. Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan made five saves for her eighth clean sheet of the season.

With the win, the Courage (13-11-3) moved above the playoff line to seventh in the standings.

The loss at Lumen Field snapped a seven-match home unbeaten streak for the Reign (12-11-4) and moved Seattle below the playoff line into ninth.

Lia Godrey and Gia Corley scored to give the Wave (16-8-3) a 2-1 win over Orlando. With the victory, the Wave became the second NWSL team to clinch a playoff berth.

Off a throw-in, San Diego forward Trinity Byars collected the ball and found Godfrey for the opening goal in the fourth minute. Corley finished off the rebound in the 22nd minute to double the lead.

Wave defender Kennedy Wesley fouled Barbra Banda in the box. The Pride forward converted the penalty kick to narrow the gap to 2-1.

The Pride (10-14-3) have dropped consecutive games at home.

The Wave joins Gotham FC as the first two teams to clinch playoff berths.

See AP’s full NWSL coverage here

Seattle Reign FC midfielder Jess Fishlock looks down during the second half of an NWSL soccer match against the North Carolina Courage, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Reign FC defender Jordyn Bugg, left, tries to tip in the ball past North Carolina Courage midfielder Carly Wickenheiser, second from left, and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, right, but the ball goes wide on goal during the second half of an NWSL soccer match, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

North Carolina Courage defender Uno Shiragaki, left, vies for the ball against Seattle Reign FC forward Maddie Dahlien (5) during the second half of an NWSL soccer match, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

North Carolina Courage forward Gianna Paul, center facing, celebrates her goal with teammate Shinomi Koyama (20) during the second half of an NWSL soccer match against the Seattle Reign FC, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — South Korean golfer Tom Kim got what he came for by winning the men's singles on Saturday at the Asian Games: a gold medal and an exemption from military service back home.

He shot a 6-under 64 in Saturday's final round four a four-day total of 18-under 262. Three golfers were three back and faced a playoff for silver and bronze — Kazuki Higa of Japan, Ding Wenyi of China, and Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand.

Tom Kim made a special effort to win in Japan, flying across the Pacific when the Presidents Cup competition ended last weekend.

Asked about the exemption, he took the gold-medal approach.

“Despite that, I’m more proud that I’m able to bring a medal for my country,” he said.

He did acknowledge pressure — the flight, the expectations, the gold medal and more.

“I tried not to think about it,” he said. “I just tried to play (the) best for my county. It's a big stepping stone. I think the pressure that I felt this week, I'll be able to implement it in my upcoming seasons."

Most able-bodied men in South Korea must serve about 18 months in uniform, but a medal of any color at the Olympics — or gold in the Asian Games — provides an out.

However, South Korea failed to win the team competition. That means that S.H. Kim, who played on the team with Tom Kim, did not get the exemption. He closed with a 73 and the third team member, 35-year-old Mun Do-yeob, shot 70. Mun had already served and did not need the exemption.

Kim Joo-hyung goes by Tom Kim when he plays on the PGA Tour, and Kim Seong-hyeon goes by S.H. Kim when he plays abroad.

China won the team event with silver for South Korea. The late playoff would determine the bronze medal.

The military exemption in South Korea also applies to classical and traditional musicians, dancers and other artists who are viewed as enhancing national pride.

The Asian Games format was 72 holes of stroke play. The teams were made up of three players, but only the best two scores counted each day toward the team total.

Tom Kim dominated the 7,035-yard at the Kasugai Country Club. The last two days he carded eagles on the par-5 13th, a 520-yard hole that was very gettable on sunny days for the final rounds with little wind.

Sixteen South Korea baseball players are also exempt after defeating Japan 3-1 in the Asian Games final earlier in the week. So are three South Koreans who won gold in esports, an event at the Asian Games.

“Of course the result is important, and the fact that the players will be exempt from the military service is important,” said Lee Sang-hyeok, who is known as “Faker” in the world of esports.

Lee won gold three years ago at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, and this time helped teammates avoid the conscription.

Some at home question if the exemption — created more than 50 years ago — is fair. The South Korean news agency Yonhap a few days ago termed the system “outdated” and called for change.

The news agency said the baseball game victory over Japan “symbolically reflects the changed times and the public's expectations.”

See full AP coverage of Asian sports here

See AP’s full golf coverage here

South Korea’s Kim Joo-hyung, better known as Tom Kim, plays a shot during the first round of golf at the Asian Games in Kasugai, central Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (Natsumi Yasumoto/Kyodo News via AP)