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Hina Sugita scores her first NWSL goal for Portland Thorns
OL ReignPortland Thorns

NWSL Release Streaming and TV Schedule

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

The NWSL released its full 2022 schedule last week, announcing the streaming and tv schedules for the year, as the league is ready to return by the end of the month. This year, NWSL games will primarily stream on Paramount+ and Twitch, with some airing on CBS Sports Network.

“We are eager to kick off yet another thrilling regular season in the NWSL, with all 137 of our matches available to broadcast viewers in the U.S. and around the world,” interim CEO Marla Messing said in a statement. “This landmark 10th campaign represents an exciting milestone for our sport, and we have many to thank for helping us establish the NWSL as a premier fixture in professional soccer.”

On Friday, April 29, the season kicks off as Natalie Portman’s Angel City FC plays its first-ever game, hosting the North Carolina Courage in Los Angeles at 10:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

The defending champions, Washington Spirit, begin play on Sunday, May 1, as they raise a banner vs. OL Reign on Paramount+. Shortly after, the Spirit will face off against the Chicago Red Stars in a 2021 NWSL Championship rematch on May 7 on Twitch.

After the season opener, the next CBS Sports Network game will be on May 13, a contest between Cascadian rivals the Portland Thorns and the OL Reign.

The season will go through October, with the 2022 NWSL Championship set for October 29, 2022, on CBS Sports Network. You can see the full 2022 schedule here. Although, NWSL teams are currently participating in the Challenge Cup. The tournament will overlap with the regular season for a week and conclude on May 7.

Should NWSL fans be happy?

There’s pressure from multiple directions for more games on broadcast TV, but two regular-season games are at least maintaining momentum on that front. There are some valid questions about the Wave being a part of CBS’s big matches, plus no OL Reign games at home at Lumen Field.

There are not a lot of surprises here — but hopes were high for some signs of additional investment on CBS’ part. Either way, the most significant focus still needs to be on streaming quality and ensuring the field product is presented professionally.

What’s the viewership goal for the upcoming season?

The big Challenge Cup expansion battle on big CBS between San Diego and Angel City averaged 456,000 viewers ahead of the international break. The NWSL has broken the 500K mark before, but the goal has to be breaking it regularly on CBS and aiming for an even larger target.

The NWSL and CBS need to make sure people know the games will be on CBS — starting with planting that information across every platform and putting real marketing dollars behind it.

What NWSL games are must-sees?

Leaving aside the reality that NWSL is often a chaotic league where you don’t know when a game will go full tilt. However, based on what we’ve seen so far in the Challenge Cup, among the games that are airing nationally on TV, some safer bets for a fun time are:

  • Portland Thorns hosting OL Reign on May 13 at Providence Park
  • Gotham FC is hosting San Diego Wave on June 19 at Red Bull Arena
  • Portland Thorns hosting North Carolina Courage on August 5 at Providence Park
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Taylor Porter
Portland Thorns

Thorns FC sign midfielder Taylor Porter

by John Rustik
written by John Rustik

With the Thorns opening up the NWSL Challenge Cup tonight against OL Reign, the Thorns announced one more signing before Portland takes the field tonight. Midfielder Taylor Porter signed to a one-year contract with an option year.

Before this one year contract, Porter was a National Team Replacement player that joined Portland in July of 2021. She made her first appearance with the club when the Thorns took on Orlando in August of 2021. Throughout the 2022 Preseason Tournament, she made two appearances (one start) for the Thorns.

“Porter has been a stalwart of this team since last summer, and we’re really happy to have her back and signed as a Portland Thorn,” manager Rhian Wilkinson said. “Her energy and understanding of the game on the field has been great to watch, and how easily and well she integrates off of the field is highly appreciated and valued.”

The 24-year-old arrives in the Rose City after playing in Europe. She represented UDG Tenerife Egatesa in the first division of the Spanish league. She also competed in Serbia for ZFK Spartak Subotica in Serbia. While with this club, she made appearances in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Graduating from North Carolina State, she made 85 career starts throughout her collegiate career. She contributed six goals and five assists to what was an incredible career with the Wolfpack. She helped lead the Wolfpack to three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances from 2016-2018.

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Portland Thorns
Portland Thorns

Thorns release 2022 regular season schedule

by John Rustik
written by John Rustik

After what felt like an eternity, the Portland Thorns have finally released their schedule for the upcoming 2022 season. The 22-game season will be the tenth season the Thorns have competed in as they participated in the inaugural NWSL season in 2013.

With the NWSL expanding to 12 teams this season with the addition of Angel City FC and San Diego, the Thorns will play 11 games at home and 11 games on the road. They play all teams twice.

Here are some of the notable matches they have:

Portland will open their season at home on April 30 against Kansas City.

The following weekend will mark their first road trip of the season against North Carolina.

They will match up against current NWSL champion Washington on May 18 and August 10.

The Thorns clash with OL Reign on May 13 and July 10.

The first NWSL regular season meeting between Angel City FC and Thorns FC will take place on June 3. The first match between Portland and San Diego will take place later on in the season on June 8.

Here’s a full breakdown of the schedule:

Home Games by days of the week: Wednesday (2), Friday (3), Saturday (4), Sunday (2)

Road Games by days of the week: Wednesday (2), Friday (3), Saturday (3), Sunday (3)

The top six teams from the regular season will be featured in the NWSL playoffs, which is set to start on October 16. The top two teams will get a bye while the other four play an opening round. The tenth overall season will conclude on October 19 in the NWSL Championship. With the Thorns producing another strong team, it wouldn’t at all be shocking to see the Thorns battling late into the post season.

Most of the games will be on CBS networks. They will also be streamable on Paramount+ and occasionally available on Twitch, as Twitch broadcasts various games throughout the league during the season.

You can get a full look at the schedule here.

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Sophia Smith
Portland Thorns

Thorns re-sign Sophia Smith

by John Rustik
written by John Rustik

Sophia Smith’s young career will continue to blossom in Portland as she agreed to a three-year contract extension. The extension guarantees the 21-year-old forward will remain in the Rose City through the 2024 season.

“Soph has been wonderful to get to know,” Thorns FC head coach Rhian Wilkinson said. “She is a young player who already has a good level of experience in the league, and that experience has given her a new level of confidence going forward into this new season.”

In just two years, Smith has established herself for Portland. In her 31 appearances (24 starts), she has racked up eight goals and an assist. Smith, a Stanford alum, was the first teenager to be drafted in NWSL history at the age of 19.  Her performances in college led her to be the first pick in the 2020 NWSL draft.

“What she brings to the game on the field is an ability to score goals, but she also adds much more,” Thorns FC GM Karina LeBlanc said. “It is what she brings to our team culture, the community, who she is as a person, that is what we want from a Thorns player. In looking at the team now, but also into the future, keeping her in Portland was a top priority.”

Smith has also represented the U.S. Women’s National Team. In 2022, she played in all three matches of the SheBelieves Cup, helping the U.S. to an impressive 2-0-1 record. In her 13 appearances with the USWNT, she has had one goal and three assists.

With Smith remaining in Portland for the foreseeable future, the Thorns have continued to construct a team that will have success for years to come.

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Portland ThornsPortland Thorns

Portland Thorns Preseason Roster Update

by John Rustik
written by John Rustik

With the Portland Thorns just days from preseason, the team released their first official preseason roster. Here is the team Thorns manager Karina Leblanc will start 2022 with.

Goalkeepers (3): Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan, Abby Smith

Defenders (7): Keilli Hubly, Meghan Klingenberg, Natalia Kuikka (INTL), Emily Menges, Meaghan Nally, Madison Pogarch, Becky Sauerbrunn

Midfielders (7): Sam Coffey, Crystal Dunn, Olivia Moultrie, Gabby Provenzano, Rocky Rodríguez, Yazmeen Ryan, Hina Sugita (INTL)

Forwards (6): Natalie Beckman, Hannah Betfort, Marissa Everett, Christine Sinclair, Sophia Smith, Morgan Weaver

Roster Notes:

Goalkeeper Bella Bixby agreed to a three-year new contract this offseason. After starting 16 games last season, her ability to keep the opponent off the scoreboard will be incredibly valuable.

2022 NWSL Draft picks Natalie Beckman and Gabby Provenzano remain with the team for the 2022 campaign.

After joining the Thorns earlier in the offseason, Hina Sugita joined the team officially this past weekend. She is now training with the club.

Sugita and Natalia Kuikka will be the two international players for Portland this season.

16-year-old Olivia Moultrie started two of three games for the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team in the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship. Despite being the youngest player on the team, she managed to bag the first goal against Nicaragua in a 6-0 thumping. The U.S. faces Suriname this Friday at noon.

The Thorns are less than a week away from their first preseason match. Portland is host to a preseason tournament including the Thorns, OL Reign, the USWNT U-23 team and the Chicago Stars. The Thorns start off their tournament play against OL Reign on Saturday, March 5.

 

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Lindsey Horan
Portland ThornsPortland Thorns

Portland extends Sinclair, Says Goodbye to Horan (For Now)

by John Rustik
written by John Rustik

It’s been a busy week for the Thorns. Just on Thursday, Portland has announced the extension of Christine Sinclair as well as the (temporary) departure of Lindsey Horan. Here’s everything from those two moves.

Lindsey Horan to Leave the Thorns on Loan to French Side Olympique Lyonnais

Horan’s departure is one that will be brutal for fans. Her six years with the Thorns have been extraordinary. She scored the lone goal in their 2017 NWSL Championship victory over the North Carolina Courage. Throughout her career, she was named the NWSL MVP (2018), NWSL Best XI (2018, 2019) and MLS Best XI Second Team (2017, 2021).

She leaves for Olympique Lyonnais after scoring 25 goals for the Thorns, and adding nine assists.

Her move to France will be the second time Horan plays in the Division 1 Féminine. Before joining the Thorns, she played four seasons with Paris Saint-Germain.

“Firstly, I want to thank the Portland organization for supporting me in following a few of my career aspirations, this would not be possible without the club and for that I am forever grateful!” Horan said on Twitter. “I wish the team and my teammates nothing but the best this season!”

Horan’s impact reached further than just Portland. For the United States, she has made 108 caps. Within those 108 appearances, comes 25 goals and 34 assists. Most recently, she was voted as the 2021 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.

Though she will be with Olympique Lyonnais until June of 2023, she did sign a contract extension with the Thorns through 2025. While she is gone for now, there will be a party in Portland when she returns.

Christine Sinclair Extended

The good news came when Thorns legend Christine Sinclair reached an agreement with the club to keep her in the Rose City through 2022. There is an option for the 2023 season.

This was good news that many hoped for. Sinclair’s legacy in Portland speaks for itself. The Canadian forward leads the Thorns in all-time games played (143), games started (140), minutes played (12,404) and goals (54). Throughout her nine previous seasons with the club, she has helped the Thorns earn plenty of hardware. This includes two NWSL Championships (2013, 2017), the NWSL Fall Series (2020), the NWSL Challenge Cup (2021), the Women’s International Champions Cup (2021) and two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021).

“Sinclair is a player who has proudly represented the Thorns organization since day one of the NWSL,” Thorns Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson said. “Her ability to maintain the very top professional standard for as long as she has, her understanding of the game, her finishing ability, and her leadership make her a player we could not be prouder to have represent us.”

Sinclair has scored 31 goals in 62 appearances for her country. More recently, Sinclair led Canada to win the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including a goal in their opening match against Japan.

 

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Boureille
Portland ThornsPortland Thorns

ICYMI: Celeste Boureille to leave the Thorns

by John Rustik
written by John Rustik

Earlier Wednesday morning midfielder Celeste Boureille informed the Thorns that she would not be returning for the 2022 season. The 27-year-old was out of contract and will not be renewing another deal to remain in Portland. While her new club has yet to be determined, she will be continuing her career at an undetermined European-based club.

“My time as a Thorn has been an amazing rewarding experience and I have loved every second of it,” Boureille said on Twitter on Monday. “Thank you to the entire Portland organization for giving me this unforgettable opportunity since day one as a pro. With that being said, it’s time to explore a new part of the world.”

Boureille has been a member of the Thorns club since 2016.  She made 66 appearances with the team and 50 starts. Throughout her career, she helped Portland win the NWSL Championship in 2017. She also contributed to winning the NWSL Shield in 2016 and 2021.

With Boureille leaving the club, it has left a spot for Hina Sugita to make an impact. Sugita, who was signed by the Thorns Wednesday afternoon, will be looking to make her impact for the 2022 season.

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Portland ThornsPortland Thorns

Kelli Hubly to re-sign with the Portland Thorns

by John Rustik
written by John Rustik

The Thorns made another contract move on Thursday morning when they announced that Kelli Hubly would re-sign with the team. The Portland defender has signed a two year contract to remain with the Thorns.

Hubly is entering her sixth season with Portland. She has made 49 appearances for the club and 36 starts. In 2021, she made 18 appearances and 12 starts with the best defensive unit in the NWSL. With her new contract secured it is likely that she will be here until the 2024 season.

“We are pleased to re-sign Kelli. She is a player who has shown tremendous growth during her time in Portland, exhibiting a strong work ethic and commitment to the club,” Thorns general manager Karina LeBlanc said. “She has played an integral role in not only our success on the field but helping to establish a strong foundation off the field.”

Originally a fullback, Hubly shifted to become a center back and found success doing so. Her ability to make that difficult change is what got the attention of first-year Thorns head coach Rhian Wilkinson.

“Kelli’s speed, athleticism and ability to read the field are key attributes that allow her to play multiple positions across different tactical plans, and I’m thrilled to be working with her,” Wilkinson said. “She has established herself as an exceptional teammate and someone who brings a lot to the group off the field.”

 

 

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Portland Thorns

Portland Thorns 2021 Season Preview and Roster Update

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

It has been a long while but we’re back!! I am hoping to get more consistent Thorns news out starting with the 2021 Challenge Cup. My goal is to have Thorns content out at least once a week. So without further ado, let’s get to it!

If you read my friend Charlie’s previous post, you would know that the 2021 Challenge Cup begins tomorrow, against Kansas City. After the Challenge Cup, the 24-match regular-season kicks back up on May 15th. The league is not expected to break for the 2021 Summer Olympics (if that is even going to be a thing) and the season will conclude on October 30th. Full details on the Challenge Cup format and the complete regular-season schedule should be announced here soon. Until then we can just speculate and wait.

After the regular-season finishes, six teams will qualify for an expanded NWSL playoffs set to begin on Nov. 6, with the top two seeds receiving a first-round bye. The Thorns are obvious favorites for the first-round bye. The league’s ninth season will conclude with the NWSL Championship on November 20th. Where hopefully we can see the Thorns lift the Cup after a 4 year drought. 

Key Players: 

  • Christine Sinclair: The 8 year veteran and our captain. The star Canadian midfielder has put in the work consistently since coming to Portland in 2013. Her presence on the pitch is enough. As an attacking midfielder, she has an incredible eye for goal. For two seasons in a row, she has been the team’s top scorer. With the addition of Crystal Dunn in the midfield, I would not be surprised if we see Sinclair even higher up the pitch this season.

  • Crystal Dunn: The USWNT international joined the Thorns this last fall from Washington Spirit. She has over 100 caps for the USWNT and is touted as one of the best midfielders in the country. While she mainly suits up as a left back for the national team, for club, and her preferred position, is the midfield. She may not score too much, she can dictate the game and take control of it herself. She could easily be a contender for MVP. 

  • Lindsey Horan: Horan has been a mainstay at the club since 2016. The partnership of Horan and Dunn will easily be the best in the league. While she has spent time playing uptop, she has made the switch to the midfield for club and country. She has not been on the scoresheet as much since joining the Thorns, but that does not mean she can’t bang one in. She has exceptional vision and can pin point passes where she needs. 

Head Coach Mark Parsons on Horan and Dunn, 

“Lindsey and Crystal are key pillars to our future,” “Their role on and off the field is crucial to our identity and the collective goals of the club.”

Official 2021 Roster
Goalkeepers: Bella Bixby, Adrianna Franch, Shelby Hogan

Defenders: Kelli Hubly, Meghan Klingenberg, Natalia Kuikka, Emily Menges, Meaghan Nally, Madison Pogarch, Becky Sauerbrunn, Christen Westphal

Midfielders: Celeste Boureille, Crystal Dunn, Lindsey Horan, Rocky Rodríguez, Angela Salem, Christine Sinclair

Forwards: Simone Charley, Marissa Everett, Tyler Lussi, Sophia Smith, Morgan Weaver

What to Expect This Season:
The Thorns have just one more night’s sleep until the Challenge Cup starts. Then the actual season matches begin, and the wins of the offseason become irrelevant. As the offseason comes to an end, the Thorns have to take this type of success to the pitch.

And success is a fair word. Since the team lost the semifinal in Chicago back in 2019,, Portland has undergone some dramatic changes. If you would have told Parsons that after a year-plus of moves, the roster would be as strong as it is now, he’d be beyond ecstatic. The team has added some powerhouse players like Dunn, Rocky Rodriguez, and Sauerbrunn. Key parts of their core, like Sinclair, Horan, Klingenberg are still hanging around. All are key components to help carry last season’s momentum into 2021. In my opinion, the roster, as it sits right now, is probably the best that Thorns fans could ever imagine. 

Now it’s time to move to the next phase. After all, the point of all this is to produce something special on the pitch. Winning the Fall Series last year was a pretty solid start, but over the course of 2021, the team should expect more. The fans will expect more. Whether that results are in trophies or not, the team should define itself by new levels. Now that is something that I for one, am excited to see.

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Portland Thorns

Thorns release 2021 Challenge Cup schedule

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Thorns will return to action on Friday, April 9th at 7:30pm PT for their first match of the NWSL Challenge Cup, hosting Kansas City in their first NWSL match back as an expansion team.


Image via NWSL

Image via NWSL

Format Change

The Challenge Cup format is slightly different this year. Instead of a bubble with nine teams into a straight knockout bracket, there will be two divisions (East/West) of five teams each.

  • Eastern teams: Racing Louisville FC (in their first season as an expansion team!), North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride, Sky Blue FC, Washington Spirit

  • Western Teams: Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, Kansas City, OL Reign, Portland Thorns

Each team will play its division-mates once (half at home + half away = four games total) and the top team from each division will play in the final on Saturday, May 8th.

WTF is Paramount Plus?

If you’re in the United States, most Challenge Cup matches will be shown on Paramount+, which is just a rebrand of CBS All Access—the same service used for last year’s Challenge Cup. If you still pay for your CBS All Access account, don’t worry. You don’t need to make a new subscription.

If you’re not in the United States, all matches will be streamed on Twitch.

When do the Thorns play?

Here is the full Thorns schedule:

  • Kansas City @ Portland Thorns — Friday, April 9th at 7:30pm — Paramount+

  • Portland Thorns @ Chicago Red Stars — Thursday, April 15th at 4:30pm — Paramount+

  • OL Reign @ Portland Thorns — Wednesday, April 21st at 7pm — CBS Sports Network

  • Portland Thorns @ Houston Dash — Saturday, May 2nd at 4:30pm — Paramount+

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