List of Portland Thorns FC seasons

Last updated

Thorns players and staff celebrate winning the 2022 NWSL Championship at Audi Field. 2022 NWSL Championship 85 - celebration.jpg
Thorns players and staff celebrate winning the 2022 NWSL Championship at Audi Field.

This is a list of all seasons played by Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), from their inaugural season in 2013 to their last completed season in 2022. It details their record in every major competition entered, as well as the top goalscorers for each season.

Contents

The club have won every major NWSL trophy. Portland was the first team to win three NWSL Championships, [1] the third to win two NWSL Shields, [2] and won the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup. The Thorns also won the 2020 NWSL Fall Series Community Shield and 2021 Women's International Champions Cup, and Thorns players have been named the league's most valuable player twice (Lindsey Horan in 2018, [3] Sophia Smith in 2022 [4] ).

2013

Under head coach Cindy Parlow Cone, the Thorns played in the new league's inaugural game on April 13, 2013, against host team FC Kansas City, which ended in a 1–1 draw in which Christine Sinclair scored the club's first goal on a penalty kick. [5] [6] The team's first home match on April 21 provided the club its first victory, a 2–1 win over Seattle Reign FC. [7] Beyond setting a new league record, the home opener crowd of 16,479 at Jeld-Wen Field eclipsed any single-game attendance from Women's Professional Soccer. [8] Subsequently, the team's regular-season home finale of 17,619 topped the previous mark of 16,479 and also ranked at the time among the top single-game marks in women's professional soccer history in the United States. [9]

The Thorns were also an attendance draw on the road. Portland's road games were witnessed by season-high attendance figures or sellout crowds, including a record-setting crowd at the Maryland SoccerPlex against the Washington Spirit on May 4. [10] A total of 5,011 people were in attendance, besting the previous record for a women's game at the Soccerplex by more than 300 and about 500 more than normal capacity. [11]

On August 28, 2013, the NWSL named Thorns FC forwards Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan, and defender Rachel Buehler, to the league's second-team Best XI. [12]

The club finished in a three-way tie atop the league in the regular-season standings, but by virtue of goal differential tiebreaker, the club claimed the No. 3 seed in the NWSL playoffs. In the first round of playoffs on August 24, the Thorns beat FC Kansas City 3–2 after extra time. A week later they beat the Western New York Flash 2–0 in the championship game, with Tobin Heath and Christine Sinclair scoring the two goals and the Thorns overcoming the red-card ejection of defender Kat Williamson in the 57th minute, to become the first NWSL Champions. [13]

After the end of the season, Parlow Cone resigned as head coach on December 5, 2013. She cited personal reasons, particularly a desire to spend more time with her husband, Portland Timbers director of sports science John Cone, who also resigned around the same time. [14]

2014

The Thorns kicked off their 2014 season with the announcement of a new head coach, Paul Riley, formerly of the Long Island Fury of the Women's Premier Soccer League. [15] The team traded goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc to the Chicago Red Stars and replaced her with 2013 FIFA World Player of the Year recipient Nadine Angerer, [16] and in April traded Kat Williamson, Courtney Wetzel, and a first-round pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft to the Flash for defender Sarah Huffman [17] and the right to sign Spanish international Verónica Boquete. [18]

The Thorns broke the club's own NWSL attendance record with 19,123 attending an August 3 game between Portland and expansion team Houston Dash at newly renamed Providence Park. [19] After finishing third in the regular season, the Thorns qualified for the playoffs but were knocked out in the semi-finals by FC Kansas City. [20]

2015

The Thorns made a number of roster moves in the offseason. In November 2014, the Thorns traded Amber Brooks to the Western New York Flash to re-acquire Kat Williamson and acquire midfielder McCall Zerboni. [21] The team also traded the 25th and 34th-overall picks in the 2015 draft to Sky Blue FC in exchange for defender Kendall Johnson, a Portland native and former University of Portland standout, [22] and traded the 13th-overall 2015 pick and two second-round 2016 NWSL College Draft picks to the Washington Spirit in exchange for English international forward Jodie Taylor, who had played at Oregon State and was among the league's goalscoring leaders during the 2014 NWSL season. [23]

Portland also signed Equatorial Guinea international forward Genoveva Añonman, who had made 122 appearances and scored 95 goals for in the German Frauen-Bundesliga, [24] and midfielder Sarah Robbins from Åland United, champions of Finland's Naisten Liiga. [25]

As part of the National Team player allocation process, Portland received Canadian international midfielder Kaylyn Kyle and defender Rhian Wilkinson. [26]

In February, defender Nikki Marshall announced her retirement from professional soccer. In her two seasons with the Thorns, Marshall, 26, appeared in a club-record 46 consecutive regular-season matches, playing 3,943 minutes. [27]

On June 19, 2015, the Thorns made NWSL history when goalkeeper Michelle Betos headed the equalizing goal for 10-woman Portland in the 95th minute against FC Kansas City, the first goal scored by a goalkeeper in the league. [28] The Thorns also sold out Providence Park for the first time in a match against Seattle Reign FC following the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, again setting the league's attendance record with 21,144. [29]

However, the Thorns finished in 6th place of the now 9-team league, missing the playoffs for the first and only time in its history. At the end of the season the team announced that head coach Paul Riley's contract was allowed to expire, [30] though reports in 2021 would reveal that Riley had been investigated for alleged sexual harassment and coercion and quietly terminated. [31]

On October 5, the Thorns hired Washington Spirit head coach Mark Parsons as head coach for the 2016 season. [32] In December, the club brought Angerer back as its goalkeeping coach. [33]

2016

In Parsons's first season in charge, the Thorns executed a series of trades — anchored by moving founding forward Alex Morgan and midfielder Kaylyn Kyle to expansion team Orlando Pride — that resulted in the acquisitions of defender Emily Sonnett in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, Lindsey Horan via allocation from Paris Saint-Germain, Meghan Klingenberg through as an Orlando pick-and-trade during the 2016 NWSL Expansion Draft, goalkeeper Adrianna Franch's rights from the Boston Breakers, and international slots used to sign Olympique Lyonnais Féminin midfielder and France national team Capitan Amandine Henry and Icelandic international midfielder Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, and Danish international forward Nadia Nadim acquired from Sky Blue FC. [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] Parsons also signed former Washington Spirit winger Hayley Raso off waivers and acquired Meg Morris from Sky Blue. At the start of the 2016 preseason, only eight players from the 2015 team remained on the roster. [39]

The acquisitions formed the core of a team that won the Thorns its first NWSL Shield in 2016, which allowed it to host its first playoff match, against a Western New York Flash team led by former Thorns coach Paul Riley. The physical match, with a playoff-record 20,086 in attendance, ended in regulation as a 2–2 draw, and the Thorns lost in a 4–3 upset after extra time. [39] [40]

A member of the Rose City Riveters supporters' group waves a flag amid smoke after the Thorns score a goal in April 2017. Portland Thorns supporter (25541164898).jpg
A member of the Rose City Riveters supporters' group waves a flag amid smoke after the Thorns score a goal in April 2017.

2017

The Thorns retained most of their roster from 2016, with Kat Williamson retiring [41] and Betos declining the Thorns' contract offer to play for Vålerenga in Norway. [42] Heath missed much of the season with a back injury, forcing Sinclair into a deeper attacking midfield role, and Franch stepped into the starting keeper role, with the Thorns' defense leading the league in shutouts. [43]

After a 14–5–5 league record and 47 points for a second-place finish behind the NWSL Shield-winning North Carolina Courage, successor to the Western New York Flash team that had beaten them in the final the year before, the Thorns defeated the Orlando Pride 4–1 in a playoff semi-final. In the championship match, Portland defeated the Courage at Orlando City Stadium in a physical 1–0 match to win their second NWSL championship. [44] Following the victory, the team held a victory rally in Providence Park. [45]

2018

The Thorns lost Henry and Nadim to Olympique Lyon and Manchester City, respectively, as the NWSL salary cap of $315,000 for each team prevented the Thorns from offering competitive salaries. [43] [46] On January 11, 2018, the team announced a trade that would send midfielder Allie Long to Seattle Reign FC in exchange for the rights to Australian international defender Caitlin Foord. Long had been with the team since its inaugural season, and was one of the first players to reach 100 NWSL appearances with one club. [47] With Long's departure, Tobin Heath and Christine Sinclair were the only remaining players from the first Thorns season.

The team signed Australian fullback Ellie Carpenter to play for the Thorns on her 18th birthday, [48] and traded the team's previous year's top draft pick Savannah Jordan to Houston Dash for Brazilian international midfielder Andressinha. [43] [49] The team also acquired Boston Breakers players Margaret Purce, Ifeoma Onumonu, and Angela Salem in the 2018 NWSL Dispersal Draft. [43]

The Thorns finished with a regular season record of 12–6–6 and matched their second-place finish from the previous season, again finishing behind the Courage. [50] The Thorns beat Seattle Reign FC 2–1 in the playoff semi-finals to stage a rematch against the Courage, rematch of the previous seasons final. The match drew a sellout attendance of 21,144, breaking the league playoff attendance record that the Thorns had set in the previous season. However, the Thorns lost to the Courage 3–0, and North Carolina became the first team to win the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Playoffs in the same season. [51]

2019

Before the start of the season, the Thorns announced that the team would play its first six games on the road due to ongoing renovations and expansions of Providence Park. [52] The Thorns lost only one of their first six games, then lost once in a nine-game stretch spanning June and July. This run included the return of several key players who had missed time for the FIFA Women's World Cup, including Lindsey Horan, the reigning NWSL MVP, and team captain Christine Sinclair. The Thorns fine form was encapsulated by a 5–0 rout of the Houston Dash on July 24. [53] Beginning the month of September at the top of the table and contenders for the NWSL Shield, the team entered what would be the worst run of form since Mark Parsons was named head coach. Portland would lose three of their final five games, including an embarrassing 6–0 loss to the North Carolina Courage which would end up as the most lopsided loss in team history. [54] After finishing the season with a scoreless draw against the Washington Spirit, the Thorns finished third in the league, meaning they would not host a playoff game for the first time since 2015. The Thorns would be knocked out of the playoffs after a 1–0 defeat to the Chicago Red Stars.

Four Thorns players who won the Women's World Cup with the U.S. National Team were recognized upon their return to Portland, prior to the July 24 match against the Houston Dash. Houston Dash at Portland Thorns July 2019 01.jpg
Four Thorns players who won the Women's World Cup with the U.S. National Team were recognized upon their return to Portland, prior to the July 24 match against the Houston Dash.

2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 12, 2020, the Thorns canceled their preseason tournament, scheduled for March 29-April 4. [55] On March 20, 2020, the NWSL postponed the start of the league's regular season indefinitely. [56] The Thorns participated in the inaugural NWSL Challenge Cup, defeating the North Carolina Courage in the quarterfinals but losing to the eventual champions Houston Dash in the semifinals. [57] The Thorns also participated in and clinched the 2020 NWSL Fall Series Community Shield with a win on October 11, 2020, over OL Reign. [58]

2021

Abuse scandal

In late-September, The Athletic published an investigation into North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley, alleging that Riley had sexually coerced and verbally abused players on his teams, including during his two-year tenure as Thorns head coach in 2014 and 2015. More than a dozen players from every team Riley had coached since 2010 spoke to the publication and two named players, both former Thorns, went on the record with allegations against him. In the article, Riley denied the allegations. [59] [60] The article also stated that NWSL failed to act on Riley's alleged abuses multiple times, including earlier in 2021 when the league declined to act on an offer from two of Riley's alleged victims to assist in investigating Riley's alleged abuses. [61] Later that day, the Courage announced that Riley had been fired due to "very serious allegations of misconduct". [62] [63] The Thorns front office released a statement the same day citing that some of the incidents occurred during Riley's two-year tenure as head coach of the Thorns and discussing their reaction to the incidents at the time. [64]

The subsequent fallout resulted in the resignation of league commissioner Lisa Baird and dismissal of league counsel Lisa Levine. [65] A number of Portland Thorns players also released a statement calling for Thorns general manager Gavin Wilkinson to be suspended. [66] Wilkinson was subsequently put on administrative leave from the Thorns, but remained manager of the MLS Portland Timbers. [67] Wilkinson was reinstated in January 2022 following an internal business review, [68] however, due to ongoing league, union, and federation investigations, no players could be interviewed, and the players association disavowed any connection between the internal review and other investigations. [69]

The US Soccer Federation commissioned a league-wide independent investigation into abusive behavior led by Sally Yates. The report, published on October 3, 2022, indicates that the club "interfered with our access to relevant witnesses and raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents." [70] The report further details how both Paulson and Wilkinson advised other clubs to hire Riley after his departure from the Thorns. According to the report, Wilkinson "told the Flash that Riley was 'put in a bad position by the player,' and that Wilkinson would 'hire [Riley] in a heartbeat.'" [70] Paulson congratulated the Flash on hiring Riley in an email to club's president, stating "congrats on the Riley hire. I have a lot of affection for him.” [70] When contacted by NC Courage ownership about hiring Riley, Paulson downplayed the abuse of Portland Thorn's players saying it "basically was [a case of] ‘poor judgment'" and described difficulty managing the roster as the reason for Riley's departure from Portland. [70]

Competitions

The Thorns competed in and won the West Division of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, advancing from the group stage to host the finals on May 8, 2021, against NJ/NY Gotham FC. After drawing the finals in regulation 1–1, the Thorns defeated Gotham in penalties 6–5 to claim the cup. Morgan Weaver scored the match-winning penalty. [71]

The Thorns qualified for the 2021 Women's International Champions Cup as champions of the 2020 Fall Series, and won the tournament by defeating three-time finalists and defending champions Olympique Lyon 1–0. Morgan Weaver scored the match-winning goal in regulation. Portland also hosted the friendly tournament. [72]

The Thorns clinched their second NWSL Shield on October 17, earning a first-round bye to the 2021 NWSL playoffs, [73] but lost in the semi-finals to the Chicago Red Stars. [74]

Head coach Mark Parsons, who had served since 2016, left the team after the 2021 season to lead the Netherlands women's national football team. His hiring had been announced during the season in May. [75] [76]

Thorns player Sophia Smith was named most valuable player of both the 2022 NWSL season and the 2022 NWSL championship finals. 2022 NWSL Championship 57 - Sophia Smith (cropped).jpg
Thorns player Sophia Smith was named most valuable player of both the 2022 NWSL season and the 2022 NWSL championship finals.

2022

The Thorns hired retired former club goalkeeper and Canadian international Karina LeBlanc as Gavin Wilkinson's replacement in the Thorns general manager role on November 2, 2021. [77] [78]

Following Mark Parsons's exit, the Thorns hired one of the club's former players from Paul Riley's tenure, Rhian Wilkinson, as his replacement. Wilkinson had also played on the Canadian national team as a teammate of LeBlanc and longtime Thorns FC and Canadian team captain Christine Sinclair. After her playing career, Wilkinson had been an assistant coach for the Canadian and English national teams. [78]

The defending Challenge Cup champion Thorns failed to advance from the group stage of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup's West Division, finishing second to group winners OL Reign. [79]

The Thorns led the league going into the final game of the season, but managed only a draw in their final game (against NJ/NY Gotham) and fell to second place behind OL Reign, who won the NWSL Shield. [80] Second place was enough to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. In their first playoff game, a semifinal, they defeated San Diego Wave 2-1 behind goals from Raquel Rodríguez and Crystal Dunn to advance to the championship game. [81] In the final, they defeated the Kansas City Current 2-0 behind goals from Sophia Smith and Addisyn Merrick (own goal) to win the NWSL Championship. [82]

Sophia Smith set the regular-season club record for goals with 14, won the league's Most Valuable Player award, and also won the championship game MVP award. [80] [82]

On December 1, 2022, Merritt Paulson announced that he was selling the team. [83] The next day, Rhian Wilkinson resigned as coach, [84] after reports that she may have become romantically involved with a player. [85]

2023

In January 2023, following the release of the joint NWSL and NWSLPA report and subsequent allegations of league policy violations in the club's actions around Paul Riley, the NWSL fined Thorns FC $1 million, retroactively satisfied by a previous $1 million pledge by owner Merritt Paulson toward establishing an NWSL player safety office. Paulson also announced his intent to sell the Thorns. [86]

The same investigation also alleged that Thorns FC head athletic trainer Pierre Soubrier inappropriately distributed medication containing codeine to players during the 2022 semifinals, and that assistant coach Sophie Clough inappropriately kissed a player's neck during the team's championship celebrations. The club terminated both employees' employment following the report's release. [87]

On January 10, 2023, Thorns FC announced the hiring of Mike Norris, an assistant on Wilkinson's Thorns FC staff and former Canadian women's national soccer team assistant and goalkeeper coach, as her replacement. [88]

The May 21 match drew an attendance of 20,402, the team's largest home attendance to a regular-season match since the 2019 season. [89]

The Thorns failed to advance from the group stage of the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup. [90] They finished 2nd overall in the league, therefore advancing to the semi-final stage of the play-offs where they were beaten 1-0 by NJ/NY Gotham FC in overtime. [91]

Year-by-year records

Competition results per season
SeasonNWSL regular season NWSL
Playoffs 		NWSL Challenge Cup
PWLDGFGAPtsPosition
2013 2211653228383rd Champions —
2014 2410863935363rd Semifinals
2015 206952729236thDNQ
2016 201235351941 NWSL Shield Semifinals
2017 2414553720472nd Champions [44]
2018 2412664028422ndRunners-up
2019 2411674031403rdSemifinals
2020 4 [lower-alpha 1] 30110710 NWSL Community Shield n/a Semifinals
2021 241365331744 NWSL Shield Semifinals Champions
2022 2210394924392nd Champions [92] 2nd in West Division
2023 2210754232352ndSemifinalsDNQ
2024 188372825276thDNQ
Legend:
   Qualified for playoffs
   Competition winner
DNQ: Did not qualify
Top goalscorer per season, regular-season goals only [93]
SeasonPlayerNationGoals
2013 Christine Sinclair Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada8
Alex Morgan Flag of the United States.svg United States
2014 Jessica McDonald Flag of the United States.svg United States11
2015 Allie Long Flag of the United States.svg United States10
2016 Nadia Nadim Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark9
2017 Christine Sinclair Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada8
2018 Lindsey Horan Flag of the United States.svg United States13
2019 Christine Sinclair Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada9
2020 [lower-alpha 2] Christine Sinclair Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada6
2021 Sophia Smith Flag of the United States.svg United States7
2022 Sophia Smith Flag of the United States.svg United States14
2023 Sophia Smith Flag of the United States.svg United States10
  1. ↑ Results from NWSL Fall Series; no playoffs were held.
  2. ↑ 2020 Fall Series (4 games)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavin Wilkinson</span> New Zealand footballer

Gavin Wilkinson is a former New Zealand footballer who served as general manager and President of Soccer for the Portland Timbers from 2009 to 2022.

Henry Merritt Paulson III is an American businessman who is the minority owner of Peregrine Sports, LLC, which owns the operating rights to the Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. He and his company also founded and formerly owned Portland Thorns FC, a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team; both clubs are based in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Timbers</span> Soccer club in Portland, Oregon, United States

The Portland Timbers are an American professional men's soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The Timbers have played their home games at Providence Park since 2011, when the team began play as an expansion team in the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amandine Henry</span> French professional footballer (born 1989)

Amandine Chantal Henry is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for National Women's Soccer League club Utah Royals and the France national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Riley (footballer)</span> English football coach

Paul Riley is an English former football player and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Women's Soccer League</span> Professional soccer league in the United States

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a professional women's soccer league at the top of the United States league system. Headquartered in New York City, it is owned by the teams and, until 2020, was under a management contract with the United States Soccer Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Thorns FC</span> Soccer team and National Womens Soccer League franchise in Portland, Oregon

The Portland Thorns FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 in the then-eight-team National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which received support from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Betos</span> American soccer player (born 1988)

Michelle Jenny Betos is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She is perhaps best known for being the first NWSL goalkeeper to score a goal in league play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Parsons</span> English football manager

Mark Richard David Parsons is an English football manager who is the former head coach of American club Washington Spirit. He previously managed top-level teams including the Netherlands women's national team, the Portland Thorns FC, and the Washington Spirit in a previous stint.

The 2015 season was the Portland Thorns FC's third season of existence in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Courage</span> American professional womens soccer team in North Carolina

The North Carolina Courage is a professional women's soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina. It was founded on January 9, 2017, after Stephen Malik acquired National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchise rights from the Western New York Flash. The Courage plays its home games at the WakeMed Soccer Park.

The 2017 National Women's Soccer League season was the fifth season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the eleventh overall season of FIFA- and USSF-sanctioned top-division women's soccer in the United States. The league is operated by the United States Soccer Federation and receives major financial backing from that body. Further financial backing is provided by the Canadian Soccer Association; both national federations pay the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.

The 2017 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's and the league's fifth season of existence. The Thorns played in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of women's soccer in the United States. The Thorns had finished in first place in the 2016 season, but failed to advance from the semifinals in the 2016 NWSL playoffs. With a slogan of "Unfinished Business", they qualified for the NWSL playoffs as the 2nd ranked team in the 2017 regular season. In the playoffs, they defeated the Orlando Pride and then the North Carolina Courage to become 2017 NWSL Champions. It was their second championship, following the first in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bella Bixby</span> American soccer player (born 1995)

Annabella Madeleine Bixby is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

The National Women's Soccer League has undergone many allegations and reports of sexual harassment, misconduct, manipulation, pressure to lose an unhealthy amount of weight, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse, racist and sexist remarks, and the list goes on. These allegations of crossing professional boundaries with players led to formal investigations on the NWSL and many of its teams and coaches. Former US attorney general Sally Yates wrote in her report regarding the investigation how "Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women's soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players," The investigations ultimately concluded that multiple forms of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were systematic in the sport and were not a one-time occurrence; they impacted many teams, coaches, and players. This led to public protests by players and as a result, multiple coaches have been reprimanded for their behavior. Five out of 10 head coaches in the 2021 season were fired or stepped down due to misconduct allegations. Some of the more significant allegations include Coaches Riley, Dames, Burke, and Holly, who all faced harsh punishments resulting in being completely banned from coaching as well as having involvement in activities pertaining to the NWSL.

The 2022 Portland Timbers season was the club's 36th season of existence and the 12th season for the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The season covers the period from the end of the Timbers' last match in MLS Cup 2021 to the team's end of the season in October 2022.

The 2022 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's tenth season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

The 2021 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's ninth season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

The 2023 National Women's Soccer League season was the eleventh season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the 17th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. Twelve teams compete in the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Portland Thorns FC season</span> Portland Thorns FC soccer season

The 2023 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's eleventh season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC played in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

References

  1. ↑ "Portland Thorns Win Their Third NWSL Championship". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  2. ↑ "Portland Thorns FC clinches 2021 NWSL Shield". SoccerWire. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  3. ↑ "Horan first Thorns player to win NWSL MVP". ESPN.com. 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  4. ↑ "Thorns' Smith named youngest ever NWSL MVP". ESPN.com. 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  5. ↑ "Thorns FC announce inaugural NWSL Schedule". Portland Timbers (Press release). February 12, 2013. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  6. ↑ Arnold, Geoffrey C. (April 13, 2013). "Portland Thorns finish in 1–1 draw at Kansas City". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ Arnold, Geoffrey C. (April 21, 2013). "Portland Thorns defeat Seattle 2–1 in home opener". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  8. ↑ Farley, Richard (April 21, 2013). "Dougherty, Morgan goals give Thorns Cascadia triumph". The Equalizer. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  9. ↑ "RECAP Portland Thorns FC 2, FC Kansas City 3" (Press release). Portland Timbers. August 4, 2013. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  10. ↑ "RECAP Portland Thorns FC 2, Washington Spirit 1" (Press release). Portland Timbers. May 4, 2013. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013.
  11. ↑ Gordon, Jennifer (May 4, 2013). "Morgan, Thorns outlast Spirit in SoccerPlex sellout". The Equalizer. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Portland Thorns FC players named to NWSL Best XI Second Team" (Press release). Portland Timbers. August 28, 2013. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  13. ↑ Hays, Graham (August 31, 2013). "Portland blazes trail with NWSL title". ESPN . Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  14. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (December 5, 2013). "Cindy Parlow Cone has resigned as head coach for the Portland Thorns". The Oregonian . Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  15. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (December 10, 2013). "Portland Thorns name Paul Riley as head coach for the 2014 season". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  16. ↑ Danzer, Paul (January 13, 2014). "Thorns add top goalkeeper, trade LeBlanc". The Columbian. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  17. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (April 5, 2014). "Portland Thorns trade defenders Kat Williamson and Courtney Wetzel". The Oregonian . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  18. ↑ DiVeronica, Jeff (April 5, 2014). "Flash make four-player trade with Portland". Democrat and Chronicle . Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Thorns FC defeat Dash, 1–0, in front of record crowd" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. August 3, 2014. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Portland Thorns FC 0, FC Kansas City 2" (Press release). Portland Timbers. August 23, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Thorns FC acquire defender Kat Williamson, midfielder McCall Zerboni from Western New York Flash in exchange for midfielder Amber Brooks" (Press release). Portland Timbers. November 6, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Thorns FC acquire defender Kendall Johnson from Sky Blue FC in exchange for third, fourth-round draft picks in 2015" (Press release). Portland Timbers. January 14, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Portland Thorns FC acquire Jodie Taylor from Washington Spirit through trade at NWSL draft" (Press release). Portland Timbers. January 16, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Portland Thorns FC sign forward Genoveva Añonma". Portland Thorns FC. February 24, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Portland Thorns FC sign midfielder Sarah Robbins" (Press release). Portland Timbers. February 26, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Kaylyn Kyle, Rhian Wilkinson added to Portland Thorns FC through National Team Allocation Process" (Press release). Portland Timbers. January 14, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Thorns FC defender Nikki Marshall announces retirement". Portland Thorns FC. February 9, 2015.
  28. ↑ Taylor, J. R. (June 22, 2015). "Michelle Betos Becomes First Goalkeeper to Score in NWSL History". Go Local PDX.
  29. ↑ "Thorns-Reign sellout sets NWSL record". USA Today . Associated Press. July 22, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Portland Thorns part ways with head coach Paul Riley". The Oregonian . September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  31. ↑ Linehan, Meg; Strang, Katie (September 28, 2021). "Former players accuse North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley of sexual coercion". The Athletic . Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  32. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (October 5, 2015). "Mark Parsons officially named Portland Thorns head coach". The Oregonian . Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Thorns FC name Nadine Angerer as goalkeeper coach". NBC Sports Northwest . December 2, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  34. ↑ McCauley, Kim (October 22, 2015). "What the Morgan trade means for everyone". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  35. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (January 15, 2016). "Nadim sent to Portland; Thorns, Sky Blue swap picks". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  36. ↑ Pantorno, Joe. "Alex Morgan Traded to Orlando Pride from Portland Thorns". Bleacher Report . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  37. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (November 2, 2015). "Thorns acquire Meghan Klingenberg in expansion draft". The Oregonian . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Portland Thorns sign France star Amandine Henry". Sports Illustrated . March 16, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  39. 1 2 Goldberg, Jamie (October 4, 2016). "Thorns fall short in playoffs after historic season". The Oregonian . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Flash down Thorns 4-3 in OT, head to NWSL championship". ESPN . Associated Press. October 2, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Thorns' Kat Williamson retires after four NWSL seasons". The Equalizer. October 18, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  42. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (February 10, 2017). "Betos leaves Thorns, joins Norwegian side Valerenga". The Oregonian . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  43. 1 2 3 4 Lee, Allison (March 19, 2018). "NWSL Season Preview: Thorns hungry for more in defense of title". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  44. 1 2 "Portland Thorns Beat the Courage to Win a 2nd N.W.S.L. Championship". The New York Times . Associated Press. October 14, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Live updates: Thorns celebrate NWSL title with fans at airport, victory rally in Portland". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Amandine Henry, Nadia Nadim will not return to Portland Thorns next season". The Oregonian. September 24, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  47. ↑ "Portland Thorns trade longtime midfielder Allie Long". The Oregonian. January 12, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  48. ↑ Nguyen, Tyler (February 8, 2018). "Official: Thorns Sign Ellie Carpenter". Stumptown Footy. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  49. ↑ "Andressinha dealt to Thorns for Savannah Jordan". The Equalizer. January 12, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  50. ↑ "2018 NWSL Regular Season Standings". Fox Sports. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  51. ↑ Lee, Allison (September 22, 2018). "Courage earn NWSL Championship with dominant 3-0 win over Thorns". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  52. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (2019-05-30). "After six games on the road, Portland Thorns ready to play in front of home fans at remodeled Providence Park". oregonlive. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  53. ↑ O'Regan, Erin (July 25, 2019). "Recap: Thorns Thrash Dash 5-0". Portland Mercury . Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  54. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (2019-09-12). "Portland Thorns suffer worst loss in club history with first place in NWSL on the line". oregonlive. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  55. ↑ Goldberg, Jamie (March 12, 2020). "Portland Thorns cancel preseason tournament amid coronavirus outbreak" . Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  56. ↑ Peterson, Anne M. (March 20, 2020). "NWSL season delayed; training moratorium extended". Associated Press . Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  57. ↑ Geary, Molly (July 22, 2020). "Houston Dash Gain the Respect They Sought En Route to NWSL's Challenge Cup Final". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  58. ↑ Herrera, Sandra (October 11, 2020). "Portland Thorns clinch NWSL Fall Series Community Shield with victory over OL Reign". CBS Sports . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  59. ↑ Linehan, Meg (September 30, 2021). "'This guy has a pattern': Amid institutional failure, former NWSL players accuse prominent coach of sexual coercion" . The Athletic . The Athletic Media Company. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  60. ↑ "NWSL side Portland Thorns regret 'systematic failure'". BBC Sport . BBC Online. October 4, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  61. ↑ Morgan, Alex [@alexmorgan13] (September 30, 2021). "(2/3)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021– via Twitter.
  62. ↑ Herrera, Sandra (September 30, 2021). "Paul Riley fired after former players accuse coach of sexual coercion; players union says NWSL 'failed us'". CBSSports.com . ViacomCBS Streaming . Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  63. ↑ Streeter, Kurt (October 3, 2021). "Female Soccer Players Are Done Taking Abuse. Let's Stop Dishing It Out" . The New York Times . Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  64. ↑ Little, Grant (September 30, 2021). "-Former Thorns coach Paul Riley accused of sexual coercion". Stumptown Footy. SB Nation . Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  65. ↑ "NWSL postpones weekend matches over misconduct allegations". ESPN.com . ESPN Inc. October 1, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  66. ↑ Azzi, Alex (October 6, 2021). "NWSL teams pause games: "this is not business as usual"". NBC Sports . NBC . Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  67. ↑ Thorns FC Communication (October 6, 2021). "Thorns FC statement on general manager/president of soccer Gavin Wilkinson". Portland Timbers . Major League Soccer . Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  68. ↑ Salvador, Joseph (January 24, 2022). "Gavin Wilkinson Reinstated as Portland Thorns' President of Soccer After Investigation". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  69. ↑ Murray, Caitlin (January 25, 2022). "NWSL's Portland Thorns closes investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, could be reopened if players choose". ESPN . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  70. 1 2 3 4 "Read the Report on Abuse in Women's Soccer". The New York Times. 2022-10-03. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  71. ↑ Warner, Jonathan (May 10, 2021). "NWSL Challenge Cup goes to Thorns after dramatic penalty shootout". NBC Sports . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  72. ↑ Herrera, Sandra (August 22, 2021). "Portland Thorns FC win Women's International Champions Cup as Morgan Weaver scores game-winning goal". CBS Sports . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  73. ↑ Sepich, Scott (October 17, 2021). "Portland Thorns clinch NWSL Shield with 1-0 road win over Houston Dash". The Oregonian . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  74. ↑ Peterson, Anne M. (November 14, 2021). "Chicago Red Stars are in the NWSL championship game after upsetting the top-seeded Portland Thorns 2-0 in a semifinal". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  75. ↑ "Thorns' Mark Parsons to Become Netherlands Women's National Team Manager". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. May 20, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  76. ↑ Danzer, Paul (November 16, 2021). "Emotional loss ends the Mark Parsons era for Portland Thorns". Portland Tribune . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  77. ↑ Freeman, Joe (November 2, 2021). "Portland Thorns new GM Karina LeBlanc aims to bring 'hope, healing and that opportunity to rise' to turbulent club". The Oregonian . Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  78. 1 2 Freeman, Joe (November 29, 2021). "Portland Thorns hire Rhian Wilkinson as new coach". The Oregonian . Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  79. ↑ Herrera, Sandra (April 18, 2022). "NWSL Challenge Cup: OL Reign clinches semifinal spot, Current tightens hold on Central region". CBS Sports . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  80. 1 2 Clarke, Ryan (2022-10-02). "Portland Thorns surrender NWSL shield with draw at Gotham; Sophia Smith sets club record for goals". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  81. ↑ "NWSL Semifinals Recap: Late Dunn stunner lifts Portland over San Diego". National Women's Soccer League. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  82. 1 2 "NWSL Championship Recap: Dominant Portland Thorns FC crowned NWSL Champions with win against Kansas City Current". National Women's Soccer League. October 29, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  83. ↑ "The Portland Thorns will be sold, the latest fallout from scandals in women's soccer". NPR. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  84. ↑ "Thorns FC head coach Rhian Wilkinson to resign".
  85. ↑ "Rhian Wilkinson resigns from Portland Thorns amidst player concerns".
  86. ↑ "Portland Thorns announce new head coach as league rolls out penalties". opb. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  87. ↑ Oregonian/OregonLive, Ryan Clarke | The (2023-01-24). "Portland Thorns fire head athletic trainer, assistant coach following NWSL investigations into misconduct". oregonlive. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  88. ↑ "Portland Thorns Name Mike Norris, an Assistant in 2022, as New Head Coach". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  89. ↑ "2023 Portland Thorns FC Stats, NWSL". FBref.com. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  90. ↑ "Summary - NWSL Challenge Cup - USA - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  91. ↑ NWSL (2023-11-05). "Gotham FC downs Portland in extra time to advance to NWSL Championship | Gotham FC downs Portland in extra time to advance to NWSL Championship | National Women's Soccer League Official Site". NWSL. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  92. ↑ "NWSL Championship: Sophia Smith scores winner as Portland Thorns blanks Kansas City Current for League Title". CBS Sports. October 29, 2022.
  93. ↑ "Portland Thorns FC Stats and History". FBref. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.