Portland Thorns: Rebuilding A Powerhouse In An Increasingly Competitive Environment.

This was the first full season of the Portland Thorns under the management of RAJ Sports, led by the Bhathal Family known also for their ownership of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. It has been year of transition marked by the separation from the Portland Timbers structure, a complicated divorce, where both parts are still tied by the shared use of Providence Park. The sale of the Thorns was prompted by social pressure in the aftermath of several abuse scandals affecting former ownership group Peregrine Sports.  

Portland merits itself as Soccer City, USA. Sure other cities might want to challenge that concept, but what is certain is that Portland has covered the attention gap between men and women’s football (soccer) better than most cities. The privilege that represents to host a top world class women’s team hasn’t escaped the fans, and for over 11 seasons of NWSL. Portland has been breaking attendance records and raising the league’s standards in the support of the sport even in spite of the aforementioned scandals. Three time NWSL Cup Championships, one runners-up, and having only not qualified for playoffs once in 11 years of league history the Portland Thorns are always expected to perform well.

To say that their performance “fell short”, would be a simplistic version of the story. A team that prides itself in its offensive potential, looked wasteful on goal, while they weren’t able to address their weaknesses in their own defensive half. The Thorns scored a total of 37 goals in the regular season, while allowing 35 against. In comparison to 2023, Thorns had come out with 42 goals in their tally while giving up 32. In 2022, the ratio was a breathtaking of 49 to 24, and lead them to their last NWSL Championship. It has been a steep decline since then.

The core of the team hasn’t changed much since the departure of coach Mark Parsons in 2021, tweaks to the squad lead by Rhian Wilkinson earned them their last title on ’22. After Wilkinson’s resignation one year later, assistant coach Mike Norris led the Thorns as interim and then, as the official Thorns coach through the 2023 season. In 2024, Rob Gale, assistant coach, followed the same route, assumed as interim after Mike Norris was separated from the game day duties and reassigned to a different position due to one of the worst string of bad results in franchise history. 

The Portland Thorns managed to change fortunes and leveled their dive. Gale was made the official head coach, and the team fought back to defend a spot to the 2024 playoffs. Still, fans were left still asking a very tough question, was that enough? 

A new era

The Portland Thorns live in an ever tougher environment of growing competitiveness in the NWSL, with consecutive expansions, and growing in the amount of dollars being invested. Franchises monetary values increased, record transfer fees, growing lucrative broadcast deals, all fueled by the sport’s global popularity growth. 

A generational baton has been passed on as the class of 2013, the foundational NWSL players, are almost all retired. Former players like Alex Morgan, Christine Sinclair, Tobin Heath, Megan Rapinoe, are role models, heroes in women’s football, and have inspired waves of youth players following in their path, a new generation of talented players injecting life in the sport globally and propelling the league into a new heights.

In this new era, just tweaking the squad won’t do it anymore. A team that once excelled in its offensive prowess, that could ignore its defensive woes out of pure scoring wealth, has been outgrown and drowned in the surge into this new era. Teams like Kansas City Current, Orlando Pride, and Gotham FC, had done some impressive off season work, and have come out with teams that have been able to push playing standards even further. The Thorns FC formula began to lag. Ut showed exhaustion. Fans support remains unwavering, but since 2022, they have been surpassed even in attendance numbers. 

Injuries didn’t help, at times the Thorns had a hard time fielding their top 11 with enough continuity and the squad depth showed a massive gap. When it wasn’t injuries, it was the calendar when the Paris Olympics took away half of their starting squad. For example, their star forward, Sophia Smith, played 13 out of 26 games. She missed half of regular season matches between injuries and international duty. It is very unfortunate that NWSL does not adapt to such a transcendental international tournaments, not only depriving the game of their top talent and devaluing the experience of the league, but also diluting it in the face of competing events, absolutely blind to the sports worlds environment. Inexplicable.

Up to last year, previous owners’ management style has been known for a history of austerity that has been struggling in an increasingly aggressive market. RAJ knew at the time of purchase, that they were taking over a team with great potential, a decently managed group of players that have it all, talent, professionalism, charisma, and a city endeared to them. A squad that has not received the investment to keep competitive, begging to escape being the shadow of their less successful male counterparts at the Timbers. Diminished, but a luxurious starting pack for the new owners.

RAJ showed wiseness by choosing continuity at first while they took over of all the club aspects and learnt the ropes around the league. For year two, however, they took more aggressive approach, and seemed that they are willing to shake things up, we just don’t know how much yet. They have already been making making moves early in the transfer season, from top leadership to player signings, while still protecting the very core of the group. 

Initially they kept general manager Karina LeBlanc, who had been back with the Thorns since Gavin Wilkinson was fired in 2022 after the fall out from the abuse scandals by Thorns coach Paul Riley and alleged cover up of midfielder Andy Polo’s gender violence accusations. LeBlanc was herself a former goalkeeper, part of the first Thorns team that won that inaugural NWSL Cup in 2013. Back in the club as a General Manager, her leadership has been credited as big factor on the franchise’s last title in 2022, but also might have suffered from the last two years of lagging performances. 

LeBlanc’s role has been changed after RAJ acquisition of an Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team for Portland, and she has been reassigned to Executive Vice-President of Strategic Growth Development, out of the Thorns, and up in the RAJ sports executive chain, with the club now actively looking for a new GM. 

They seem to trust Rob Gale so far as the head coach.

Solid attacking line

The future Portland Thorns 2025 plan, was started earlier during the season by securing the extension of Sophia Smith’s contract. Smith will be the centerpiece of this future. She has been recently recognized to the NWSL Best 11 for her strong 2024 season with ten goals in 13 regular season games, consolidating her star leadership role. Smith has also enjoyed her best minutes yet with the USNWT with nine goals, 3 of them in the Paris Olympics. 

Smith can count on solid performers like Morgan Weaver, whose contract has been extended till 2028. Weaver’s vitality, speed, and depth of play, has been unarguably Smith’s best partner in the attack.

The forward line still counts with the recently extended Alexa Spaanstra, and with Reilyn Turner and Payton Linehan, who had already tallied minutes and goals in the 2024 season, while Izzy D’Aquila has been waved off. 

The Thorns would definitely benefit from another hierarchy signing, and there is no reason this area won’t be making the bigger headlines as the transfer season heats up.

Midfield pillars

The basics of the midfield line might be the strongest argument of the current squad. It already has a rich toolkit of skills, starting with Sam Coffee, one of the best defensive halves of the entire league. She has been giving Portland hassle in the midfield, play making in the transition to the attack, and even capable of scoring important goals. Coffee is sort of “the hinge” between attack and defense, the “elbow” between the base of the shoulder and the fist of the attack. She is a critical element of the team, and has a contract through next year.

Japanese international, Hina Sugita’s midfield game has been exquisite all season. Her skill on the ball, and tireless hassle makes her both capable to excel as a center midfielder and an a purely attacking mid, it was no surprise that her talent would be recognized by the fans and named Player of the Year. Sugita signed in 2022, and has extended her contract through 2026.

Olivia Moultrie, also under contract through 2026, has progressed steadily and her years as a promising youth are over. She is a reality, and it is her time to deliver. Last season saw her best minutes as a pro-player with multiple call ups to the USWNT. With Christine Sinclair retired, the young player has her work cut out for her filling a big gap in the attack behind Smith and Weaver. 

Canadian international Jessie Fleming finished her first season and is under contract through 2026. She was a big sign up from Chealsea FC, showed up to work in the very tough position of a multirole central midfielder. 

The depth of the squad is filled with Sophie Hirst, who joined half way the year from Houston Dash and featured just in two games, and with Olivia Wade-Katoa, a 2024 draft pick on contract through 2026. Gaby Provenzano, the versatile player who can double as a center back is out of contract and her future is yet to be seen, and Marissa Sheva has been waved off.

Defense shake up

It is said that you build a team from the back on up, like a foundation before the walls.  This line has been the most criticized aspect of the team, and proved inadequate against the league’s top teams. This is the area where most of the movement has happened so far, starting with the biggest news of Becky Sauerbrunn’s retirement. 

Sauerbrunn, one of the few remaining original NWSL players, leaves the game with an impressive career both in the local and international stage. Her long list of accomplishments includes three NWSL Cups (one with the Portland Thorns), and two World Cups with the USNWT. Sauerbrunn, alongside forward Christine Sinclair, are huge gaps to fill in a squad in only one off season, and a forced hand into a team’s renovation.

Another likely departure is veteran defender Meghan Klingenberg. While she is technically a free agent, it it has been indicated her intention to retire. Klingenberg is a fan favorite, a feisty defender, known for her relentless runs on the wing, she has earned a spot in the fans heart since she joined the franchise in 2016. She also is listed third in assists in club history.

Beloved center back Kelli Hubly, out of  contract, has been waved off in a social media announcement to the fans’ dismay. She might have been scapegoated over the overall poor performances by the defensive line this season. Hubly was brought as a mid season stop gap signing in 2017, and has both earned the fans’ love and a starting place on the squad.

To cover such notable departures, Thorns have brought in the 27 years old Brazilian international, Daiane, from historic Brazilian league team Flamengo. In Daiane, Portland is bringing an experienced player at the top of her career to add depth to their future defense. She has played in some of the world top leagues, coach Rob Gale said about her that “She adds quality and depth to a position of need and we are excited to see how she contributes and adapts to this league”. It looks like this might be a sign of bigger moves to come.

26-year old Sam Hiatt has been signed as a free agent from Gotham FC, where she has had a role as starting center back, tallying one goal in the 2024 season.

The new signings will add to the remaining defenders like wing back Marie Müller, one of the few highlights in defense this year. The German international, under contract with the Thorns through 2026, will be a critical piece in the role not just as a defender, but also doubling on the attack. Müller brings skill on the one-on-one, deep play, ability to combine with attacking players with crosses, cutting inside for a through ball, or a a shot on goal.

Rob Gale will still count with other 2024 veterans like Reyna Reyes, Nicole Payne, Isabella Obaze, and Mallie McKenzie.

Bixby back on goals

Bella Bixby will be rejoining the squad after her maternity leave. Born in nearby Milwaukie, OR, the 29-year old goalkeeper had been a solid starter on goals and a critical piece of that 2022 winning squad. She has been the second Thorn goal keeper to ever score in regular play, tallying a critical goal in stoppage time, in the 3-3 tie at home against Angel City on April 29, 2023.  Bixby will compete for that #1 position with McKenzie Arnold and Shelby Hogan. 

Thorns end of 24 rooster so far:

Goalkeepers (3): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan
Defenders (6): Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL), Nicole Payne, Isabella Obaze (INTL), Reyna Reyes
Midfielders (6): Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Sophie Hirst, Olivia Moultrie, Hina Sugita (INTL), Olivia Wade-Katoa
Forwards (5): Payton Linnehan, Sophia Smith, Alexa Spaanstra, Reilyn Turner, Morgan Weaver