Portland Thorns: A Year in the Life - Part II

It was a cold, cold end of the year for the Thorns.

Photo: Thorns FC/ Craig Mitchelldyer

It’s time to close the year down. Read here for Part I.

Fall

While Portland was keeping Smith in a crystal case, her nomination for the prestigious Ballon d’Or arrived in her mail. She didn’t win in the end, but the nomination in itself was huge. 

More news about the sale came up in September. PTFC CEO Davies and NWSL commissioner Berman confirmed that the team’s selling was on track to finish by the end of 2023 (we’re still waiting… I know).

Speaking of the roster, a thoroughly deserved call from the USWNT to Sam Coffey finally arrived. Also, Reyes got a contract extension through 2026 and then Portland made the weirdest signing of the year when they announced Danish international defender Rikke Sevecke with only four games left.

After finishing September with a loss to San Diego and therefore failing to clinch a playoff berth, the club got good news at the beginning of October with the return of Sophia Smith to the field with only two matches left. She came from the bench in the penultimate game of the season against Gotham, in which the Thorns won by a narrow margin and clinched a playoff spot.

And then, the last game of the season arrived. The opponent? Angel City. The stage? BMO Stadium. By then, Portland spilled some points that left them with no other choice but to get a win against Becki Tweed’s side if they wanted to claim the Shield. On the other hand, the host needed to win if they wanted to qualify for their first playoffs ever.