Portland Thorns Processing Post: The Triple-whammy

How are you feeling about the trio of SEI's hitting the Thorns?

Photo Credit: Kelsey Baker

Last week the Thorns got perhaps some of the worst news of the 2025 season — weeks before the season even officially started.

Morgan Weaver, Marie Mueller, and Nicole Payne were all placed on the Season Ending Injury list, and none of the three will suit up at all this season. All three were set for big roles this season, and the absence of each one will be uniquely felt by a Thorns team that is still seeking to find their way back to contention.

It was a triple-whammy of a gut punch for Thorns fans, and frankly was the last thing any of us needed after the 2024 season. For me, all of the nascent optimism I had built up during the offseason that maybe, just maybe, the Thorns could have a strong start to the year was swiftly scuttled by the news. It already sets the Thorns behind the curve, and a ball hasn’t even been kicked yet.

The sobering prospect of a rough start to the 2025 season

There is still a tiny chance that optimism could spring forth again though, as the Thorns have some cap relief and open roster spots to play with. Thorns GM Jeff Agoos and his brain trust now have the chance to go out and find some players that could step up to fill the void. With the feeling that the train is already careening off the rails, the folks in charge could make the moves to prevent that from happening by the team the curtain raises on the 2025 season.

And so we are presented with that eternal PTFC dilemma: to despair, or to hope? At this point, I think there’s arguments you could make for either. I’m still not sure what camp I’m fully in quite yet.

Thus, I turn the microphone over to you: the Stumptown Footy community.

So: what do you think? Are you hopeful or hopeless about the Thorns start to the season? How are you processing through last week’s news? Let’s hash it out in the comments: leave your thoughts and feelings and takes below!