Portland Thorns: The NWSL Schedule is Finally Out!

Are you ready?

Photographer: Kelsey Baker

The Portland Thorns are back!

Wait… they’re not back yet, but the schedule is finally out!

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Déjà vu

The Portland Thorns will once again go on the road to face the Kansas City Current on March 15 on national television (ABC) at 9:45 a.m. After last year’s defensive disaster class, they’ll look to avoid the same fate two straight years.

Home Sweet Home

Photo taken by Kelsey Baker

In the home opener, the Thorns will return home to the best supporters in the NWSL. They’ll take on Angel City FC on Friday March 21 at 7 p.m (Prime Video).

As an added bonus, they’ll play their first Saturday home opener on March 29 at 7 p.m. (ION) against the North Carolina Courage.

For the season finale, Portland will take on the Houston Dash on November 2 at 12 p.m. or 2 p.m.

Portland will play back to back home games four times.

• March 21 vs Angel City FC and March 29 vs NC Courage

• April 22 vs NJ/NY Gotham FC, April 27 vs Racing Louisville, and May 3 vs Orlando Pride

• June 15 vs Washington Spirit and June 21 vs Chicago Stars

• August 23 vs Kansas City Current and August 29 vs Utah Royals

Road Trip!

The team will be away on the road for stretches of the season as well. They have back to back road games four times.

• April 11 at Utah Royals and April 18 at Seattle Reign

• May 10 at San Diego Wave, May 16 at Houston Dash, and June 7 at Bay FC

• September 5 at Racing Louisville and September 14 at Chicago Stars

• October 10 at Orlando Pride and October 19 at Angel City FC

There are no consecutive home games after August 29, meaning the team will need to stockpile their home wins in the first half of the schedule and take care of business at Providence Park late in the season.

Slow Start

The Portland Thorns cannot afford another slow start. After going winless in their first four games under Mike Norris, Rob Gale took over and started off with a six-game winning streak, before fading down the stretch.

If that fate cannot be avoided, there is a very good chance Sarah Lowdon will be the next interim coach for the club.

The first five regular season matches

• March 15 at Kansas City Current

• March 21 vs Angel City FC

• March 29 vs North Carolina Courage

• April 11 at Utah Royals

• April 18 at Seattle Reign

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What are your takeaways from the schedule release?