Thorns vs Utah Royals: Match Preview and Match Thread

Portland Thorns take on Utah Royals on the road at 7pm PST, Streaming on Prime Video

After an international break, the NWSL returns with Game 4 of the season. Utah and Portland both sit in the bottom of the standings and will be looking to pick up their first win tonight at America First Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Will the Thorns break their no-win streak and pick up 3 points on the road?

Tune in here for a match preview and keep up with predictions in the match thread below.

Photo Credit: Kelsey Baker

Availability Report

OUT: Mackenzie Arnold (arm), Moira Kelley (ankle), Marie Müller (SEI – knee), Nicole Payne (SEI – knee), Olivia Wade-Katoa (maternity leave), Morgan Weaver (SEI – knee), Sophia Wilson (maternity leave)
QUESTIONABLE: Isabella Obaze (ankle/foot)
INTERNATIONAL DUTY: None

Keeper Questions

Mackenzie Arnold sustained an arm injury while training with the Australian National Team, and is out. It’s safe to assume that Bella Bixby will be the starting goalkeeper tonight. Arnold was coming off of a match against North Carolina where she saved a potential game winning penalty kick and kept a clean sheet. This would be Bixby’s first start and first minutes for the 2025 regular season.

Goals Equal Points

The Thorns are still searching for the back of the net this season with a mere total of two goals, one each coming from Olivia Moultrie and Reilyn Turner. A low goal count doesn’t reflect the players Portland has on the squad who can win some points. Our eyes are on a dynamic group of goal scorers in Deyna Castellanos, Caiya Hanks, and Payton Linnehan. Without a consistent formation or starting lineup, it’s hard to say who we will look to for points on the board, but it’s obvious that the Thorns have a deep bench of attacking players.

Midfield Magic

The key players we can count on, however, are the midfielders who are keeping the possessive attacking play up and finding balls to the forwards. Keeping Portland grounded are Sam Coffey, Olivia Moultrie, and Hina Sugita. Depending on the formation tonight, we’ll also be looking at Jessie Fleming to support attacking midfield play. Over the past three regular season games, Portland has doubled the number of touches in our attacking third, proving that the attacking possession from midfield is becoming more cohesive with the forward runs up top.

Final Thoughts

Utah is going to try to capitalize on this being a home match after two consecutive losses on the road. Though they are also hoping for their first win of the season, they’ve put more goals in the net this year than the Thorns, and they won’t want to stop scoring in front of a home crowd. If the Thorns can build on this positive momentum from the midfield to the forwards, then all we’re looking at is putting the ball away successfully.

WHO: Portland Thorns vs Utah Royals
WHERE: America First Stadium, Sandy, Utah
WHEN: 7pm PST
HOW TO WATCH: Prime Video

---