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Takeaways: Thorns 4, Pride 0

Photo by Nikita Taparia.

The Portland Thorns’ 2023 NWSL campaign started with an absolute bang on Sunday at Providence Park against the Orlando Pride. Historically, the Thorns have dominated in games against the Pride since Orlando joined the league in 2016, putting more than four goals past them on four separate occasions.

This time was no different: The Thorns picked up right where they left off in 2022 and came out firing. In that victory, Portland emphatically told their fans that they need not worry about the mentality of the team and its off-field messes. 

Inspired by the four goals that four different Thorns scored last weekend, here are four key takeaways about the first league game of the year. 

Morgan Weaver, 16’: High pressure and following shots is key

In the pre-game press conference, head coach Mike Norris said that the Thorns were going to play a much more forward game. This new style of play was evident from the first whistle. The Thorns had 27 total shots, 16 of which were on target, compared to Orlando’s nine and one, respectively. The high volume of shots came from the high press the Thorns implemented. Every ball played out of the back was contested, and anytime a player took a shot, other players consistently flooded the goal, ready to put away any rebound or bobble by the keeper. This is exactly how Morgan Weaver got her first goal of the 2023 season from within the six yard box. 

When asked about her goal, Weaver said, “I think it was something very special. Shot, save, and then I was right there.”

If the Thorns are able to keep up this intensity of play throughout the entire season, then their relentlessness will tire defenses out, forcing them to make more mistakes. Being able to see the fruits of their labor work against an admittedly young and weak Orlando defense will hopefully inspire them to continue to apply the same pressure for future games.  

Sophia Smith, 22’: Christine Sinclair, you have proven yourself. 

When Christine Sinclair was named in the starting lineup, I was skeptical. In the three open-door preseason matches, Sinc consistently seemed a step behind the rest of the team in terms of pace and passing precision. Luckily, Sinc seems to have taken personal offense to the RCR discord messages about her and came onto the pitch with something to prove. She was an absolute machine in the midfield, plowing through the Orlando defense and setting up dangerous opportunities for her teammates. Even when her goal  from the top of the box was called back for a foul, you could see the drive emanating from her. 

“I love seeing Sincy like that,” Weaver said when asked about the aggressiveness of Sinclair’s play. “It’s my favorite. She’s just someone very special to play with, and I’m very fortunate to be with her. It’s just so much fun because I can just look at her and she’ll just be like, ‘Let’s go. C’mon. Keep going.’ And it’s something that’s really refreshing for me, honestly, because if I’m down on myself or anything, I can just give her a look and she’ll be like, ‘You got this. Keep going.’ It’s very supportive and I enjoy it.”

Similarly, Norris said Sinclair “brought a calmness on the ball. She brought a different gear in terms of defending. Just being a bit more front-footed and we did that as a collective group.”

Going forward I will remember to not doubt Sinc’s abilities even in her twenty-plus season of professional soccer. 

Hina Sugita, 49’: HINA HIVE ARE YOU READY??

I am a card-carrying member of the Hina Hive and am absolutely stoked to watch her play this year. She already had the sauce, the skills, and the swagger and has now fully embraced the speed and physicality of the NWSL. This combination is a guaranteed recipe for success, and Hina Sugita’s talent was on full display against the Pride. 

Sugita had a 94% passing accuracy rate and won nine duels, an exceptionally strong number compared to her numbers last season. What continues to amaze me is Sugita’s ability to get out of tight spaces when there is heavy amounts of pressure being applied. Her skill and comfort on the ball has grown tremendously, and Norris recognized that. 

“It’s what you see on the field there,” he said. “I mean, how she got out of that pocket in our half I’m not quite sure. I just turned to the bench like, ‘how did she do that?’ But, I mean, she does that in training. She just brings that energy every day, just a smile that she has and so I’m not sure about maturity. I just think it’s probably a comfort in our environments and being able to express herself.”

Now being asked to play winger in Janine Beckie’s absence, Sugita will continue to grow into that role over the course of the season. 

Michele Vasconcelos, 76’: Substitutes carry the same quality and drive as starters

The Thorns included new nomenclature on their starting XI graphic this season. Instead of just a bench displayed in small print underneath the starting lineup, the Thorns’ have chosen to call the players their “finishers” in order to underscore their importance to playing a cohesive game. Michele Vasconcelos was one of those finishers against the Pride, coming on for Weaver in the 63rd minute. Vasconcelos is poised for a lot of time this year, as it is understood that she is likely going to be one of Norris’ first choices off the bench for the forward line. Being able to maintain the same level of quality and pressure that the three starting forwards bring is a high ask. Luckily, Vasconcelos was able to meet it. 

“Whether we’re playing well or down, just trying to always come in with that same mentality of bringing energy and fire,” Vasconcelos said. “Hoping to always come in that way.”

Her statement encapsulates the drive that all Thorns players must have, whether or not that see many minutes on the field. The Thorns’ advantage in the NWSL is their deep bench and squad mentality, and in order to make a convincing run for that fourth star, all players must fully embrace it.

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Soccer Thorns

Preseason Takeaways: Thorns 4, USWNT U-23 1

Photo by Nikita Taparia

The Thorns met with the USWNT U-23 team Wednesday night and came away with a sound 4-1 victory. Still, the game was not as comprehensively dominant for the Thorns as the scoreline would suggest.

The U-23s got on the scoreboard early, in the 13th minute, with a chipped ball from inside the box that sailed into the side netting. The Thorns wouldn’t score their first goal until nearly an hour later.

Portland’s starting XI was heavily rotated from Sunday night’s game against Racing Louisville:

Hogan

Nally- Menges – Provenzano – Beckman

Sinc – Porter – Rodríguez

Beckie – Bedfort – Vasconcelos

Here is a quick breakdown of how these starters played:

Players I want to see more from

Hannah Betfort: Betfort is the definition of a player who doesn’t quit. She is often taken to the ground and is unlucky to not be rewarded with more fouls. However, for the amount of chances she had on Wednesday alone, she should have had more positive output. There was one moment in particular when a loose ball made its way to her feet within the six yard box, the U-23 keeper caught off her line. Instead of tapping it in, Betfort ended up completely skying the ball, unable to tie the score. Before Betfort can compete for a starting spot in the Thorns, her scoring and shooting needs to be much more consistent. 

Michelle Vasconcelos: Vasconcelos was one of the only players to start both preseason games so far. Unfortunately, neither performance has been that convincing. She played on the left wing on Wednesday, but was often caught losing the physical battles to the U-23 defenders, getting the ball poked out from under her, or unable to round the corner to get off a cross. With the forward pool so deep for the Thorns, I don’t foresee Vasconcelos getting many minutes, but it does seem that Mike Norris rates her and is giving her plenty of opportunities to show her skills.  

Christine Sinclair: Sinc is an absolute legend of the game; that I cannot deny. However, watching her play, especially against a team of entirely college students, her age and speed are on full display. While her soccer IQ is still undoubtedly high, her body seems to be moving much slower than her mind is. Her first touch was often off, and she played the ball backwards more frequently than she did forwards—a problematic distinction for an attacking midfielder. She had a shot or two on goal, but both were tame, rolling straight at the U-23 keeper. Unless Sinc can show she can keep up with the pace of the game, she is much more adept in a role of mentor and supersub for the Thorns. 

Players I thought played well

Izzy D’Aquilla: The newly-signed Thorn was subbed on in the 20th minute after Janine Beckie was injured. From the moment she stepped on the field, which is always more difficult when you’re coming on at the last minute to replace an injured player, D’Aquilla showed her pace and nose for goal. In only her second preseason game, she has shown her quality and her readiness for the league. With Beckie’s devastating injury, I would expect her to immediately get deserved minutes. 

Natalie Beckman and Gabby Provenzano: The two 2022 draft picks have been showing consistent growth as they begin their second year in the NWSL. The two played next to one another on the left side of the backline and had good chemistry and communication. Provenzano has the necessary calm presence of a veteran center back, and Beckman’s high press on the wing caused frequent turnovers and created dangerous opportunities in the box. 

Taylor Porter: Porter is starting her first full year under contract with the Thorns strong. She is a solid back-up No. 6, and in the second half, was able to show her talents alongside Sam Coffey in a double-pivot. Against the U-23d, she was able to dictate play forward toward Rocky Rodríguez and D’Aquilla. I would like to see her get minutes with the likes of Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver up front in the next games. 

The goals

One of the largest takeaways from the night was that the Thorns’ starting XI, largely comprised of players who got limited minutes in the 2022 championship campaign, are just as strong as the super team of the best college players in the country. In a year where depth will be paramount to success, seeing all the Thorns players put on a strong showing provides reasons for optimism. However, it must be said that all four of the Thorns’ goals came after their starting players from the championship game took the pitch. Sam Coffey and Natalia Kuikka came on in the 64th minute, while Smith, Weaver, Crystal Dunn, and Reyna Reyes came on in the 72nd minute. 

Portland’s first goal was a pinpoint cross from Dunn to D’Aquilla, which was deftly redirected away from the keeper. The second, third, and fourth goals—all of which were scored after the 84th minute—came from recycled balls that the veterans preyed upon. Smith, Weaver, and Hina Sugita, respectively, were able to settle rebounded balls and calmly slot them home. To me, this is one of the most positive takeaways of the night, as it showed a linear improvement from last season, where the team often almost immediately lost set pieces and recycled balls. 

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Soccer Thorns

My Dream Starting XI

With very few offseason moves from the Thorns after their championship winning 2022 season, creating The best Starting XI for the 2023 season is rather easy. 

My ideal starting XI is a 3-2-3-2. Early in the 2022 season, Portland deployed a three-back, and it was effective. Having traded Yazmeen Ryan, the Thorns’ strongest pure-winger, I think it would be to the Thorns’ tactical advantage to use their outside backs as true wingbacks, playing the length of the field to send in crosses and dropping back provide cover. This will free up the attacking midfield and forward four players to creatively interchange through the center of the park.

Here’s why that works on a player-by-player basis.

Bella Bixby, goalkeeper
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

You can’t go wrong putting any Nadine Angerer-trained keeper in goal, but Bixby has earned her spot as the Thorns’ first-choice keeper. In her 22 games last season, she had 10 clean sheets and recorded a 75% save record. She conceded only 21 goals, making her tied for least number conceded for players with over 22 games played. She has a commanding presence in goal and ensures that her backline is in the right place to make her job easier. One of the skills that sets her apart from other keepers is her ability to not only save the ball, but catch it so that there are no easy rebounds for the opposition. Her calm demeanor gives a sense of security for fans and players alike.

Becky Sauerbrunn, center back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Despite her years of experience, Sauerbrunn has shown no signs of slowing down. Her ability to pinpoint sliding tackles and deftly clear the ball are intangible skills that have not diminished. In the 2022 season, Sauerbrunn had an 88.1% passing success rate, an incredibly high number for someone who plays under so much direct pressure from NWSL forwards. Of those passes, 46% were forward and only 5% backwards. Having Sauerbrunn has the stalwart of the backline will help to ensure that play will build from the back accurately and quickly. And you cannot forget that she scores goals as well, having a 50% conversion rate. She truly does it all. 

Kelli Hubly, center back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

The Thorns’ 2022 Ironwoman has more than earned her spot in the starting lineup since joining the team as a discovery player in 2018. She had 110 clearances and 35 interceptions last season and won nearly 60% of her duels. Hubly is a gritty player who consistently puts her body on the line in order to protect her goal. Working alongside Sauerbrunn at the back has increased her ball awareness exponentially, and when Sauerbrunn is absent for the Women’s World Cup, Hubly will be an excellent leader of the backline. Plus, her TikTok skills have increased her swagger tenfold—and, hopefully, that will translate to the pitch this season.

Meaghan Nally, center back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Nally is one player that I really wish had gotten more game time than she did last season. She started the season running, with both Menges and Sauerbrunn out with injury, and she handled the starting role with grace and confidence. In her 12 games played for the Thorns in 2022, she had 11 starts, recording an 82% passing success rate and winning 75% of her duels. Having only played 19 minutes in her rookie season the year prior, Nally showed how much she is capable of growing during an offseason—and hasn’t even hit her ceiling yet. With the opportunity to get more time at the back, she has the ability to become a pillar of the Thorns’ backline, much like Hubly. 

Meghan Klingenberg, left wing back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Reyna Reyes will be hot on Kling’s heels to win that LWB starting position, but for now, Kling has put in the time and the heart to show that she deserves her place. She made 17 appearances (16 starts) for the Thorns last season, controlling the left zone of the field. While technically a defender, Kling’s biggest asset is her ability to win the ball and carry it up the field to send off a cross. Without Ryan on the left this season, the chance creator role will fall more heavily on Kling’s shoulders. She had 29 open play crosses last season, 25 of which were key passes. If she can keep those numbers up, she will be threatening in her final few seasons as a Thorn. 

Natalia Kuikka, right wing back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Kuikka has been one of the Thorns’ best international signings in recent years. While her passing rate sits at a 75% accuracy, her invaluable nature comes from the tenacity of her tackles. She is 10th in the league for her number of progressive carries and eighth in the league for successful tackles of dribblers. As the Thorns’ right wing back she consistently is able to get into the attacking third and play a dangerous ball in. Kuikka also has the ability to track back and stop attackers mid-stride. The ability to be deadly on both sides of the ball will make her a strong asset for the Thorns yet again. 

Sam Coffey, defensive midfield
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Coffey had one of the strongest debut seasons in the NWSL, ever. She transitioned to defensive midfield—a role that she had not played before—with ease and learned on the job extremely quickly. She ranked second in the league for passes into the final third with 113 and fourth overall for progressive passes with 121. Her confidence on the ball is incredibly high, as is her IQ of the game itself. Only 24 and coming off her rookie year, Coffey’s ceiling is sky-high, and her value to the team will continue to grow exponentially. Despite her being more than deserving of a spot on the USWNT’s WWC roster, I would not complain if she stayed with the Thorns for an entire season.

Hina Sugita, center midfield
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

It took Sugita a few games to adjust to the speed and tempo of the NWSL, as well as its physicality. She started 20 of the 23 games she appeared in in her first season with the Thorns, scoring five goals and providing four assists. Sugita’s ability to turn out of dangerous situations is uncanny, and her left foot has some killer power behind it. Giving her the ability to play interchangeably up the middle with Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver will give her the freedom to both drive the ball forward herself and make dangerous runs to the top of the box, where she has proven to be a threat. Hina Hive sound off!!! 

Rocky Rodríguez, center midfield
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Rodríguez has quietly been one of the most consistent Thorns for years, and I think that last year was when people began to realize that. Not only is she regularly scoring bangers, like in the semi-final game against San Diego, but she is one of the best progressive dribblers in the league. Her control in the middle of the field is second to none, and with her impressive performances with Costa Rica over the offseason, she is coming into the 2023 season in incredible form. 

Morgan Weaver, forward

In some ways, it has felt as though Weaver has been living in Smith’s shadow since she joined the Thorns. Being picked second overall behind her and playing the same position, it is easy to see why the two players are constantly being compared. But in 2022, Weaver showed how different of a player she is from Smith. She had the second most goals on the team last season with seven, showing that her accuracy and consistency in front of net—something that she has been criticized for and is actively working on—is rapidly improving. Weaver has an engine that never quits and some of the best celebrations on the team. If her finishing numbers continue to increase, as they have every other season, she will be a force to be reckoned with. 

Sophia Smith, Forward
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Do I really need to elaborate here? Smith is the best soccer player in the world, currently. Of course she will start for the Thorns. 

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Soccer Thorns

Where Do the Thorns Go from Here?

Photo by Nikita Taparia

The National Women’s Soccer League officially began preseason Jan. 23. Across the league, players returned back to their markets and began holding meetings and beginning fitness testing. College players drafted earlier in the month had their first impressions of their new homes. 

The Portland Thorns’ first day of the new year started differently than the 11 other NWSL teams. The league (there is still no official statement from the club itself) broke the news that head athletic trainer Pierre Soubrier and assistant coach Sophie Clough were fired as the result of two independent investigations into Soubrier’s and Clough’s conduct at the end of the 2022 season. 

While the roster of players who said they wanted to “run it back” at their Championship Homecoming Celebration at Providence Park in November are, for the most part, still playing in Portland, the staff has undergone a complete overhaul. 

On Oct. 29, 2022, the Thorns won their historic third star with their NWSL Championship win.

Since then, there has been an avalanche of investigative results coming out of the club:

  • On Dec. 1, 2022, Merritt Paulson announced his decision to sell only the Thorns organization, while maintaining ownership of the Portland Timbers.
  • Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson, after just one year in the league, announced her resignation on Dec. 2, 2022, after a self-reported attempted relationship with a player.
  • On Jan. 9, the Thorns officially promoted former assistant Mike Norris to the head coach position.
  • On Jan. 24, the results of two more investigations were released, both self-reported by players to the league. Clough was reported to the league by a player stating that Clough had kissed her neck without consent during the Championship celebrations in Washington DC. The NWSL said she was also accused of bullying behavior during her time as an assistant coach in Portland. Soubrier was reported by team doctor Breanne Brown to have given two separate players medication that contained codeine before the team’s home semifinal game in October 2022. According to the NWSL, Soubrier did this without a prescription or the players’ knowing consent. The league found that Soubrier violated state and federal laws by giving players codeine-encoded medications without a prescription.

These are only the results of investigations that have reached their conclusions. There is no record of how many more reports are currently being looked at that have not been made public. 

As I sit here and look at the collated list, I feel sick. I cannot imagine how the players are feeling in such an unstable work environment. Many of these players have no control over where they live or play, with the majority not qualifying for free agency under the new NWSL CBA, and have no way to leave the league if they feel unsafe. For many athletes, the only options are to literally leave the country or retire. 

Since Kaiya McCollough, Sinead Farrelly, and Mana Shim sparked the NWSL’s league-wide reckoning in 2021 with their own accounts of facing systemic abuse, fans and followers have been finding out exactly what that means. The seeming onslaught of coaching and staffing terminations over the past two years has been hard to watch. But while it seems that these horrific reports are coming more frequently, it is important to remember that no matter how hard they are to read, they are a sign that the systems in are place working. The emotional, physical, and sexual abuse that players have experienced over the 10 years of the NWSL and the prior American professional women’s soccer league are not new problems. Players are finally getting the support they need to report these problems, and the NWSL is building an infrastructure to enforce legal repercussions on the perpetrators. For a systemic problem to be eradicated, all of the existing figureheads need to be ousted. 

The inherent close proximity of players, coaches, staff, and assistants creates blurred boundaries. When boundaries aren’t clearly defined, it becomes hard for a person to know that they are being taken advantage of. The Thorns, in particular, have a held strong culture of silence, where staff are discouraged from speaking out. Being told to stay silent is an active encouragement of harm, and it allows abusers to continue abusing ad infinitum. The fact that we are seeing so many reports in the recent months means that this culture is changing, and it’s changing for the better. Players and other staff members feel as though they have more power. They know how to identify, name, and examine the harm being caused to them. 

I often find it hard to retain the necessary perspective when looking at the NWSL. I see the reports and get discouraged, feeling empathy toward the players for all that they have had to endure. At times, it feels as though it is never ending, or that it will never get better. But I have to remind myself that that is not the case. The swift repercussions are the sign of a better future for the NWSL. Abusers are being held accountable for their actions; they are suspended and banned from the league, preventing them from being quietly hired by a different team where they can continue their abusive behavior. But it’s so hard. 

I’ve always been a fan of the Thorns, not because of the staff, but because of the players. I will continue to stand by them until they are backed by an organization that recognizes and helps cultivate their greatness. Right now, the club is consistently letting down its players and fans, and Portland soccer isn’t the shining example of a city dedicated to its women’s sports that it once was. The players deserve better. I sincerely hope that one day, they will get the support and healthy environments that they so deserve. 

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Soccer Thorns

Thorns 2023 Draft Recap: Building for the Future—and the Now

Photo courtesy of Portland Thorns FC.

Newly appointed Thorns head coach Mike Norris had his first big test of the 2023 season at the NWSL draft on Thursday night in Philadelphia. The Thorns desperately needed to redeem their credibility in vetting players after drafting a fascist last year. Fortunately, both Norris and general manager Karina LeBlanc emphasized that it was important that the players they were looking at fit in the locker room. 

In my opinion, Norris and LeBlanc had a very successful draft night, and I’m going to explain why. 

The Thorns’ approach to the 2023 season seems to largely be to “run it back” and maintain the vast majority of players from their 2022 Championship-winning season. Marissa Everett retired from professional soccer, and free agent Abby Smith chose to sign with Gotham FC, but the Thorns spent much of the early offseason signing key players like Morgan Weaver, Rocky Rodríguez, and Sam Coffey to long-term contracts. Then, the Thorns went silent: coachless and for sale. 

It wasn’t until a few days before the draft that a three-team bombshell trade hit, leaving the Thorns without Yazmeen Ryan, who is set to play for Gotham FC. In exchange, the Thorns received $200k in allocation money and the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft. 

Losing Ryan, who had a breakout 2022 season on the wing, is not ideal—especially during a World Cup year. But the Thorns have a plethora of quality options to slot into her place, including Janine Beckie and new draftees Izzy D’Aquila and Laruen DeBeau. 

Norris and LeBlanc were tight-lipped about their strategy heading into the draft, but the goal seems clearin retrospect: with nearly the entire starting XI expected to represent their countries during the 2023 WWC, the Thorns need quality depth players who are ready for the speed and physicality of the NWSL. With the four picks in the 2023 draft, the Thorns succeeded in meeting that goal. 

Reyna Reyes, University of Alabama, LB

Reyna Reyes is without a doubt the future of the Thorns’ defense. With Meghan Klingenberg, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Emily Menges all reaching the twilight of their careers, Reyes is the team’s long-term option at left back. Already capped with the Mexican senior national team, Reyes put up ridiculously high passing, crossing, and dribbling numbers during her time in Alabama. The 2022 SEC Defender of the Year is able to put players on skates and should be able to match Kling and Natalia Kuikka’s aggression going forward if the Thorns choose to continue using their wingbacks as playmakers in the box. Reyes’ boasts a long list of accolades; she was a 2022 Mac Hermann semi-finalist, 2022 USC All-American first team selection, and Honda Award finalist. She helped Alabama reach the semifinals of the College Cup for the first time in program history, capping a college career of 79 starts, 15 goals, and five assists over four years. Fortunately for the Thorns and unfortunately for her national team, Mexico won’t be at this year’s WWC, so Portland will have Reyes for the full 2023 season. 

Izzy D’Aquila, Santa Clara University, FW

Izzy D’Aquila is one of the most clutch forwards in the college game. In the 2022 season alone, she scored 19 goals and had five assists in 21 games, bringing her tally up to 50 career goals. Of those 19, six were game winners. D’Aquila has a conversion rate of 29% across her four years as a Bronco. She was a national-championship winner with Santa Clara in 2020, scoring the game-winning penalty kick against Florida State. D’Aquila also helped the Broncos to the 2021 College Cup, where they fell short in the semi-finals, and helped captain the team to winning the WCC three years in a row. She is a three time WCC first team recipient. With Sophia Smith headed to New Zealand and Australia, D’Aquila will have plenty of time to show off her scoring skills with both feet and her head, especially if her unbelievable run of form transfers to the professional game. 

Lauren DeBeau, Michigan State University, FW

https://youtu.be/YnJrg7Lwa_g

Lauren DeBeau is another incredibly prolific goalscorer who should get playing time this season. DeBeau had a conversion rate of 41% in 2022, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists in 22 games, five of which were game winners. She was the first ever athlete to take home the Big 10 Forward of the Year award for MSU, and her 2022 season earned her second-team All American honors. DeBeau is both a savvy play-maker and a clinical goal scorer. She helped send MSU to the Big 10 Championship game with a game-winning goal—and to the second round of the NCAA tournament with the game-winning assist. She is a confident dribbler, completing nearly four a game, and wins over 50% of her aerial duels. 

Lauren Kozal, Michigan State University, GK

If Nadine Angerer selects a goalkeeper, you can be assured that they are incredibly talented. Lauren Kozal earned first-team All American honors in 2022, and was the first Spartan to be a Mac Hermann Trophy semi-finalist. After taking one redshirt year as a freshman, Kozal started every remaining game for Michigan State over the next three years, giving her plenty of time to hone her skills in goal. Over 23 games her senior season, she allowed only 15 goals and had 63 saves— giving her a save percentage of 0.81%—alongside ten shutouts. Under the tutelage of Angerer, Kozal should become a force to be reckoned with over the coming years. 

It is clear that the Thorns have found players who can not only make an immediate impact in a year in which they will have a lot of playing time, but also players who have the potential to become longtime stalwarts of the club.

Give the Thorn’s draft class an A+. 

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Soccer Thorns

The Final Bow: Thorns 2, Kansas City 0

Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Thorns FC

From the moment the first whistle blew, the Thorns dominated the 2022 NWSL Championship game. Despite the fact that this unique group of players had never taken the field together for a final, they looked as though they did so every week. The pressure was high—not only to cap off their successful 2022 campaign with a victory, but also to make a name for themselves as people, not just an agglomeration of players marred by the abuse and scandal in the fabric of their club. The victory cannot erase the history of abuse in the club, nor can it force Merritt Paulson to sell both teams once and for all, but the overwhelming joy the players exude makes you feel that, for a second, it could be possible. 

I distinctly remember the end of the 2021 season. It was sad and unceremonious, a home defeat in the playoffs and a silent goodbye to those players. It wasn’t the sendoff they deserved, and it reflected the confusion and fractured nature of the league at the time. This year was an entirely different narrative. 

The Thorns had several X-factors when coming to DC that propelled them to a comfortable victory over Kansas City. The first, of course, is Sophia Smith. 

In the fourth minute, Smith proved to the world why she was deserving of the league’s MVP title. Capitalizing on the mistake of the KC backline, she took a deft touch around AD Franch and calmly slotted the ball into the open net. It wasn’t arrogance; it was confidence to take on one of the best keepers in the world one-on-one and make her look silly. 

To celebrate, Smith just shrugged. 

After the game, when asked about her celebration, Smith said, “There’s been a lot of people who think I don’t deserve to win MVP, so that’s a little bit of… that’s that.” 

Every day we get to watch Sophia Smith play for the Portland Thorns is incredible. Her talents and composure on the pitch are not to be taken for granted, and watching her play is pure joy. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson put it best when she said that, “Soph is one of the best players this country has produced.” Absolute legend behavior, and she’s only 22. 

The league’s youngest MVP and Championship MVP kept the same pressure up the entire game. 

“Not every game is that fun,” Smith said, and she was right. 

Despite all the trauma in the wake of the Yate’s investigation report, the Thorns seemed to come together to weather the storm. The chemistry between all 27 players who made the trip—a fully healthy roster—was evidence that they leaned on one another during difficult times and really wanted to work for one another. After all, soccer is a team sport. 

Wilkinson pointed out that the players had the right to collapse after the release of the report, but they chose not to—largely thanks to the leaders on the team. 

The Thorns didn’t collapse. Instead, they flourished. They cruised to a victory and made it look easy. When Christine Sinclair was subbed off to let Crystal Dunn close out the game, the passion as she screamed “let’s go!” was palpable. The players knew how well they were playing, and it allowed them to unlock new heights.

Yazmeen Ryan, in only her second year in the league, showed why she was a starter in the Championship game with her dynamic runs on the right wing. Natalia Kuikka shut down every attack down the right flank. Becky Sauerbrunn and Sam Coffey rarely misplaced a pass down the center of the field. Morgan Weaver’s high press was relentless. Each and every player was having fun, and thus, were playing in ways that showcased their full abilities. 

Meghan Klingenberg is the epitome of the Portland Thorns. Since joining the team in 2016, her pregame huddle speeches have become iconic, and her spunk and exuberant personality have helped to bring younger players into the fold. While she doesn’t wear the captain’s armband or receive a lot of press, she silently retains her position as a rock at the core of the Thorns. 

Kling’s work ethic and love of the game is infectious, but so is her sadness. Watching her cry as she crossed the podium to receive her medal, knowing the tsunami of off-field events that her and the rest of the team had to endure was emotional. For me, crying is cathartic. It’s a release of so many pent up emotions that I feel I cannot share. Watching and loving the Thorns over the 2022 season has been hard. It’s been hard to reconcile my admiration of the players themselves with my hatred for the front office, and I’m not even directly involved with the FO.

But, I also know how hard it can be to find joy in the things you love when so many external factors are collapsing in on you. During a traumatic experience at my job in Montana, I couldn’t find the energy to watch or care about the Thorns, something that I have relied on as an outlet each week for the past ten years of my life. As cliche as it sounds, moving back to Portland and returning to Providence Park helped me reinvigorate my love for the team. Watching them achieve an incredible milestone, three stars, in such a fun and dominant manner, was incredible. It felt like a rush of relief, that everything the players have been playing for mattered. Kling’s raw emotion felt like a dam bursting; these players have the ability to celebrate this milestone, despite the lack of support from their employers and without those who they have lost over the past year. The players deserve to feel all the emotions—positive and negative—but so do the fans. 

The Welcome Home Rally at Portland International Airport on Sunday felt intimate. The players and the fans were connecting on the same level, with no on-field barriers or front office to divide them. The pure joy as Smith lifted Dunn’s baby Marcel in the air, wearing a Championship medal and starting the crowd in a “Marcel” chant was contagious. Players took turns hoisting the trophy in the air, cheering one another on. Shelby Hogan was wearing a space helmet. Everything felt perfect. 

Bella Bixby put it best when she said that, “our connection to our supporters was integral. The Riveters have been with us this whole year and stuck by us, and that’s really all we can ask for.”

Riveters, the trophy is for all of us. It’s for the players and the supporters and the coaches. It’s not Merritt Paulson’s trophy. We can celebrate this incredible achievement, and continue to pressure sponsors tomorrow. 

The trophy is home. We have our third star. It’s time to keep building a constellation. 

Categories
Soccer

NWSL Semifinal Preview: Let the Players Play

Credit: Kris Lattimore

The Thorns are in the semifinals of the NWSL playoffs for a seventh time in their history. They face off against the San Diego Wave, against whom they are 2-2-1 in 2022—between the regular season and Challenge Cup matches. Their most recent meeting was a disappointing Portland 0-2 loss at home in August. San Diego revealed in their quarterfinal game that Taylor Kornieck, who has scored three of the Wave’s six total goals against the Thorns, and Alex Morgan were healthy enough to go the full 90 minutes and into extra time, despite missing out of the USWNT’s European tour the week prior due to injury. 

With a bye due to the Thorns’ second-place league finish, the international players have had time to reintegrate with the squad, and the players have had time to decompress and refocus their energy after a frustrating 3-3 draw with last-place Gotham FC to end the regular season. The USWNT internationals had a positive break, despite their two losses, with Sophia Smith scoring a banger in Wembley, Sam Coffey making two more strong appearances, Crystal Dunn getting her first USWNT minutes as a mother, and Becky Sauerbrunn anchoring the backline. 

The semi-final will come down to who wants it more. San Diego, an expansion club, have already made history by reaching the playoffs and will want to put a cap on their impressive inaugural season. The Thorns, however, have played nice soccer on the pitch whilst being plagued with the abusive history and culture of their club’s ownership. They will want to win for themselves, to find joy in the sport despite all the difficulty surrounding it.

The Thorns and the Wave are evenly matched. Having Crystal Dunn back in the roster against San Diego for the first time could be the game-changer that pushes the game open in Portland’s favor. Both Morgan and Smith, top two in the Golden Boot race, are still consistently scoring, and each team’s defense will need to do all they can to limit the opposing striker’s time on the ball. 

Tactically, it should be a thrilling and fun game to watch at home in Providence Park. But the choice to attend the game has been heavily debated in the weeks since the Yate’s Report dropped on Oct. 3. Since then, Merritt Paulson, Gavin Wilkinson, and Mike Golub, all implicated in the report, have resigned from their positions at the head of both the Timbers and Thorns. The caveat is that Paulson and his family’s company, Peregrine Sports, still own both teams, making him still financially involved despite his public resignation. This is the holdup that many fans are divided on. 

I want to make my position clear, which is that it is necessary for Paulson and Peregrine Sports to sell both teams. So long as he collects a paycheck from PTFC, the players are not truly free to speak their minds and feel safe within the organization. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected within their job, and so long as someone who covered up abuse is at the head, that culture can simply not exist. Much like the art cannot be separated from the artist, the NWSL and its club cannot be fully separated from their abuses until they are burned down and restructured. 

At the same time, I am allowed to state that opinion because I am not employed by the Thorns. I do not owe Merritt or any other management anything, and I have no fear of being reprimanded, fired, or abused for stating my opinion. The vast majority of the players who are in the middle of the abuse do not have that luxury. 

When reporters repeatedly ask players and head coaches to speak out on the abuse that is occurring within their organization, the players often do not have the ability to speak freely on these issues. Their job, housing, and lives depend on being employed by these clubs. And with Paulson, someone with a reputation for retaliation, still at the helm, the players must protect themselves first. 

 Sauerbrunn, in a media appearance for the USWNT stated, “It’s my opinion that every owner and executive and U.S. Soccer official who has repeatedly failed the players and failed to protect the players, who have hidden behind legalities and have not participated in these investigations, should be gone.”

Sauerbrunn, beloved USWNT Captain and stalwart of the league, has an innate level of protection that other players do not have. It’s unlikely that Sauerbrunn will be removed from the roster of either team she plays for because she has spoken out. Dunn and Smith, on the other hand, do not. Dunn, just returning from maternity leave, does not have a solidified spot in rosters. We’ve seen USSF cut players like Megan Rapinoe and Christen Press from rosters due to them speaking out, and it would be easier to do on a player just returning from an absence. Smith, despite all her talent, is still barely 22 years old. Her career is just starting. She can’t jeopardize that by rebelling against her employer. 

At open practice on Oct. 21, two days out from their important semi-final match, Sauerbrunn, Dunn, and Smith were all asked questions relating to the Yates Report and Thorns’ ownership. Sauerbrunn had set a precedent by speaking her dissent of Paulson owning both teams, and fans and media now expect all players to be able to be this free with their words and form a concrete opinion. 

All three players spoke about how they wanted fans to be there for them, cheering in the stands to support the players. They dodged questions about ownership and a sale of the team, which in one light can read as though they are in support of Paulson and his ownership. Silence is often associated with complacency and complicity, but when you’re asking an employee about their employer, this is no longer the case. I admit that myself, as a fan, want the players to speak out about Paulson and Peregrine Sports, but I need to stop putting that pressure on players. 

It is unacceptable to expect a player to comment on their employers without fear of retribution. 

There are rookies, players with just one or two years in the league, practice players, on field staff and trainers, all of whom don’t have much of a voice in the league. Using their voice could cause them to end up without a job, or without a support structure. 

The best result from the semifinal game will be the Thorns playing freely and with passion. Aside from a win, of course. 

It’s up to the fans individually if they want to show up in person at Providence Park on Sunday and cheer for the Thorns. It’s unacceptable that Paulson is still profiting off of the players and fans right now. But, the players still have to play. The season isn’t over yet. What media and fans can do now is stop expecting answers out of players. Direct this energy towards sponsors, upper management, and the like. They’re the ones who have the power to make change. Demand it of them. 

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Soccer Thorns

The way to stop Sophia Smith is not to injure her

Sophia Smith is a menace for defenders both on the club and international level. Her footwork and finesse on the ball make her incredibly difficult to mark as she spins her way towards the goal, and defenders have caught on that one of the only ways to stop her is to foul her. 

Smith tweeted earlier this week that she needed to “practice how to shoot the ball when both legs get completely taken out from under me” in reference to a clip of a foul from Portland’s game against Kansas City on Sept. 18. The tackle, which came from behind when Smith was in on goal, one-versus-one with the KC keeper, was not called as a foul. 

She followed up her statement with a clip from a college game at Stanford, where she broke her leg during a nearly identical tackle from the opposition. 

Forwards are meant to be brave as they drive the ball toward the goal, and Smith certainly is. But when dangerous plays aren’t called, it incentives the defense to continue making reckless challenges, and leaves the forward hurt, even sidelining them for months like Smith was during college. Referees are on the pitch in order to protect players, and refusing to do so is willful neglect. 

Post-game on Wednesday night, Smith said that being repeatedly fouled is “frustrating for sure… But if I let it get to me, then it will affect how I play. So I try to not think about it too much going into games and just accept the fact that I’ll probably be getting fouled left and right.”

Players should not be forced to have this type of mindset while playing professionally. They should not be resigned to the fact that they are going to be repeatedly fouled and potentially incur a season-ending-injury. They should feel both physically and mentally safe when they walk onto the field. Until referees start calling dangerous and repeatedly plays on players like Smith, the number of fouls and injuries will only increase exponentially. 

The Thorns’ two previous games against the Kansas City Current and Racing Louisville were both physical. The Current committed 10 fouls that were called, while Racing Louisville committed 12. However, the crucial element here is the number of fouls that are not called. Per Statsbomb, Smith has been fouled 38 times, 12more times than the next highest player, Hina Sugita. 

However, in each game against the Current and Racing Louisville, Sophia Smith only won one foul.  

Here is a list of all the challenges where Sophia Smith was brought down: 

9/18 vs Kansas City Current

16′: Sophia Smith is double teamed at the top of the box. As she turns towards goal, Claire Lavogez comes in as the third defender on Smith and sticks her leg out, tripping Smith. The ball goes out of play for a goal kick. 

45+3′: Adrianna Franch comes off her line and collides with Smith as they both go for the ball. Both receive medical attention and the ball comes in on a goal kick. 

48′: Smith is played a ball over top of the defenders and runs onto it, getting there first. She takes a few touches, then once she is in the box is tackled from behind by Addisyn Merrick. No foul called. 

60′: Smith receives a ball with her back to goal. She makes the turn inside, and Merrick sticks her foot out late. Foul called for Smith. 

86′: Smith is double teamed. One player boxes her out while the other swipes at her feet and she goes down at the top of the box. No foul called. 

9/21 vs Racing Louisville

45+1′: Gemma Bonner was already between Smith and the goal when Bonner stuck her leg out, causing Smith to fall to the ground. There was an immediate whistle called. 

45+2′: Smith and Satara Murray both go after the ball, as it’s loose around the top of the box. Smith hip checks Murray, and Murray falls on top of Smith. The whistle is immediately blown against Smith. 

54′: Smith is dribbling towards goal on a threaded pass by Natalia Kuikka. Bonner swipes at Smith’s legs from the inside, doesn’t connect with the ball, and brings Smith to the ground. No whistle is blown. 

71′: Smith is subbed out. 

These are only the stats of two games, and Smith is only one person. While the data alone cannot identify a trend, when set alongside the rest of the season, they tell a more complete story. Smith has only scored once in her last five games in a Thorns jersey, compared to two in her previous two for the USWNT.  Coupled with the seeming endemic of SEI and ACL tears among NWSL players, a trend emerges indicating that players are in more danger of serious injury. With referees not calling these tackles, they will only increase, thus increasing the number of season ending injuries as well. 

The players need to be protected; it’s as simple as that. With the signing of a historic CBA, players have finally had their rights recognized, but this recognition must extend to the pitch. The first step is making sure that the referees are trained and able to call all hard tackles. If not, the risks will only escalate, and players like Sophia Smith could leave the NWSL for their own safety. 

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Soccer Thorns

Takeaways: Thorns 0, Wave 2

Photo Credit Kris Lattimore

The Thorns recorded their second straight loss against the San Diego Wave at home on Saturday evening. Coming into the home match, the Thorns were averaging over four goals a game in Providence, yet have scored only one goal over the last two matches while conceding five. After spending several weeks sitting alone at the top of the table, the Thorns have fallen to fourth place with just five games left to clinch a playoff position. Dropping more points could put them in danger of making a postseason run. 

 

While it is nearly impossible to identify just one thing that went wrong, let’s take a look at several factors that could have contributed to the Thorns’ downward trend.

Photo Credit: Kris Lattimore

Too few subs, too late

In a move unlike ones we have seen previously from head coach Rhian Wilkinson, she waited until the 80th minute to make any changes to the Thorns’ formation. In a must-win game to remain at the top of the table, the Thorns started the strongest eleven players they had in a 4-3-3. 

Both Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver started, when usually Wilkinson starts one or the other, with the second player ready to come off the bench and make an impact with their fresh legs on a tired defense. With both Weaver and Smith on the field, Wilkinson was left with few options of a different style of attacking player when neither of her starters were able to produce. Smith regularly had two or three defenders surrounding her touch-tight, making it hard for her to complete her signature spin-and-dribble-out-of-pressure. Weaver is known for her infinite engine and power for the entire 90 minutes. Against the Wave she had the only two shots on target, and delivered four crosses. She was the most dangerous attacker, but wasn’t able to connect her crosses with the players making runs into the box, oftentimes seeing the ball frustratingly roll across the entire box only for a Wave player to clear it on the opposite touch line. 

Both forwards played all 90 minutes of Saturday’s game, and while in theory Wilkinson starting her two top producers gives the Thorns the best chance of netting goals, when it doesn’t work out, there are no backup options. Ideally, a player like Yazmeen Ryan would start in one of those wide forward spots in order to provide service, and if she isn’t connecting with either Smith or Weaver, then there is an opportunity for a change to be made and for a different perspective to attack the opposing defense. 

Photo Credit Kris Lattimore
Photo Credit Kris Lattimore

Janine Beckie and Yazmeen Ryan got eleven minutes each, both of whom were attacking-minded substitutions. When they made their appearance, the Thorns shifted to a three-back, pushing Beckie up along the right side in front of Kuikka. In her short cameo, she created one chance, which tied her with the second most for the Thorns. Ryan applied similar pressure from the moment she appeared on the pitch, making several dangerous dribbles into the box, but was unable to get her shot off. 

Olivia Moultrie, Portland’s third and final sub, only got three minutes. In an interesting and previously unseen formation move, Sam Coffey slid back to play the third defender as Wilkinson made another attacking substitution. Although Moultrie only got two touches, her change showed that the Thorns were capable of changing their formation and structure of attack mid-game. 

Time can’t turn back, and the Thorns will never get those three dropped points, the game against San Diego begs the question of what could have happened if these changes had been made sooner. For eighty minutes the Thorns tried to score using the same tactics, namely feeding balls to Smith and expecting individual brilliance. However, once it became clear that Naomi Girma and the rest of the Wave’s backline was too strong to penetrate this way, a different tactic needed to be implemented, and a change in personnel was the obvious way to do this. 

 

Defensive Lapses

Simply put, the Thorns’ defense was not organized enough to effectively stop San Diego’s attack. Post-game, Becky Sauerbrunn commented on where she thought the game was lost for the Thorns. 

“A lot of credit to San Diego. I think they’re very good at what they do, and even though we knew what they were going to do, they still got that second goal on us. It’s tough to win games when you’re letting goals in,” said Sauerbruun, finishing that she thought the Thorns’ heads remained high despite the loss. 

The Wave’s first goal was allowed because they were able to have an unmarked player at the top of the box. A missed clearance by Kuikka allows the ball to be picked off by the Wave and passed back to McNabb making an open run at the top of the eighteen. Rocky Rodriguez makes a last-ditch effort to close her down, but was ultimately too far away and too late to prevent the shot from going off. 

Both Morgan Weaver and Sauerbruun mentioned post-game that the Wave’s plan was to flick the ball off of Taylor Korniek’s head onto Alex Morgan, and that is exactly how the second goal came about. While it is hard for any player to match Korniek’s aerial abilities and height, it is possible to shut down the second pass to Morgan and prevent her from running at goal with no defenders. 

Photo credit Kris Lattimore

While it is hard to be consistent for an entire ninety minutes, small changes and closer marking from Thorns players could have changed the outcome of the game, not allowing open players in their own box. 

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ICC Soccer Thorns

Women’s International Champion’s Cup 2022 Preview

Photo Credit: Matt Wolfe

Women’s soccer is producing some of the best athletes in the world alongside some of the highest quality games—and we are able to see them live and in person in Providence Park. On Wednesday, Lyon and Chelsea, the runner-up of France and champions of England face off against one another, immediately followed by the Thorns against Monterrey. The following Saturday will see the winners of each game play another to see who will be crowned winner of the fourth iteration of the Women’s International Champion’s Cup. The three other teams are all in preseason, with their regular season starting in September, but all four games will showcase the immense amount of talent that can be found in leagues internationally.

Here is a brief recap of each team’s previous season and players to watch, just in case you don’t follow leagues outside the United States. 

Monterrey

CF Monterrey Femenil is the two-time winner of Liga MX Femenil, and the first Mexican club to compete in the WICC. Monterrey are one of the most dominant teams in Liga MX Femenil, a league known for drawing huge crowds and intense rivalries. The Rayadas won the Grita México Apertura 2021 tournament, confirming that they are a top team in North America. 

Monterrey are currently leading the Liga MX Femenil table and will be in mid-season form, much like the Thorns. The 18-team Liga MX Femenil was created in 2016 to help foster an elite environment for the Mexican national team player pool, and Monterrey boats a large number of international players, represented countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia. 

The Rayadas will be no strangers to the large crowds at Providence Park. Liga MX Femenil games regularly draw crowds of over 20,000, and over 51,000 people watched the final game between Monterrey and Tigres, which resulted in the Rayadas capturing the title for the second time. 

Desirée Monsiváis was the team’s top scorer in the 2021-2022 season, netting 14 goals.

Players to watch:

Rebeca Bernal

Captain Rebeca Bernal is back with the Rayadas after a head injury sustained in a Mexican international game against the USWNT, and is ready to lead her team. Bernal is a center back with 126 appearances and 30 goals for Monterrey, and 36 additional appearances for Mexico. She was awarded a spot in the Best XI for the past five years in the Liga MX Femenil, the only Rayada to earn that award. Bernal is known for her pinpoint passes and crosses to set up her teammates, deftly navigating through crowded midfields to connect the lines. 

Isabella Echeverri

Isa Echeverri is CF Monterrey’s other stalwart at defense alongside Bernal. The Colombian international is in her first season with the club, but has already begun to make a name for herself. Known for her mental attitude and “never quit” spirit, Echeverri has spoken about pushing her team forward. Echeverri has competed at the 2015 WWC and 2016 Olympics with Colombia, and has won the 2019 Pan American Games with the squad. She is also leading the fight for gender equality in Colombia, and is looking to continue that work in Mexico. 

Christina Burkenroad

American Christina Burkenroad has been on fire this season for CF Monterrey. Originally drafted by the Orlando Pride in 2016, Burkenroad has made 88 appearances and scored 37 goals for CF Monterrey since joining in 2020. She says that the Liga MX Femenil is the most professional league she has competed in, both on and off the field. She holds the record for the fastest goal scored in Mexican history at just seven seconds after the first whistle. She averages one goal every 86 minutes for the Rayadas, and will look to continue this form at the WICC. 

Lyon

Olympique Lyonnais are fresh off of their eighth UEFA women’s championship league win, beating FC Barcelona 3-1. Head coach Sonia Bompastor became the first person to win the UWCL title as both a player and a coach. Lyon has won the Division 1 Arkema, the top flight in France, a record 14 times in a row. 

At the previous iteration of the Women’s ICC, Lyon fell to the Thorns in the final thanks to a last minute, physics defying goal from Morgan Weaver. Lyon won the 2019 iteration of the tournament, defeating the North Carolina Courage 1-0. 

Lyon’s return to Portland also marks the return of Lindsey Horan to her home club. She is currently spending the 2022-2023 season on loan in France. 

Unfortunately, like what feels like most of women’s soccer, Lyon has been hit with a plague of season-ending injuries. Catarina Macario, former Thorn Ellie Carpenter, and Dzsenifer Marozán have all torn their ACLs, while Amel Majiri recently gave birth to her son. 

Players to Watch:

Selma Bacha

Selma Bacha, 21, has featured for Lyon 61 times and cemented herself as a starting left-back for the club. While Bacha has been performing consistently for ages, her play against Barcelona in the Champion’s League final fast-tracked her name into the general media. The 2022 UWCL Young Player of the Year had nine assists, the most of any player, including one in the final. Her strong tackles pocketed Jenni Hermoso and Caroline Graham Hansen, two of the strongest players in the game, preventing them from scoring crucial goals and stifling Barcelona’s offense. Bacha has also been nominated for the 2022 Balon D’or. Look to see Bacha provide more assists and pinpoint passes at the WICC. 

Damaris Egurrola

After joining OL in January 2021, Dama Egurrola quickly established herself as a linchpin in the midfield and as a starter. The Dutch player already has three goals in her eight international appearances after making the one-time switch in nationality earlier in 2022. Egurrola is a traditionally defensive midfielder, but her time playing youth football for Spain has given her a flair for footwork. She is the axis of attack, and will be a crucial player to look out for switching the point of attack and giving the offense room to go for goal. 

Griedge Mbock-Bathy

Griedge Mbock-Bathy has made 101 appearances for Lyon as a center back since joining the side in 2015. The French international has won the UWCL six times and recently helped France achieve their first semi-final finish in a major international tournament, ever. Her ball control and ability to slice-and-dice defenders at either box has proved her to be a ruthless assistant. She posted a 100% passing completion rate at the 2022 Euros against Belgium, and even scored from her center-back position. Look for Mbock-Bathy to be a force all across Providence Park, scoring goals and blocking others. 

Chelsea

Chelsea is full of the top European talent. Head coach Emma Hayes has an eye for scouting talented youth, and the budget and facilities to draw them to London. Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Beth England, and Fran Kirby were a part of the Lionesses squad that captured the 2022 Euro trophy, and are in game form. Overall, 13 members of the current Chelsea squad represented seven different countries at the tournament. 

The Blues have won the three previous Barclays Women’s Super League titles, although the 2022 season went down to the last game in a race between Arsenal and Chelsea. As the competition in England grows greater, Chelsea have still managed to remain on top. 

Current Thorns player Crystal Dunn spent the 2017-2018 season at Chelsea, helping them capture FAWSL Spring Series title, as well as reach the UWCL quarter-finals—the furthest Chelsea had gone at the time. 

Players to watch:

Jessie Fleming

Jessie Fleming, 24, already has numerous accolades at both the domestic and international levels under her belt. These include an Olympic gold and bronze medal, three FAWSL titles, and two FA Women’s Cup titles. Fleming is a dynamic midfielder with a strong technical ability and vision to link up the defense and attack. After spending the majority of her first season at Chelsea on the bench as a late-game substitute, Fleming was determined to elevate her game and earn more playing time. Her effort has proved effective, as she earned Canadian Player of the Year honors in 2021. Despite her young age, Fleming has stepped up as a leader for her country, wearing the captain’s armband when Christine Sinclair is out, and being handed the game-winning PK to take in the Olympic semi-final game against the United States. 

 

Kadeisha Buchanan

Olympic gold medalist Kadeisha Buchanan could feature for Chelsea for the first time after she transferred from fellow WICC competitor Lyon over the summer. Buchanan is a center-back who is known for her build-up play and one-on-one skills. Her ability to read the game is unmatched, and she excels at putting herself and the rest of her backline in the proper positions. She most recently won Canada’s Player of the Year in 2020, her third time winning the award, and was nominated for the 2015 Balon D’or after her performance in the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Buchanan currently has 124 international appearances, with 119 of those being starts. 

 

Beth England

Beth England, a Blue since 2016, is a scoring fiend. Her goal scoring ability ranks second only to Sam Kerr (of course), and won WSL player of the 2019-2020 season due to her accuracy in front of goal. Despite making many of her Chelsea appearances from the bench, England had 14 goals in her 34 apparances in the previous season. England was a member of the 2022 Euro’s winning squad, and has made 19 international appearances, scoring nine goals. Chelsea will be looking to use her pace and finesse on the ball to drive at defenders and confidently find the back of the net.