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Willamette Week's Portland Thorns column
The Thorns Have All the Pieces in Place for Another Title Run—Except One
The Thorns have had something of a breakout season, especially for a team in a rebuilding year and one not used to being underdogs.
The Dogged Thorns Outlast San Diego, and Stay Alive in the Wide Open NWSL Playoffs
The 2025 Portland Thorns are nothing if not relentless.
Why the Thorns Might or Might Not Take Home Their Fourth Star
If this year’s Portland squad has made one thing clear, it’s that almost no barrier is insurmountable. Expectations weren’t high—for those of us outside the locker room, at least.
Mackenzie Arnold Always Had the Skills to Be Portland’s Keeper. Now She Has the Confidence.
Mackenzie Arnold goes looking for trouble. Then she sends it screaming in the other direction.
A Day With the Riveters’ Lead Capo Shows Her Passion—and Quick Reflexes
“Women’s sports deserve loudmouths.”
The Only Constant of the Thorns’ Season Is Their Inconsistency
The Portland Thorns are running around in circles.
Teenage Thorns Phenom Liv Moultrie Doesn’t Like to Lose
It should come as no surprise to hear that Olivia Moultrie, the teenage phenom on the Portland Thorns, is competitive.
Hina Sugita Charmed Her Teammates and Now Links the Thorns Together
“I wanted to have people understand how I play.”
Sam Coffey Is the Rock on Which the Thorns Rely
Something about Sam Coffey just feels stable.
Midway Through the Season, the Thorns Appear Poised for a Breakthrough
The Thorns sit in fifth place in the NWSL standings, and while they’re not the big-name-led Portland team of old, we’re starting to get a sense of what this new squad is about.