It's finally that time again.
Portland Thorns FC will kick of its 2016 NWSL regular season campaign against expansion franchise Orlando Pride at Providence Park on Sunday, April 17 (buy tickets here).
On March 27, though, the Thorns will also kick off its 2016 preseason preparations with a special four-team tournament at Providence Park. Joining the Thorns are NWSL rival Seattle Reign FC, NWSL franchise Houston Dash, and the Oregon State Beavers Women's Soccer Team.
Only Thorns FC matches during the tournament (see complete schedule below) will be streamed on ThornsFC.com. Please note: the other matches will not be streamed.
<strong>Date/Time</strong> |
<strong>Home</strong> |
<strong>Away</strong> |
<strong>Venue/Result</strong> |
<strong>Sunday, Mar. 27<br>
2:30pm<br>
PRESEASON TOURNAMENT</strong> |
<strong>Houston Dash</strong><br><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Houston_Dash_Original_Logo.png" style="opacity: 0.9; line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 42px;"> |
<strong>Oregon State</strong><br><strong><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Oregon_St_Beavers_logo.png" style="word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 22px;"></strong> |
<strong>Providence Park</strong><br><a href="http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=THORNS&linkID=timbers&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=" target="_blank"><strong>TICKETS</strong></a> |
<strong><span style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Sunday, Mar. 27</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">5:0</span><span style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">0pm</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">PRESEASON TOURNAMENT</span></strong> |
<strong>Thorns FC<br><strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/159px-Portland_Thorns_FC_logo.svg.png" style="word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 40px;"></strong></strong> |
<strong>Seattle Reign FC<br><strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/SeattleReignFC.png" style="opacity: 0.9; word-wrap: break-word; width: 30px; height: 45px;"></strong></strong> |
<strong><span style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Providence Park</span></strong><br style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=THORNS&linkID=timbers&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=" style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><strong>TICKETS</strong></a> |
<strong>Wednesday, Mar. 30<br>
5:00pm<br>
PRESEASON TOURNAMENT</strong> |
<strong><span style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Seattle Reign FC</span><br><strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/SeattleReignFC.png" style="opacity: 0.9; word-wrap: break-word; width: 30px; height: 45px;"></strong></strong> |
<strong><span style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Houston Dash</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Houston_Dash_Original_Logo.png" style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center; opacity: 0.9; word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 42px;"></strong> |
<strong><span style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Providence Park</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=THORNS&linkID=timbers&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=" style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">TICKETS</a></strong> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Wednesday, Mar. 30<br>
7:30pm<br>
PRESEASON TOURNAMENT</strong> |
<strong>Thorns FC</strong><br><strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><strong style="line-height: 20.8px;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/159px-Portland_Thorns_FC_logo.svg.png" style="opacity: 0.9; word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 40px;"></strong></strong> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Oregon State</strong><br style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Oregon_St_Beavers_logo.png" style="word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 22px;"></strong> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Providence Park</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;"><a href="http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=THORNS&linkID=timbers&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=" style="line-height: 20.8px;" target="_blank">TICKETS</a></strong> |
<b>Saturday, Apr. 2<br>
2:30pm<br>
PRESEASON TOURNAMENT</b> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Seattle Reign FC</span><br><strong style="line-height: 20.8px;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/SeattleReignFC.png" style="opacity: 0.9; word-wrap: break-word; width: 30px; height: 45px;"></strong></strong> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Oregon State</strong><br style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Oregon_St_Beavers_logo.png" style="word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 22px;"></strong> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Providence Park</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;"><a href="http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=THORNS&linkID=timbers&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=" style="line-height: 20.8px;" target="_blank">TICKETS</a></strong> |
<b style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Saturday, Apr. 2<br>
5:00pm<br>
PRESEASON TOURNAMENT</b> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Thorns FC<br><strong style="line-height: 20.8px;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/159px-Portland_Thorns_FC_logo.svg.png" style="opacity: 0.9; word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 40px;"></strong></strong> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Houston Dash</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;"><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Houston_Dash_Original_Logo.png" style="line-height: 20.8px; opacity: 0.9; word-wrap: break-word; width: 40px; height: 42px;"></strong> |
<strong style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Providence Park</span><br style="line-height: 20.8px;"><a href="http://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=THORNS&linkID=timbers&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=" style="line-height: 20.8px;" target="_blank">TICKETS</a></strong> |
If you're at all unfamiliar with these teams and what they've been up to this past offseason, ThornsFC.com is here to help.
Houston Dash
In 2015, the Houston Dash finished the regular season with 24 points from a 6-8-6 record, good for fifth place in the NWSL table, but outside the fourth and final playoff spot.
In its two seasons in NWSL, the Dash have yet to make the playoffs, but head coach Randy Waldrum is hoping that his team led by U.S. Women's National Team stalwarts Morgan Brian and Carli Lloyd can finally push into the league's elite in 2016.
Players to watch in 2016: Lloyd, last year's FIFA Women's Player of the Year and World Cup Golden Ball winner, is the beating heart of the Dash midfield. She's joined there by Brian, an outstanding young talent whose performances for the U.S. Women's National Team in 2015 earned her international recognition.
Oregon State
The Oregon State Women's Soccer Team finished its 2015 season with an overall record of 6-10-3. The Beavers are out to gain valuable playing experience against some of the best women's players in the world.
Seattle Reign FC
Seattle Reign FC advanced to its second consecutive NWSL Final in 2015 and – also for the second consecutive year – it lost in its final game of the season to FC Kansas City, this time falling 1-0 at Providence Park.
The Reign are looking to make it three finals appearances in a row in 2016, only this time, Laura Harvey and her team are hoping to go all the way. While the team will undoubtedly miss the world class crossing ability of Megan Rapinoe, who is out injured with a torn ACL, the Reign are still returning many of the core pieces that helped it find so much success in 2014 and 2015.
Players to watch in 2016: Midfield duo of Jess Fishlock and Kim Little return to the Reign in 2016. Little, a Scottish international, dropped 10 goals and 7 assists last season, and looks primed for yet another strong year in Seattle. In goal, the Reign feature a safe pair of hands in U.S. Women's National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo, who returns for her fourth season with the team.
