Before leaving to play with the U.S. Women's National team, Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan spoke to us about her love of travel, Portland and adjusting to the NWSL.
You've had the opportunity to visit some pretty cool places, playing abroad with PSG and also during your time with the youth and senior national teams. What is your favorite place you have visited? Is there some place you want to visit that you have not yet?
Lindsey Horan: "Probably by far my favorite place I've visited is Barcelona. I got the opportunity to visit there initially when I was on my way to go train with Lyon, but it was more of a stressful vacation because I was in the middle of making a decision about going to play in France. I went straight from vacation to the trial so I wanted to go back there and actually experience it. Any off time that we got at PSG, two or three days, we wanted to go somewhere. So I ended up going to Barcelona three times. Australia is No. 1 on my list, I don't know when I will get the opportunity to do it, but it's going to happen."
Players always talk about exploring Portland, from the food to the outdoors, so what were your initial impressions of the city? Have you had the opportunity to explore any cool places? Do you have any favorite restaurants?
LH: "I loved it. The first three days I was here, it was sunshine and beautiful. Everything here has such great soccer culture, everyone understands it and I absolutely love it. Emily Sonnett took me up to Council Crest Park. That was really cool. I too my mom to Tasty n Alder. I've also enjoyed the Pearl."
The team has spent a lot of time on the road lately with four straight road games. What types of things did you do during your down time on the road?
LH: "Kling [Meghan Klingenberg], Sonnett and I went and found coffee places. I enjoyed that and we found an awesome place in Boston. Sonnett and I got our nails done one time. It's nice when you are in the city and can walk around and go do things. At the same time, during those road trips, you're preparing for the games, so a lot of what you do is in the hotel and recovery."
You are seven games into your first season with Thorns FC and in the NWSL. How would you compare playin in the NWSL to playing in women's French league?
LH: "The intensity. We've played five different teams and the intensity in each game is basically the same. It's so fast-paced. In France there would be two or three of those games, but you still wouldn't have that intensity throughout the whole game. And when you were playing some of the teams towards the bottom of the league table, you are not going to get that. That's the biggest difference. Every game is so physical and so intense."
