With all of the Thorns FC national team players returning to the club this week following a slate of international matches, Portland heads into the final weekend of the 2016 NWSL regular season with a chance to win the NWSL Shield--awarded to the team with the league's best regular-season record--when they travel to take on Sky Blue FC Sunday (4pm PT, WEBSTREAM).
Having already wrapped up a home field semifinal game in the 2016 NWSL Playoffs on Oct. 2 (2pm PT, FS1, TICKETS, presented by Tillamook Ice Cream), what it will take for the Thorns to take the Shield relies in part on the Washington Spirit not beating the Chicago Red Stars this Saturday (5pm PT, WEBSTREAM).
The Thorns would need to better any result Washington earns against the Red Stars in order to claim the Shield. If the Spirit lose, Portland would need only a draw to take the trophy. If Washington draws against Chicago, the Thorns would need a victory over Sky Blue FC.
