Northwest rivals Portland Thorns FC and OL Reign meet in a West Division match of the 2023 UKG Challenge Cup on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).
The UKG Challenge Cup returns to Providence Park just shy of a month after Portland Thorns FC's first home match in the 2023 competition. On Wednesday night, Portland welcomes Cascadia rivals OL Reign for their first encounter in Challenge Cup play in 2023. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm PT.
The Thorns (1-1-0, 3pts) are in second place in the Challenge Cup's West Division, and they sit just four points behind first-place OL Reign (2-0-1, 7pts), with one game in hand. The midweek battle gives Portland an opportunity to get within reach of the division leaders.
Here are some numbers to keep an eye on Wednesday night:
7
When playing at home in 2023, the Thorns have been unbeatable. In seven games at Providence Park, Portland is 5-0-2 across all competitions, including THAT stoppage-time studs-flick winner from Morgan Weaver in Challenge Cup play last month.
5
Weaver is having another terrific year, getting closer to equaling her breakout 2022 season, when she tallied eight goals and four assists across all competitions. In 2023, she currently has five goals and three assists, and all five of her tallies have come in front of the Thorns' faithful at Providence Park.
8
Since defeating OL Reign, 2-0, in regular-season action on June 3, the Thorns have continued their league-leading goal output. In the three matches since the win at Lumen Field, Portland has scored eight goals. Since the beginning of June, the Thorns have double or more goals scored than any of their Challenge Cup West Division opponents – Reign and Angel City FC with four goals and San Diego Wave FC with three.
171
With the Reign, the Thorns welcome in one of the higher-pressing teams this year. OL Reign lead the NWSL in interceptions in regular-season play with 171 – averaging 13.2 per match. They lead the league in interceptions by 24; Louisville sits in second with 147.
