Portland Thorns FC continue their preseason preparations as they play host to a week-long, round-robin series of friendlies against OL Reign, the Chicago Red Stars and the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team from Mar. 5-11.
The tournament consist of three days of matches, each with a double-header presented and tickets being valid for both games. Portland and OL Reign will square off Saturday, March 5 (5pm PT, TICKETS) with Chicago and the U.S. U-23 WNT facing each other in the opening match at 2:30PM PT. On Tuesday, March 8, the Thorns host the U.S. U-23 WNT (7:30pm PT, TICKETS), while the second day of games begins with Chicago taking on OL Reign at 5pm PT. Portland concludes the preseason tournament against the Red Stars on Friday, March 11 (7:30pm, TICKETS), while OL Reign and the U.S. U-23 WNT square off at 5pm PT. The matches will not be streamed.
Tickets for the tournament are included in Thorns FC Annual Memberships and individual tickets for both the preseason tournament and the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup are on sale now.
2022 Thorns Preseason Tournament Schedule
Saturday, March 5 – Chicago Red Stars vs. U.S. U-23 WNT at 2:30 p.m. (Pacific); Thorns FC vs. OL Reign at 5 p.m. (Pacific)
Tuesday, March 8 – Chicago Red Stars vs. OL Reign at 5 p.m. (Pacific).; Thorns FC vs. U.S. U-23 WNT at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Friday, March 11 – U.S. U-23 WNT vs. OL Reign at 5 p.m. (Pacific); Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
The tournament returns to Portland after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic with all three visiting teams having also featured in the 2019 edition. Chicago and the U.S. U23s previously took part from 2017-2019 while the first ever tournament occurred in 2016 with the Seattle Reign, Oregon State and the Houston Dash participating.
Below is a quick look into the teams Portland will face.
OL Reign
2021 NWSL Record: 13-3-8, second in the league
Head Coach: Laura Harvey
Mar. 5: vs. Portland (5pm PT)
Mar. 8: vs. Chicago (5pm PT)
Mar. 11: vs. U.S. U23s (5pm PT)
OL Reign arrive in Portland with a strong side that took them to a second place regular-season finish in 2021 – only two points behind NWSL Shield-winners Portland. They were eliminated in the 2021 playoff semifinals losing to eventual NWSL champions Washington Spirit.
The Reign feature a strong and talented lineup. The reigning NWSL MVP Jessica Fishlock (five goals, four assists) helps lead a team that includes forward Bethany Balcer, who scored a team-best nine goals, which was also one goal off the Golden Boot pace. U.S. international Megan Rapinoe had six goals and three assists while Sophia Huerta had a goal and a league-leading six assists in 2021. The lineup also included USWNT star Rose Lavelle. Fishlock and defender Alana Cook were both 2021 NWSL Best XI members while Huerta and Balcer earned Second XI honors.
Head coach Laura Harvey returned to OL Reign in August last season to lead the team, where she previously coached from 2013 to 2017.
U.S. U23s WNT
Head Coach: Twila Kilgore
Mar. 5: vs. Chicago (2:30pm PT)
Mar. 8: vs. Portland (7:30pm PT)
Mar. 11: vs. Reign (5pm PT)
The U.S. U-23s Women's National Team comes to Portland preseason for the fourth time. Constructed as a part of the overall development pyramid for U.S. soccer, the roster coming to the Rose City this year consists of 22 collegiate players, coached by newly appointed USWNT assistant coach Twila Kilgore.
There are no players with full USWNT experience, but nine players on the roster have played for the USA in a FIFA Youth World Cup. Penelope Hocking (USC) and Alexa Spaanstra (Virginia) were a part of the U.S. team at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup while defenders Talia Staude (Virginia) and Michela Agresti (Boston College), midfielders Maya Doms (Stanford)), Hannah Bebar (Harvard) and Sophie Jones (Duke) as well as forward Payton Linnehan (Penn State) played for the USA at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Defender Emily Madril, who helped lead Florida State to the 2021 NCAA title, and Beaverton native Sydney Collens (California) also feature for the team.
The U.S. U23s has also served as a jumping off point for many current and former Thorns. Forwards Morgan Weaver and Sophia Smith, goalkeeper Bella Bixby and defender Meaghan Nally are all alums, with all having played in this tournament before while with the U23s. Ex-Thorns Gabby Seiler and Simone Charley also played for U.S. U23s previously in this tournament.
Chicago Red Stars
2021 NWSL Record: 11-5-8, fourth in the league
Head Coach: Chris Petrucelli
Mar. 5: vs. U.S. U23s (2:30pm PT)
Mar. 8: vs. Reign (5pm PT)
Mar. 11: vs. Portland (7:30pm PT)
The last time Portland saw the Chicago Red Stars was in a frustratingly 2-0 loss at home in the semifinals of the 2021 NWSL Playoffs. Chicago advanced to the championship but lost 2-1 after extra time to the Washington Spirit.
The Red Stars squad includes an exciting attack that includes forwards Mallory Pugh (five goals, four assists), Kealia Watt (five goals, four assists) and Rachel Hill (four goals). Pugh received NWSL Second XI honors last year while defender Sarah Gorden received a Best XI nod. Also of note on this Red Stars team: U.S. internationals Morgan Gautrat and Danielle Colaprico.
Chris Petrucelli is the new head coach in Chicago. Petrucelli was a longtime collegiate women's head coach (Notre Dame, Texas, SMU) and won an NCAA title with the Fighting Irish in 1995. He most recently helmed the U.S. U-18 YNT.
