With Playoff Spot Secured, Thorns Aim for More as Season Draws to a Close
Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, Portland Thorns
First-place Portland takes steady approach to postseason prospects and season goals
As is oftentimes the case, the fate of the NWSL postseason once again is coming down to the wire. But with a 3-0 victory over Racing Louisville FC at Providence Park on Wednesday night, Portland Thorns FC locked up their spot in the NWSL playoffs, and remain in strong contention for the NWSL Shield. The win vaulted Portland into first place with two games remaining, but as of Thursday morning, only six points separate the top seven teams in the 12-team league. The Thorns lead is just one point over San Diego and OL Reign, and just two points over Houston and Kansas City.
Having made the playoffs all but once since serving as a founding member of the league in 2013, there’s an established standard of excellence with the Thorns. A two-time league champion and two-time NWSL Shield winner, it’s no surprise, then, that Portland once again is aiming for more than a mere playoff spot as the regular season comes to a close with their final two games.
As a former player, first-year Thorns head coach Rhian Wilkinson knows all too well the pitfalls and traps players are confronted with as any season draws to a close and teams jockey for position. Sure, the pressure ratchets up with every passing game, but it’s simply too easy to get caught up in table-watching and worrying about things out of one’s control, including pundit prognostications and expected results.
So, as simple as it seems, Wilkinson emphasizes a very steady, common-sense approach as the season draws to a close, and the pressure ramps up. For her, it essentially just comes down to the team taking care of its own business and letting the cards fall where they may. In this way, she makes it a priority to support the players, first and foremost, and try to keep them in the moment.
“It’s so easy to get caught up in another narrative,” Wilkinson said. “If we keep doing what we’re doing, that’s the biggest piece. It’s really about us, and it’s always been about us from the beginning.”
Wilkinson, who played briefly in Portland during the 2015 NWSL season, came to Portland as its new head coach at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Previously serving as an assistant coach with the England Women’s National Team (2021) and as an assistant with the Canada Women’s National Team (2019-20), she came to Portland with a well-rounded base of experience.
But that’s no assurance of success, especially in a league like the NWSL where the unexpected can happen on any given match day, seemingly. With a new coach, a new system, and the inevitable roster turnover due to attrition and injury, Wilkinson is very pleased with how the team has responded this year, especially considering the degree of change.
Every player on the current roster has started at last one game, young players are stepping up, and others are taking on greater responsibilities to complement the strong core that helped Portland win its second Shield in 2021.
“They’ve just consistently found a level of play that, as their new head coach, I’ve just been so impressed with,” Wilkinson said. “Their willingness to fight through the challenges – it’s a testament to the culture here, the club and the team itself. No matter what happens, these women just get on with it.”
The top six teams in the 12-team NWSL advance to the postseason, with the top two teams receiving a bye in the first round of playoffs. This year’s quarterfinals will take place Oct. 15-16, the semifinals will be Oct. 22-23, and the 2022 NWSL Championship will be held Saturday, Oct. 29, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
Next up, the Thorns look to keep their hold on the top of the table when they host the Chicago Red Stars at Providence Park on Sunday. The team will then round out the regular season with a road game at Gotham FC on Oct. 1.
Any way you slice it, it’s shaping up to be an eventful end to the season. Sport Oregon is joining in with the season-ending excitement when the Thorns play their final home game of the regular season Sunday. The organization is hosting a special happy hour and fundraiser for its SHE FLIES initiative at its offices, conveniently located across the street from Providence Park. Offering tickets for $35 each, Sport Oregon is inviting interested fans for a pre-match party – featuring mimosas, beer, wine, cider, water, soft drinks and pastries – at 11 a.m., followed by the game at 1 p.m.
Click here to purchase tickets – which include access to the pre-match party and general admission entrance to the game. Proceeds raised will directly support SHE FLIES, a Sport Oregon Foundation initiative that aims to empower girls and women through sport to overcome barriers and challenges, ultimately to unleash their full potential.
For more information on the event, contact Sport Oregon Event Manager Hannah Roxas at hannah@sportoregon.org.
For the Thorns, it’s been a successful season so far, one that has positioned them well to make some noise in the postseason. But while a good regular season is always nice, the Thorns have their eye on greater achievements in 2022.
“It’s clear to the team: we’re giving everything we have to bring home the Shield and then the championship,” Wilkinson concluded.