Orlando Pride vs. Portland Thorns FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (17-0-6, 57 points) travel west to face the Portland Thorns (8-11-4, 28 points). This is the second and final time these teams will face off during the 2024 NWSL regular season.

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

History

The Pride have struggled historically against the Thorns, with a record of 4-13-2 in 19 games (4-12-2 in league play and 0-1-0 in the playoffs). They’re 1-7-0 in Portland with the only win occurring in 2018.

The most recent meeting between the two teams came on May 24 in Orlando. It was the Barbra Banda show as the Pride striker scored in the 30th and 40th minutes, giving her team a 2-0 halftime lead. Izzy D’Aquila got one back for the visitors in the 71st minute, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride won 2-1.

The first game between the two teams in 2023 was on March 26 at Providence Park. Morgan Weaver opened the scoring early and Sophia Smith doubled the advantage a few minutes later. Hina Sugita made it three, and Michele Vasconcelos wrapped up the scoring as the Thorns won 4-0. On June 11, 2023, in Orlando, Smith gave the visitors the lead, but the Pride took over after that. Adriana scored a brace and Messiah Bright’s 69th-minute strike lifted the Pride to a 3-1 win. 

The teams met twice in 2022, with the first coming on Sept. 9 at Exploria Stadium. Yazmeen Ryan gave the visitors the lead and Sugita doubled the advantage as the Thorns won 2-0. That was the second meeting of the season after the teams met on June 19 in Portland. In Seb Hines’ second game as interim head coach, the Thorns smashed the Pride, 6-0.

The teams met earlier in the year during the 2021 season, playing on May 26 in Orlando. The Pride won for only the second time against Portland since the team’s inception. Orlando won 2-1 with goals from Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux.

The second meeting that year came on July 18 in Portland, and the home team won again. Smith gave the hosts the lead and Marissa Everett doubled the advantage. Marisa Viggiano got one back in second-half stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough as the Thorns won, 2-1.

They met a third time on Aug. 14. The Pride took an early lead when Courtney Petersen found Jodie Taylor for the opening goal. But Simone Charley equalized and the teams drew 1-1.

The Pride and Thorns didn’t play in 2020 after the season was canceled due to the global pandemic and they weren’t in the same group for the NWSL Fall Series. As a result, the most recent meeting prior to 2021 was in 2019.

The teams opened the 2019 season against each other in Orlando, but the Thorns got the better of the clash. The game was decided on either side of halftime as Caitlin Foord scored just before the break and Tobin Heath scored four minutes after the restart, lifting Portland to a 2-0 win. They met again in Orlando on May 11 and the visitors won again. Toni Pressley gave the Pride an early lead, but it was all Portland after that. Dagny Brynjarsdottir equalized, Andressinha gave Portland the lead, and Foord finished it off.

The final meeting between the two in 2019 was a goal fest in Portland and another Thorns win. Hayley Raso gave the visitors the lead just three minutes into the game and Midge Purce’s goal made it look like it would be a dominant performance by the hosts. But Marta got one back to make it 2-1. Christine Sinclair made it 3-1, followed by a Thorns own goal by Emily Menges. It looked like the Pride would get a rare point through Erin Greening’s 90th-minute goal, but Tyler Lussi scored in second-half injury time, dooming the Pride to another loss in Oregon.

The teams faced off three times in 2018, which featured the Pride’s lone win in Portland. The Thorns won the first game, 2-1 on April 15. But on May 12, goals by Morgan and Christine Nairn gave the Pride a 2-0 lead. Sinclair got one back for the hosts, but the Pride held on for their only result at Providence Park. The third meeting went back to usual, with the Thorns winning 2-0 through Lindsey Horan and Raso.

The teams started the 2017 season against each other in Portland with the Thorns winning 2-0. They met again in the penultimate game of the season in Orlando, ending in a scoreless draw. The most important game between the two teams was the Pride’s only playoff appearance. Unfortunately, it was all Portland, as the Thorns beat the Pride 4-1.

The first meeting of 2016 was the Pride’s first-ever game. Steph Catley gave the visitors a surprising lead, but Brynjarsdottir equalized and Horan won it for Portland. They met again on June 26 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Two second-half goals by Brynjarsdottir and Horan lifted the Thorns to another 2-1 win.

Overview

The Pride are coming off a 2-0 win over the Washington Spirit, clinching the NWSL Shield, the first trophy in team history. However, they have to quickly refocus after a short week. There’s still plenty to play for as the Pride can break the record for most points in a season and the fewest goals scored in a season, and Orlando could become the first NWSL team to go unbeaten through a regular season.

Refocusing after an emotional game will be challenging, but the circumstances around the team’s home city increases the task. The team left earlier than it had originally planned to avoid Hurricane Milton, forcing the Pride to be away from home longer. While the extra time will help them adjust to the time change, it’s also an extra day away from the comforts of home.

In previous years, this would be one of the toughest games of the season, with the Thorns usually challenging for the NWSL Shield. However, it’s been a tough year for Portland, which is simply trying to reach the postseason. The Thorns are currently tied with Bay FC for the final playoff spot and sit just three points ahead of Racing Louisville FC in ninth place.

The Thorns were much higher up the standings prior to the Olympic break, but they’ve yet to win since the restart, posting an 0-6-1 record. Their last three games have been against teams currently outside of the playoffs, with a 2-2 draw against Angel City, a 2-0 loss to San Diego Wave FC, and a 2-1 loss at home to the Utah Royals.

A primary factor in their recent struggles is the absence of Smith. The forward leads the team with 11 goals and six assists in 17 games, contributing in more than half of the team’s 32 goals. She has six more goals than Olivia Moultrie and three more assists than Hina Sugita, the players with the second-highest totals on the team. However, she suffered an ankle injury against Angel City and has missed the last two games. The U.S. international is expected to miss more time heading into the final games of the season.

Even without Smith, Portland has a fearsome attack. Weaver, Moultrie, and Sinclair have created problems for the Pride in the past and will likely be the attacking line in this game. As if qualifying for the playoffs isn’t motivation enough, Sinclair recently announced this will be her final season and her teammates will want to send her off with a playoff run.

Of course, the Thorns’ offense hasn’t been bad this season, scoring 32 goals, tied for the fifth-most in the league. Instead, it’s been the defense that’s struggled. They’ve conceded 34 goals this year, sixth-most in the league. It’s a drastic change for a team that’s usually been one of the better defensive teams in the league. The 34 goals conceded is already the second most for any Thorns team in their 12-year history and they still have three games remaining.

Despite their relative positions in the standings and Portland’s recent struggles, this will be a difficult game for the Pride. The Thorns have everything to play for as they attempt to remain above the playoff line. Meanwhile, the Pride are coming off a huge win over Washington and must try to avoid a potential hangover from completing their season-long accomplishment.

“Our mentality doesn’t change. Again, we want to win every game that’s put in front of us,” Hines said about tonight’s game. “We know that this is probably one of the hardest environments to play at and they have some really quality players. Historically, Portland have always been up at the top of the table. Right now they’re going through kind of a rough patch, but it doesn’t take away the dangerous players in this team. So we have to be on our best game, our best performance, to get anything out of this. Again, it’s been a quick turnaround from Sunday to Friday, so again, we have to make sure that we’re ready to go and represent this team as best as possible. So we’ve had some discussions of rotating some players, again, to make sure that everyone feels fresh and ready to perform at their highest.”

The Pride are missing seven players tonight, including Celia (excused absence), Grace Chanda (thigh), Simone Charley (ankle), Luana (illness), Sofia Manner (concussion), Megan Montefusco (heel), and Rafaelle (thigh). Additionally, Haley McCutcheon (foot) is listed as questionable.

Portland will be without Mackenzie Arnold (leg), Bella Bixby (maternity leave), Meghan Klingenberg (lower leg), Gabby Provenzano (ankle), Sugita (face), Smith (ankle), Reilyn Turner (knee), and Olivia Wade-Katoa (knee).

Projected Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Kerry Abello, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, Cori Dyke.

Defensive Midfielders: Morgan Gautrat, Angelina.

Midfielders: Juile Doyle, Marta, Adriana.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Portland Thorns FC (3-4-3)

Goalkeeper: Shelby Hogan.

Defenders: Kelli Hubly, Becky Sauerbrunn, Isabella Obaze.

Midfielders: Reyna Reyes, Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming, Marie Muller.

Forwards: Morgan Weaver, Olivia Moultrie, Christine Sinclair.

Referees

REF: JC Griggs.
AR1: Darren Bandy.
AR2: Jessica Carnevale.
4TH: Kelsey Harms.
VAR: Corbyn May.
AVAR: Brian Marshall.

How to Watch

Match Time: 10 p.m.

Venue: Providence Park — Portland, OR.

TV: None.

Streaming: Prime Video.

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).

Enjoy the match. Go Pride!