Post by Yeseeka on Mar 3, 2018 11:35:19 GMT -8
The Portland Thorns will look to repeat as National Women's Soccer League champions in 2018, having defeated the North Carolina Courage in the 2017 championship game. The Thorns also won the inaugural NWSL championship, having defeated the Western New York Flash in 2013, 2-0. Prior to the 2017 season the Flash were sold and relocated to become the Courage.
The NWSL saw two teams dissolve, the Boston Breakers and FC Kansas City. The league has one expansion team, Utah Royals FC.
Schedule
Portland opens its 2018 season in a championship game rematch against the Courage, whom they defeated 1-0 to win their second NWSL championship. The opener, which serves as the NWSL season opener, is the first of two home games for the Thorns to begin the season. They don't have a home stand of more than two games, and have a single three-game road trip occurring in late July through early August.
The 24-game schedule features three games against each team. The Thorns schedule features six games in May and five in August, and have just three games in the months of April and July.
Notable returning Thorns players include midfielders Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan; forwards Christine Sinclair, Hayley Raso and Mallory Weber; and defenders Meghan Klingenberg and Emily Menges. Perhaps the most notable returnee is stellar goalkeeper Adrianna Franch.
The Thorns play their home games at Providence Park, located at 1844 SW Morrison in downtown Portland. Home games are noted in Bold Green.
Most games are streamed live online via www.portlandthornsfc.com. Five games will be broadcast on the Lifetime Network. Those games are noted in the schedule below.
All times on this schedule are pacific time and are subject to change.
Regular Season
MARCH
Sat., March 24 - at North Carolina Courage (L 0-1)
Sat., March 31 - at Chicago Red Stars (W 3-2)
APRIL
Sun., April 15 - Orlando Pride (W 2-1)
Fri., April 20 - Washington Spirit (D 1-1)
Sat., April 28 -Utah Royals (D 1-1)
MAY
Sat., May 5 - Seattle Reign FC (L 2-3)
Wed., May 9 - at Houston Dash (D 1-1)
Sat., May 12 - Orlando Pride (L 1-2)
Sat., May 19 - at Washington Spirit (W 1-0)
Fri., May 25 - Utah Royals (W 2-0)
Wed., May 30 - North Carolina Courage (L 1-4)
JUNE
Sat., June 16 - at Chicago Red Stars (D 1-1)
Fri., June 22 - at Houston Dash (W 3-1)
Wed., June 27 - Sky Blue FC (D 1-1)
Sat., June 30 - at Seattle Reign FC (L 0-1)
JULY
Fri., July 6 - Utah Royals (W 4-0)
Sun., July 15 - Houston Dash (W 3-1)
Sat., July 21 - at Sky Blue FC (W 2-1)
AUGUST
Sun., Aug. 5 - at North Carolina Courage (L 1-2)
Sat., Aug. 11 - at Orlando Pride (W 2-0)
Sat., Aug. 18 - Chicago Red Stars (D 2-2)
Wed., Aug. 22 - Sky Blue FC (W 2-1)
Sat., Aug. 25 - at Washington Spirit (W 1-0)
SEPTEMBER
Fri., Sept. 7 - Seattle Reign FC (W 3-1)
PLAYOFFS - SEMIFINALS
Sat., Sept. 15 - Seattle Reign FC (W 2-1)
NWSL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sat., Sept. 22 - North Carolina Courage 3, Portland Thorns 0
at Providence Park; Portland, Oregon
OPPONENTS' HOME PITCHES
Chicago Red Stars -- Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Illinois
Houston Dash -- BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
North Carolina Courage -- WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, North Carolina
Orlando Pride -- Citrus Bowl; Orlando, Florida
Seattle Reign FC -- Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium; Seattle, Washington
Sky Blue FC -- Yurcak Field, Rutgers University; Piscataway Township, New Jersey
Utah Royals -- Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Washington Spirit -- Maryland SoccerPlex; Germantown, Maryland
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Graphic courtesy of David.
