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Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-Imagn Images
After securing the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Shield on Sunday the Orlando Pride were on a league-record 24-game unbeaten run dating back to the last match of 2023. Five days later, the Portland Thorns handed the Shield-winners their first loss of the season — ending the impressive streak and their own winless skid — as they defeated the Pride 2-0 in Providence Park on Friday, Oct. 11.
Orlando’s last loss came over a year ago on Oct. 6, 2023, in Louisville. Since that defeat, they had won 18 games, tied six, outscored their opponents 43-13 and recorded 14 shutouts.
Morgan Weaver struck early for the home team, putting Portland ahead in the 13th minute when she scored off a poorly defended set piece. Christine Sinclair doubled the advantage ten minutes into the second half from the top of the box in front of an electric crowd witnessing the final games of her professional career.
Prior to this victory, the Thorns had been winless in their last seven regular season games, tying their worst record stretch from 2015, the only season in franchise history they failed to make the playoffs.
It would initially seem Portland was the underdog in this game but coming off of winning the Shield Orlando rested five of their best players and usual starters. This decision took into account that the team had to travel unusually early to Portland to avoid Hurricane Milton. Barbra Banda, Marta, Adriana, Emily Sams and Haley McCutcheon all started on the bench as part of head coach Seb Hines‘ plan to keep his team healthy for the playoffs.
“With a quick turnaround coming to Portland, you know, playing on turf as well … we felt like it was a good opportunity to play players who haven’t played significant minutes this season … and there was some good performances tonight,” Hines told media after the loss. “There’s some things that you could see that there was an element of rust, you know, that team cohesion wasn’t quite there, but it’s okay. We’ll move forward and we’ll come back next week.”
Banda, Marta, Adriana and Sams all ended up coming in and influencing the game but only after Portland held a two-goal lead.
It could be argued that ending the unbeaten streak before the playoffs takes a layer of pressure off the Pride but the team doesn’t see it that way.
“We want to win every game regardless of who’s on the field representing this club,” Hines said.
“We haven’t [lost] in a long time. Yeah, it’s disappointing. Like, there’s no other word to describe it but at the same time, it’s not a crisis. We’re still in good form going into playoffs,” Pride forward Ally Watt said. “It’s a record that got broken. We set that record. That’s a high standard to have … you just learn from … these mistakes that we had this game and we adjust for the next game.”
Disappointment in the loss won’t stop Orlando from competing and playing to their strengths but they will use it as a form of motivation going forward. Watt said the loss keeps them hungry while Hines told his players to “let it sink in and make sure that we don’t experience that feeling again at the end of the game.”
Despite losing for the first time all season Orlando is still highly favored to go on and win the NWSL Championship, guaranteed to enter playoffs as the No. 1 overall seed.
For Portland, the result is massive for their playoff push and morale. Questions were swirling about Portland’s struggles and if they would be able to finish above the playoff line. Friday’s win gives them 31 points and a little wiggle room sitting 7th in the standings but six points above 9th-place Racing Louisville, with the latter still to play this weekend.
“I think it’s no surprise that the last few months have been really hard for our team… and I think we’ve been playing well, especially in these last few games, and to still not get a result after them has just been really gut-wrenching,” Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey said. “So to play like we did tonight against a team that hasn’t lost yet, and to get the result — it’s hard to put into words just how proud I am of the group.”
Oct 11, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Thorns FC forward Morgan Weaver (22) celebrates a first half goal against the Orlando Pride at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-Imagn Images
The Thorns were without several key players of their own who they had struggled to win without. Sophia Smith and Hina Sugita haven’t featured since Sept. 13 while Meghan Klingenberg last played Aug. 30. Olivia Wade-Katoa was placed on the season-ending injury list earlier in the day and young attacker Reilyn Turner was also unavailable.
“We needed to bring every ounce of focus, every ounce of energy, to every single play, no matter who’s on the field. And I think we executed that better than we have all season tonight,” Coffey said.
A team that has looked uncharacteristically disjointed and mistake-prone seemed to have found its flow, putting on the kind of performance fans are used to seeing in the Rose City. Coffey credited the team’s mentality for turning things around and getting the result at this crucial point in the season.
“I think when it’s not going the way you want it to go … it’s easy to lose sight of the details. It’s easy to have a bad attitude. It’s easy to point fingers, deflect,” Coffey said. “But I just think our group, and our locker room specifically, has done a really good job of just staying together and keeping it positive… [we] are really intentional about just keeping the vibes good and keeping the mood alive.
“So I really think it’s a testament to that — just continuing to show up no matter how hard it gets, and not letting anything define us, not letting anyone’s opinion of us deter us from what we know we can do.”
