Thorns Claim 1–0 Victory Over Spirit in Season Opener

MATCH RECAP | Portland Thorns Secure 0-1 Road Win at Washington Spirit

Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie continues to shine while forward Sophia Wilson makes her return to NWSL action and new Head Coach Robert Vilahamn makes his NWSL debut.

WASHINGTON (Friday, March 12, 2026) – The Portland Thorns officially began 2026 off with a big 0-1 win on the road at Washington Spirit on Friday to open the new NWSL season, marking the first win of new Thorns Head Coach Robert Vilahamn in his NWSL coaching debut.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 19,215 at Audi Field, the Thorns started out the match with a couple of debutants. Goalkeeper Morgan Messner made her first official regular-season debut and new midfielder Cassandra Bogere slotted in alongside Jessie Fleming.

The first 45 minutes saw lots of back and forth between both sides, with both defenses playing well to break apart the other’s offensive buildups and prevent shots on target. Heading into halftime, the question of how to find a breakthrough was no doubt at the top mind.

Coming back from the break, the Thorns were firing on all cylinders and finally got their breakthrough in the 52’ after defender Isabella Obaze connected with forward Pietra Tordin, who then in turn laid the ball off to midfielder Olivia Moultrie to let her dribble it into the keeper’s box and strike it into the net.

The second half afterwards saw the professional debuts of rookie midfielder Shae Harvey and rookie forward Maddie Padelski as well as the long-awaited return of forward Sophia Wilson to NWSL action (her first official appearance for the Thorns since the quarterfinal match at Gotham FC on November 10, 2024) which saw many in attendance rise up and cheer.

While the Spirit offense tried their best to try and get back on the scoresheet, the Thorns held on and stifled their offense to limit them to only one shot on target the whole match and secure three points on opening weekend, the first time since 2019 that the Thorns have registered a win when opening on the road.

UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will host Seattle Reign FC for its 2026 Home Opener at Providence Park on Friday, March 20. The 44^th edition of the Cascadia Rivalry is set to kickoff at 7 pm PT/10 pm ET on Prime Video.

TEAM NOTES

• The Portland Thorns are now 16W-5L-8D in the regular season against Washington, with a 7W-5L-3D record on the road against the Spirit.
• With new head coach Robert Vilahamn getting the win in his Thorns debut, first-year Thorns coaches are now 5W-0L-2D in their debut matches.
• Portland opening weekend record is now 9W-3L-1D.
• Olivia Moultrie (M) opened her 2026 goal account with the first goal of the match. It was her 19^th career regular season goal.
• Pietra Tordin (F) registered her first career NWSL assist. It is her first pro assist since the 3-0 Concacaf W Champions Cup win vs Club América on May 24, 2025.
• Morgan Messner (G) registered her first career NWSL clean sheet and her first Thorns clean sheet since the 3-0 Concacaf W Champions Cup win vs Club América on May 24, 32025. Messner joins Bella Bixby and Nadine Angerer as Portland goalkeepers to record a shutout in their regular season debut.
• Sophia Wilson (F) made her long-awaited return to the pitch since becoming a mother, coming into the match as a second-half substitute. Her last appearance was on November 10, 2024 vs Gotham FC (NWSL quarterfinal).
• Midfielder Cassandra Bogere made her Thorns and NWSL debut with a start.
• Two rookie Thorns players made their professional debut: midfielder Shae Harvey and forward Maddie Padelski.
• Portland’s win tonight was the first at Washington since their 1-2 result on August 10, 2022.
• The last time Portland registered a road shutout at Washington was on August 7, 2021 (0-1).  
• The last time the Thorns have won at Audi Field was in the 2022 NWSL Championship Final vs Kansas City Current (2-0) on October 29, 2022
• The last time the Thorns won on opening weekend was in 2023 at home vs Orlando Pride (4-0).
• The last time the Thorns won opening weekend on the road was in 2019 against Orlando Pride (0-2).

GOAL BREAKDOWN

First Half

N/A

Second Half

POR – Olivia Moultrie (Pietra Tordin) 52’

LINEUPS

Portland Thorns (4-2-3-1):  Morgan Messner (GK), M.A. Vignola, Isabella Obaze, Sam Hiatt-C, Reyna Reyes, Cassandra Bogere (Shae Harvey 61’), Jessie Fleming, Olivia Moultrie, Mimi Alidou (Alexa Spaanstra 85’), Reilyn Turner (Maddie Padelski 61’), Pietra Tordin (Sophia Wilson 77’)

Subs not used: Mackenzie Wood (GK), Marie Müller, Jayden Perry, Mallie McKenzie, Valerin Loboa

Washington Spirit (4-3-3): Sandy MacIver (GK), Lucia Di Guglielmo, Tara Rudd-C, Esme Morgan, Gabby Carle (Paige Metayer 84’), Hal Hershfelt, Rebeca Bernal (Deborah Abiodun 84’), Leicy Santos (Claudia Martinez 71’), Rosemonde Kouassi (Tamara Bolt 84’), Trinity Rodman, Gift Monday (Sofia Cantore 64’)

Subs not used: Kaylie Collins (GK), Emma Gaines-Ramos, Molly Skurcenski, Madison Haugen

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

POR: N/A

WAS: N/A

MATCH STATS

POR | WAS

Goals: 1|0

Assists: 1|0

Possession: 38|62

Shots: 9|13

Shots on Target: 3|1

Saves: 0|0

Tackles: 23|23

Interceptions: 13|11

Fouls: 10|8

Offsides: 0|2

Corner Kicks: 2|3

ATTENDANCE: 19, 215

REFEREE: Brad Jensen
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Brian Marshall
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Art Arustamyan

4^TH OFFICIAL: Marie Durr
VAR: Alexandra Billeter
ASSISTANT VAR: Karsten Gillwald