User:Oznogon/Draft:2021 Portland Thorns FC season
2021 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Owner | Merritt Paulson | ||
General manager | Gavin Wilkinson (suspended Oct. 6, 2021) | ||
Head coach | Mark Parsons | ||
Stadium | Providence Park (capacity: 25,218) | ||
NWSL | 1st (NWSL Shield) | ||
WICC | Champions | ||
NWSL Playoffs | Semi-finalists | ||
| |||
All statistics correct as of August 5, 2022. |
The 2021 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's ninth season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Background
[edit]The Thorns were semi-finalists in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and champions of the 2020 NWSL Fall Series, which replaced the 2020 NWSL season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stadium and facilities
[edit]Thorns FC continued to play and train in Providence Park, their home since the team's inaugural season in 2013. The team held its first preseason training at the Portland Timbers training facilities in Beaverton, Oregon, before resuming training at the stadium.[1]
Team
[edit]Staff
[edit]- As of September 25, 2021.[2]
Technical | |
---|---|
General manager | Gavin Wilkinson |
Head coach | Mark Parsons |
Assistant coach | Sophie Clough |
Assistant coach | Rich Gunney |
Goalkeeper coach | Nadine Angerer |
Medical | |
Head athletic trainer | Pierre Soubrier |
Assistant athletic trainer | Kelly Strasser |
Performance specialist | Tom Milroy |
Head physician | Breanne Brown |
Squad
[edit]- As of September 25, 2021.[3]
No. | Nat. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Since | Previous team | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | ||||||
1 | Bella Bixby | November 20, 1995 (aged 25) | 2018 | Oregon State | ||
35 | Abby Smith | October 4, 1993 (aged 27) | 2021 | Kansas City Current | ||
43 | Shelby Hogan | May 10, 1998 (aged 23) | 2021 | Providence College | ||
Defenders | ||||||
4 | Becky Sauerbrunn | June 6, 1985 (aged 36) | 2020 | Utah Royals FC | ||
5 | Emily Menges | July 28, 1992 (aged 29) | 2014 | Georgetown | ||
14 | Natalia Kuikka | December 1, 1995 (aged 25) | 2020 | Kopparberg/Göteborg FC | INT[a] | |
15 | Madison Pogarch | November 5, 1997 (aged 23) | 2019 | Rutgers | ||
18 | Christen Westphal | September 2, 1993 (aged 28) | 2020 | Reign FC | ||
20 | Kelli Hubly | August 9, 1994 (aged 27) | 2017 | DePaul | ||
25 | Meghan Klingenberg | August 2, 1988 (aged 33) | 2015 | Orlando Pride | ||
39 | Meaghan Nally | June 30, 1998 (aged 23) | 2020 | Georgetown Hoyas | ||
41 | Hannah Betfort | January 4, 1999 (aged 22) | 2021 | Wake Forest | ||
Midfielders | ||||||
10 | Lindsey Horan | May 26, 1994 (aged 27) | 2016 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
11 | Raquel RodrĂguez | October 28, 1993 (aged 27) | 2020 | Sky Blue FC | ||
19 | Crystal Dunn | July 3, 1992 (aged 29) | 2020 | North Carolina Courage (via OL Reign) |
||
23 | Yazmeen Ryan | February 25, 1999 (aged 22) | 2021 | Texas Christian | ||
30 | Celeste Boureille | April 20, 1994 (aged 27) | 2016 | California Golden Bears | ||
36 | Angela Salem | July 24, 1988 (aged 33) | 2018 | Boston Breakers | ||
42 | Olivia Moultrie | September 17, 2005 (aged 16) | 2021 | |||
Forwards | ||||||
7 | Simone Charley | February 4, 1995 (aged 26) | 2019 | Vanderbilt | ||
9 | Sophia Smith | August 10, 2000 (aged 21) | 2020 | Stanford | ||
12 | Christine Sinclair | June 12, 1983 (aged 38) | 2013 | Western New York Flash | ||
22 | Morgan Weaver | October 18, 1997 (aged 23) | 2020 | Washington State | ||
34 | Tyler Lussi | January 26, 1995 (aged 26) | 2017 | Princeton | ||
40 | Marissa Everett | August 29, 1997 (aged 24) | 2019 | Oregon |
- ^ INT: International player
Competitions
[edit]NWSL Challenge Cup
[edit]In 2021, the Thorns competed in the cup's West Division during the group stage.
Group stage
[edit]April 18, 2022 1 | Portland Thorns FC | 2â1 | Kansas City NWSL | Portland, Oregon |
19:30 PDT |
|
Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 4,646[4] Referee: Danielle Chesky[5] Assistant referees: Deleana Quan, Kali Smith Fourth official: Adorae Monroy |
April 25, 2021 | Chicago Red Stars | 0â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Bridgeview, Illinois |
|
Report | Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium |
April 21, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 2â0 | OL Reign | Portland, Oregon |
19:00 PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 5,289[6] |
May 2, 2021 | Houston Dash | 1â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Houston, Texas |
18:30 CDT | Report |
|
Stadium: PNC Stadium Attendance: 3,162 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
West Division standings
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Portland Thorns FC | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 10 | Qualification for the Championship |
2 | OL Reign | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 | |
3 | Houston Dash | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | |
4 | Chicago Red Stars | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 2 | |
5 | Kansas City | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 1 |
Championship
[edit]Portland Thorns FC won the right to host the final by finishing with the best record across both divisions.[7] NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird wrote a letter to Oregon governor Kate Brown requesting an exemption from a ban on fan attendance due to the "extreme risk" designation for COVID-19 in Multnomah County at the time.[8] Brown denied the request, prompting rumors that the league might seek an alternative venue.[7] However, Brown then downgraded the county's status four days before the match on May 4, 2021, to "high risk", allowing the Thorns to make up to 15 percent of the venue's capacity available.[9]
May 8, 2021 Finals | Portland Thorns FC | 1â1 (6â5 p) | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Portland, Oregon |
10:00 PDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Providence Park Referee: Natalie Simon Assistant referees: Brooke Mayo, Deleana Quan Rachel Smith (reserve) Fourth official: Karen Callado | |
Penalties | ||||
Regular season
[edit]Matches
[edit]May 16, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 5â0 | Chicago Red Stars | Portland, Oregon |
16:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Referee: Katja Koroleva |
May 23, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 1â2 | OL Reign | Portland, Oregon |
15:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Referee: Karen Callado |
May 26, 2021 | Orlando Pride | 2â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Orlando, Florida |
19:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: Exploria Stadium Attendance: 3,407 Referee: Laura Rodriguez |
May 30, 2021 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 0â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Harrison, New Jersey |
15:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: Red Bull Arena Referee: Karen Abt |
June 5, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 3â0 | Racing Louisville FC | Portland, Oregon |
19:30 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Referee: Samantha Martinez |
June 20, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 1â0 | Kansas City NWSL | Portland, Oregon |
13:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Referee: Adorae Monroy |
June 26, 2021 | North Carolina Courage | 2â0 | Portland Thorns FC | Cary, North Carolina |
19:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Referee: Natalie Simon |
July 3, 2021 | Racing Louisville FC | 0â2 | Portland Thorns FC | Louisville, Kentucky |
19:30 EDT | Report | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 6,822 Referee: Karen Callado |
July 11, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 0â0 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Portland, Oregon |
12:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 14,731 Referee: Tori Penso |
July 18, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 2â1 | Orlando Pride | Portland, Oregon |
19:30 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 14,985 Referee: Laura Rodriguez |
July 24, 2021 | Houston Dash | 0â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Houston, Texas |
19:30 CDT | Report | Stadium: PNC Park Attendance: 1,929 Referee: Luis Guardia |
August 1, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 2â0 | Kansas City NWSL | Portland, Oregon |
12:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 16,246 Referee: Samantha Martinez |
August 7, 2021 | Washington Spirit | 0â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Leesburg, Virginia |
19:00 [{Eastern Time Zone | Report | Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 2,889 Referee: Katja Koroleva Assistant referees: Ben Pilgrim, Laura Waliski |
August 14, 2021 | Orlando Pride | 1â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Orlando, Florida |
19:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: Exploria Stadium Attendance: 4,209 Referee: Matthew Franz |
August 25, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 2â1 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Portland, Oregon |
19:30 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 14,299 Referee: Mark Allatin |
August 29, 2021 | OL Reign | 1â2 | Portland Thorns FC | Seattle, Washington |
16:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Lumen Field Attendance: 27,278 Referee: Jon Freemon | ||
Note: Doubleheader with Seattle Sounders FC. As of the date played, this was the largest reported attendance to any NWSL match. |
September 4, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 3â0 | Washington Spirit | Portland, Oregon |
Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: N/A | |||
Note: After being initially postponed due to the Spirit being unable to field a full roster due to four players tested positive for COVID-19,[10] the NWSL declared this match a forfeit by Washington Spirit on Sept. 16, citing alleged violations of the league's COVID-19 protocols.[11] |
September 12, 2021 | North Carolina Courage | 1â0 | Portland Thorns FC | Portland, Oregon |
15:00 EDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 5,161 Referee: Matthew Franz |
September 25, 2021 | Chicago Red Stars | 2â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Bridgeview, Illinois |
19:00 CDT | Report | Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium Attendance: 3,527 Referee: Katja Koroleva |
October 6, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 2â3 | Houston Dash | Portland, Oregon |
19:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 11,139 Referee: Natalie Simon |
October 10, 2021 | Kansas City NWSL | 0â0 | Portland Thorns FC | Kansas City, Kansas |
16:00 CDT | Report | Stadium: Legends Field Attendance: 5,438 Referee: Alyssa Nichols |
October 13, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 1â1 | OL Reign | Portland, Oregon |
19:30 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 11,754 Referee: Tori Penso |
October 17, 2021 | Houston Dash | 0â1 | Portland Thorns FC | Houston, Texas |
18:00 CDT | Report | Stadium: PNC Park Attendance: 4,792 Referee: Luis Guardia |
October 30, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 0â0 | North Carolina Courage | Portland, Oregon |
19:00 PDT | Report | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 17,584 Referee: Greg Dopka |
Regular season standings
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Portland Thorns FC | 24 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 17 | +16 | 44 | NWSL Shield |
2 | OL Reign | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 37 | 24 | +13 | 42 | Playoffs â Semi-finals |
3 | Washington Spirit (C) | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 39 | Playoffs â First round |
4 | Chicago Red Stars | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 38 | |
5 | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 24 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 29 | 21 | +8 | 35 | |
6 | North Carolina Courage | 24 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 28 | 23 | +5 | 33 | |
7 | Houston Dash | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 32 | |
8 | Orlando Pride | 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 27 | 32 | −5 | 28 | |
9 | Racing Louisville FC | 24 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 40 | −19 | 22 | |
10 | Kansas City | 24 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 36 | −21 | 16 |
Results summary
[edit]Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
24 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 17 | +16 | 44 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 8 | +14 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 9 | +2 |
Last updated: November 14, 2021.
Source: NWSLsoccer.com
Results by matchday
[edit]A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
NWSL Playoffs
[edit]In 2021, the NWSL expanded the single-elimination playoff field from four to six teams, and granted the top two teams in the regular-season standings a first-round bye. The Thorns finished first in the league to win the NWSL Shield and hosted the third-seeded Chicago Red Stars in the playoff semi-finals.[12]
November 14, 2021 | Portland Thorns FC | 0â2 | Chicago Red Stars | Portland, Oregon |
14:30 PDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 15,832 Referee: Katja Koroleva Assistant referees: Deleana Quan, Meghan Mullen |
Awards
[edit]NWSL annual awards
[edit]Best XI
[edit]Pos. | Ntn. | Player |
---|---|---|
MF | Angela Salem |
Second XI
[edit]Pos. | Ntn. | Player |
---|---|---|
GK | Bella Bixby | |
DF | Emily Menges | |
Meghan Klingenberg | ||
MF | Lindsey Horan |
NWSL monthly awards
[edit]Team of the Month
[edit]Month | Pos. | Ntn. | Player |
---|---|---|---|
May | MF | Crystal Dunn | |
July | GK | Bella Bixby | |
DF | Emily Menges | ||
Meghan Klingenberg | |||
August | DF | Emily Menges | |
MF | Angela Salem | ||
September | MF | Angela Salem | |
October | MF | Angela Salem |
NWSL weekly awards
[edit]Player of the Week
[edit]Week | Nat. | Player | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
4 | Lindsey Horan |
Save of the Week
[edit]Week | Nat. | Player | Won | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 | Bella Bixby | Won | [13] | |
12 | Christen Westphal | Won | [14] | |
13 | Bella Bixby | Nom. | [15] | |
17 | Bella Bixby | Won | [16] |
Transactions
[edit]NWSL Draft
[edit]Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2021 NWSL Draft was held on January 13, 2021.
R | Pick | Nat. | Player | Pos. | College | Status | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | Yazmeen Ryan | MF | TCU | Signed a three-year contract with one-year option.[17] | ||
2 | 12 | Sam Coffey | MF | Penn State | Returned to Penn State; signed a two-year contract in 2022.[18] | ||
3 | 22 | Amirah Ali | FW | Rutgers | Returned to Rutgers; rights traded to San Diego Wave FC.[19] | ||
4 | 37 | Hannah Betfort | DF | Wake Forest | Signed a one-year contract with one-year option.[17] |
Transfers in
[edit]Date | Nat. | Player | Pos. | Previous club | Fee/Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 22, 2020 | Crystal Dunn | MF | North Carolina Courage (via OL Reign in a three-way trade) |
Acquired in exchange for the Thorns' natural first-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, a 2021 international slot, and $250,000 in allocation money. | [20] | |
October 29, 2020 | Natalia Kuikka | DF | Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | Signed a two-year contract. | [20][21][22][23] |
Transfers out
[edit]Date | Nat. | Player | Pos. | Destination club | Fee/Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 16, 2020 | Emily Ogle | MF | Houston Dash | Traded for the 7th- and 37th-overall picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft. | [20][24] | |
Gabby Seiler | MF | |||||
January 19, 2021 | Britt Eckerstrom | GK | None | Retired. | [20][25] |
References
[edit]- ^ Farley, Richard (January 31, 2021). "Thorns FC assemble at Timbers Training Center ahead of 2021 NWSL preseason" (Press release). Portland Timbers. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "Technical Staff". Portland Timbers. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Portland Thorns FC". Portland Timbers. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Portland Thorns FC vs. Kansas City Current - Football Match Summary". ESPN. April 18, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Assignments: Week 1" (Press release). Professional Referee Organization. May 8, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "Portland Thorns FC vs. OL Reign - Football Match Summary". ESPN. April 21, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Tannenwald, Jonathan (May 4, 2021). "Union offer to host NWSL Challenge Cup final at Subaru Park if game has to be moved from Portland". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Peterson, Anne M. (May 2, 2021). "NWSL commissioner appeals to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown for exemption so fans can attend Challenge Cup final in Portland". The Oregonian. Associated Press. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Murray, Caitlin (May 9, 2021). "Portland Thorns win NWSL Challenge Cup title over Gotham FC in thrilling PK shootout". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Melnick, Kyle; Hensley-Clancy, Molly (September 4, 2021). "Spirit-Thorns match postponed after four Washington players test positive". Washington Post. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ "Postponed match between Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit ruled a forfeit". KGW. September 16, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Herrera, Sandra (November 20, 2021). "NWSL playoff bracket, results, schedule: Washington Spirit come back, down Chicago Red Stars, win championship". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Verizon Save of the Week: Bella Bixby, Portland Thorns FC. Week 11. National Women's Soccer League. August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Verizon Save of the Week: Christen Westphal, Portland Thorns FC. Week 12. National Women's Soccer League. August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Verizon Save of the Week Nominees | Week 13. National Women's Soccer League. August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ National Women's Soccer League [@NWSL] (September 15, 2021). "Bella's Big Week đ" (Tweet). Retrieved August 7, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Little, Grant (June 5, 2021). "Portland Thorns sign Yazmeen Ryan and Hannah Betfort". Stumptown Footy. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Freeman, Joe (January 7, 2022). "Portland Thorns sign Sam Coffey to 2-year contract". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Odom, Joel (December 16, 2021). "Portland Thorns trade Christen Westphal, Amirah Ali to San Diego Wave FC for allocation money". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "2020-21 NWSL Transactions Tracker". The Equalizer. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ von Wendt, Jonas (October 30, 2020). "Natalia Kuikka byter Göteborg mot Portland" (in Finnish). Hufvudstadsbladet. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ RÀnkeskog, Gustaf; Thorén, Petra (October 27, 2020). "Uppgifter: Landslagsbacken lÀmnar" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Odom, Joel (October 29, 2020). "Portland Thorns sign defender Natalia Kuikka to 2-year deal". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Swanson, Mike (December 16, 2020). "Portland Thorns trade Emily Ogle, Gabby Seiler to Houston Dash for two NWSL draft picks". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Young, Ashley (January 19, 2021). "Thorns GK Britt Eckerstrom announces retirement". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 7, 2022.