Match Preview & Discussion Thread: Portland Thorns vs Orlando Pride

Buckle up, Rose City, because we're entering two very emotional weeks.

After being shaken by Olivia Moultrie's news, it's time for the Thorns to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and figure out how they want to end this season.

It's not going to be easy, but the fact that forwards keep getting reactivated gives Portland an edge.

Added to that, the fact that Meghan Klingenberg will be present at Providence Park one more time makes this upcoming match even more significant.

The last time one of the Thorns was honored (oh, Captain, my Captain Christine Sinclair), it was Olivia the one who got Portland in the game. Who's going to do the same this time for Kling?

And now that Caiya Hanks is back, will she get some minutes? She will most likely be subbed in in the last minutes of the game, just like Morgan Weaver did in her comeback match.

History between these teams and current form

Portland can brag about superiority over Orlando, having won 10 out of 11 home matches, six of them in a row. Will the Thorns be able to get one more so they can continue to build on the longest home winning run by one team in the NWSL?

Both teams are not doing well when playing away. The Thorns just broke their 5-winless streak against Boston, while Orlando has won only one match out of their last seven when playing away.

Moreover, the Pride had this year a three-match losing streak where they were outscored 0-8. This isn't the first time this team is going through a downturn. Nonetheless, we have to go back all the way to 2016, Orlando's inaugural season, when they dropped four or more straight road games in a singular season. That year, they had a six-game losing run on the road.

Portland's scoring prowess

It is no new information that the Thorns are great in the final third. Last Sunday, they became the first team in the NWSL to score three times in the first 10 minutes of a match.

If we look at the season's numbers, they have scored seven goals in the opening 10 minutes of games. That's tied for the most in a single regular season in league's history (eighth time).

If Portland is doing well in the final third, it isn't just because of Sophia Wilson. No, this year it's Pietra Tordin. With her hat-trick scored against Boston, the first of her career, she's recorded 15 goal contributions this season (7 goals, 8 assists).

Tordin's on fire this year, she's not only ranking high on the team but also the league since she's third in big chances created in the competition with 10.

If she keeps this form, she will most likely equal the only Thorns' player who has recorded more than 15 goal contributions in a single regular season. Who's that? Sophia Wilson, who made 16 in 2023, 17 in 2022, and 18 in 2024.

The only question that remains: will she move to the 10?

Beware of...

Since Zambia's run in the WAFCON is over, it wouldn't be a surprise for Barbra Banda to start. The league's leading top goalscorer is always someone who can change a game in a matter of seconds. Will the defense improve in this match? It will be a good test, no doubt.

Additionally, Orlando's is finding it hard to score (they have only tallied two goals in the last five games). However, they're trying to use different players to find their way in attack. One of them is Kerry Abello. Her goal against Louisville last Friday, the longest in the league this season with 33.5 yard strike, made her the sixth different player in the team to score one for Orlando's last six goal dating back to May.

Prematch media availability with Sarah Lowdon and Carolyn Calzada

What are your predictions? Let us know below in the comments.