The 2026 NWSL regular is approaching and its closer than ever with today's schedule drop from the league.
2026 Preseason
The Portland Thorns are scheduled to report back and return on Friday, January 16. The club will be heading to Santa Barbara, California for a preseason training camp that will take place from January 20-30.
For the third straight season, they'll participate in the Coachella Valley Invitational (CVI) - February 13-21.
To finalize the preseason, the Thorns will close it out with a preseason match at Providence Park on Friday, March 6 - opponent and time TBD.
2026 Portland Thorns Regular Season
The full schedule can be seen here.
With new NWSL expansion sides Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy FC taking the league to 16 clubs, all teams will now play 30 games - consisting of a home and away matchup.
Are the Portland Thorns heading to Kansas City for a third consecutive opener? No.
Instead, they're heading to Audi Field to take on Washington Spirit in a rematch of the 2025 NWSL semifinal on Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. with live broadcast via Prime Video.
What about the home opener? It'll start off with an absolute dream matchup.
It will set off fireworks as the Seattle Reign come to Providence Park for the Cascadia Clash on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m. via Prime Video. The final rivalry match takes place at Lumen Field on Sunday July 12 at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
When do they face off against the new expansion teams?
On Saturday, July 18 Portland will travel to Centennial Stadium to take on Denver for the very first time at 11 a.m. on CBS. The Summit head to Providence Park for the second matchup on Saturday, August 22 at 5:45 p.m on ION.
On Sunday, August 9 the Thorns will travel to the East Coast and face off against the Legacy at Centreville Bank Stadium - first matchup for the clubs at 1 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. In the second match, Boston play Portland at Providence Park on Saturday, October 3 at 5:45 p.m. on ION.
Who do the Thorns face on NWSL Decision Day?
In the 2026 home finale, the Portland Thorns will host North Carolina Courage on Friday, October 23 at 7 p.m. on Prime Video.
For Decision Day, Portland will head to Texas to take on the Houston Dash on Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
What is the breakdown for networks and platforms?
- ION: Seven matches
- Prime Video: Five matches
- CBS: Four matches
- Victory+: Four matches
- CBS Sports Network: Three matches
- ESPN2: Three matches
- ESPN: Two or three matches
- NWSL+: One match
Preseason Roster
Goalkeepers (3): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby, Morgan Messner
Defenders (8): Daiane (LOAN), Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL - SEI), Isabella Obaze (INTL), Jayden Perry, Reyna Reyes, M.A. Vignola
Midfielders (4): Deyna Castellanos, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Shae Harvey, Olivia Moultrie
Forwards (10): Mimi Alidou (INTL), Julie Dufour (INTL - SEI), Caiya Hanks (SEI), Valerin Loboa (INTL), Maddie Padelski, Alexa Spaanstra, Pietra Tordin, Reilyn Turner, Morgan Weaver (SEI), Sophia Wilson (ML)
INTL – Player holds an international roster slot; LOAN – Player out on loan; SEI – Season-Ending Injury; ML – Maternity Leave
The Portland Thorns anticipate Sophia Wilson’s full participation for both the 2026 preseason camp and Coachella Valley Invitational.
Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win)
The Thorns also welcome five trialists to the 2026 preseason roster:
Defenders (3): Laila Booker (NRI), Sydney Cheesman (NRI), Jennie Immethun (NRI)
Midfielders (2): Riley Gleason (NRI), Renee Lyles (NRI)
NRI – Non-Roster Invitee
Does one of those names look very familiar? It should.
Could Jeff Agoos and the front office add another CB from UCLA? In 2025, they added Jayden Perry.
After Elise Evans of Stanford, Kolo Suliafu (recent Kansas City Current signing) and Jennie Immethun are widely-regarded as three of the top center backs in the class.
Immethun helped guide UCLA’s defense to a 0.47 goals against average that ranked second in the nation and first in the Big Ten conference.
She will have every opportunity to not only make the opening day roster, but have an immediate impact in her rookie season.
Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win)
It's very apparent with the defenders they brought in that the front office see center back as the biggest need to their backline. Booker, Cheesman, and Immethun seem to be vying for 1-2 spots on the final roster.
Defender Laila Booker spent four seasons with Yale and her final season with Georgia - she was rated one of the top defenders and as high as No. 88 overall by TopDrawerSoccer.
Sydney Cheesman transferred from the University of North Carolina after two seasons to LSU for her junior and senior year. She also has spent time with the USYNT at multiple levels.
“It’s given me a platform to continue my career and hopefully set me up to go play professionally,” Cheesman said in September of 2025.
With Sam Coffey's departure, the team is very thin at midfielder with only Jessie Fleming, Olivia Moultrie, Shae Harvey, and Deyna Castellanos listed at that position.
Riley Gleason (Penn State) and Renee Lyles (Clemson) will hope to join that group.
Gleason was featured in TopDrawerSoccer's top 100 for most of 2025.
What to expect?
The Sam Coffey transfer will likely force the Portland Thorns to make moves ahead of the 2026 season opener with priorities at defensive midfielder and center back.
By all indications, there are moves expected moving forward.
The only question... are they just moves or game-changers?
With a new head coach to be announced during preseason window, the primary transfer window opening up... what are you expectations?
