Soccer fans, get ready for a thrilling 2025 season for the Portland Thorns! The home opening game is on March 21 at 7:00pm at Providence Park versus Angel City FC, with another game against the North Carolina Courage on March 29.
The Thorns’ first away game was a 3-1 loss against the KC Current on March 15, 2025. The Current scored three times in the first half, with forward Temwa Chawinga scoring in the second minute, forward Michelle Cooper scoring in the 23’, and midfielder Débora Cristiane de Oliveira, who goes by Debinha, scoring in the 36’. The Thorns’ midfielder Olivia Moultrie prevented a shutout by scoring in the 49’ minute, with an assist by Hina Sugita.
Many Lincoln students have been eagerly looking forward to the start of the season. Senior Rina Hoang is an avid Thorns fan and is thrilled to watch her favorite players on the pitch.
“I’m excited to see the new players and returning players,” said Hoang.
Sophomore and Lincoln varsity soccer player Calla Wilde is also excited to see her favorite players.
“I am looking forward to seeing Bella Bixby back on the field, [and also] Sam Coffey, since I play her position and love learning from her,” said Wilde.
Fans are also intrigued by what all the new players will bring to the table, since there is an equal number of new and returning players.
“There [are] so many new players on the team, so it’s kind of like a rebuild of the team,” said Hoang.
The team has recently acquired many new players, including defender Sam Hiatt from Gotham FC, Wake Forest forward Caiya Hanks, UCLA defender Jayden Perry, Florida State midfielder Carissa Boechman, and Venezuelan forward Deyna Castellanos. Goalkeeper Morgan Messner and defender Kaitlyn Torpey also recently signed, both coming from the San Diego Wave. Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold also signed in July 2024.
Many players are out for the season. Earlier this month, gold medal winning Olympian forward Sophia Wilson (formerly Smith) and her husband announced her pregnancy on Instagram. Forward Morgan Weaver, defender Nicole Payne, and defender Marie Müller have also been placed on the Season-Ending Injury (SEI) list.
The Thorns continue to be an inspiration for many. Senior Carmen Lahti believes publicizing women’s soccer opens doors to young girls who love the sport.
“[Highlighting women’s soccer] gives girls strong role models and [shows] them that there are pathways to success in any sport of their choosing,” said Lahti.
Wilde agreed and emphasized that a widespread celebration of female athletes is necessary in order to uplift women’s sports.
“[Women] are just as capable as men when it comes to sporting events. I feel like the best thing we can do is be excited for the players and the start of a new season because that is what it’s really all about,” said Wilde.