Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Come join us on Substack! Hello there! Stumptown Footy has moved! We are now on Substack. You can find the site and subscribe to it right here so that you’re all set to see it once it goes live (happening imminently!). We are still providing all of the same Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns coverage you’re used to, just in a different place, and now with the added bonus if it being delivered directly to your email inbox. The same team (and possibly more...?) that has kept you up to date on all things PTFC has taken their talents to the ..read more

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports The Portland Thorns are finally back! They kicked off their 2023 NWSL season with 4-0 home win over Marta & the Orlando Pride. The Portland Thorns faced off against first year head coach Seb Hines & the Orlando Pride in their 2023 NWSL season opener at Providence Park. With Hina Sugita being moved to right winger, many fans were curious to see who would line up at as the two midfielders with Sam Coffey. Head Coach Mike Norris opted for Christine Sinclair and Crystal Dunn, leaving Rocky Rodriguez on the bench. After having a resurgent and career year in 20 ..read more

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports The Champs are back! The wait is over: your defending 2022 NWSL champions are back! The Portland Thorns open their 2023 campaign against the Orlando Pride at Providence Park this afternoon. The Thorns featured a squad that is largely the same from when we last saw them raising that spatula-esque trophy, with some fresh young talent and a new head coach in tow. Storylines so far When last we saw the Thorns in action, they were raising a trophy. Portland emerged victorious last autumn, as they lifted the 2022 NWSL championship trophy for the third time, earning thei ..read more

Brad Mills. USA Today The Thorns will open the season at home against Orlando Pride. Get hyped with us. The Portland Thorns are back. The perfect matchup? This game will mark the 4th time the Thorns open a season against Orlando. The previous meetings went all Portland’s way, with 2-1, 2-0, and 2-0 results. The panorama for these teams couldn’t be more different. The Thorns are the reigning champions while Orlando is trying to rebuild itself after another forgettable season in 2022. Portland held an 8-0 global result against the Pride across two games (6-0 and 2-0) in 2022 and the odds for the ..read more

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports A game of soccer was played in Portland. Not sure if anyone had any fun. The Portland Timbers drew with the Los Angeles Galaxy 0-0 in a sunny and chilly afternoon at Providence Park. Two more Timbers players went down with injury, as both Marvin Loria and David Bingham had to exit the game with what appeared to be hamstring injuries. Portland kept their first clean sheet since opening weekend, and also collected their first point since that first game. Recap Portland, still dealing with a myriad of injuries, rolled out an adjusted lineup which featured Nathan continu ..read more

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports Two teams who have stumbled out of the gates meet as Portland hosts LA. After a five goal shelling suffered in Georgia, the Portland Timbers (1-3-0) will have to have a short memory and put that loss behind them as they welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy (0-1-2) to Providence in a big early season Western Conference clash. Storylines so far So, uh, yeah, last Saturday wasn’t great. Portland looked disorganized and unmotivated as the goals kept pouring in in Atlanta. A defeat at the hands of one of the hottest teams in the league may have been expected, but nothing like ..read more

Troy Wayrynen - USA TODAY Sports Ahead of the 2023 NWSL Season, Stumptown Footy’s Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win) attended the Media Day for the Portland Thorns and has a few takeaways to share. The defending NWSL champions, the Portland Thorns, open up their 2023 regular season at home against the Orlando Pride on Sunday afternoon. They held a Media Day for members of the press to attend and hear from the team days before they kick off their 2023 campaign. Stumptown Footy’s Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win) attended, and here are his takeaways from the press conferences with head coach Mike Norris, and star pl ..read more

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports What to expect when two teams that are hungry for a win clash at Providence Park. Everyone pick themselves up after last weekend? Good — because it’s time to go again. A week removed after their worst loss of the young MLS season, the Portland Timbers (1-3-0, 3 pts) host fellow Western Conference strugglers the Los Angeles Galaxy (0-1-2, 2 pts). Saturday’s meeting at Providence Park (1:30 p.m. PT, Apple TV-Free, FOX) is of course still early in the year, but it feels like it has big implications for the general mood around the Timbers’ prospects for the 2023 se ..read more

Soobum Im - USA TODAY Sports The Portland Thorns announced their 2023 roster — well, almost all of it. The Portland Thorns have announced their roster and there are two major surprises: Lauren DeBeau has been released and Reyna Reyes’ contract is not finalized. With Janine Beckie added to the season-ending injury list, Reyes will occupy the final roster spot once her contract is completed and signed. DeBeau, who was drafted in the second round at #24 overall, being let go is a shocker. Her rights have also been released, meaning she is available to sign with any team. She was projected to get ..read more

Bella Bixby against OL Reign in the preseason finale. | Portland Thorns FC The Portland Thorns closed out their 2023 preseason with 1-0 loss to PNW rivals, OL Reign. The Portland Thorns had one final tuneup in their preseason tournament against rivals, OL Reign. The most important result was to make sure they left without any injuries. And in that, they succeeded. Portland played a strong lineup for the preseason finale. However, they have yet to play their Best XI. *Not in the lineup or the bench was Sophia Smith (illness). STARTING XI #BAONPDX Bella Bixby Natalia Kuikka Kelli Hubly Becky S ..read more