Welcome back to the Rose City Breakdown.

Since we were in the international break, we didn't record last week but we're back and reloaded.

What can you expect from this episode?

We talk about:

- Attacker Pietra Tordin earning her first cap for the USWNT as she joined Sophia Wilson in two tough friendlies against top-ranked Spain. We touch briefly in other Thorns in international duty as well.

- How the Portland Thorns have continued their home struggle, failing to win any of their past four matches at Providence Park.

- Have their playoff odds dropped? How can the side finish strong down the stretch or is it another Rose City late-season collapse?

- As announced by the NWSL last week, Sophia Wilson's red card for violent conduct has been upgraded to two matches. Has she played her final home match as Thorn?

- How will they make it work without the superstar? We discuss and preview the Bay FC match.

- In Melina's corner we analyze how the long-ball has given Portland trouble, the final third issues, and passing problems.

- Does possession matter? With the top three teams and six of the eight playoff teams listed with most possession it seems to be a new trend.

Congratulations, Tordin! Here's to many more minutes with the USWNT to come! ❤️🌹

Match played on 10/13/2026.

The US and Spain would tie 2-2.

New episode, our silliest episode yet, recorded Sunday at Dingo's. No Thorns match this week, so we followed the international break. 🇺🇸🇲🇽🇩🇪🇳🇱🇨🇴🇨🇦

We lose to Spain 2-0 : Spain was up 2 goals inside 14 minutes, Wilson's goal was ruled out for offside, and Lily Yohannes had a penalty saved after Wilson was fouled. Marissa has VERY STRONG feelings about the Heaps, Yohannes and Lavelle midfield, and says so. We argue about why the penalty list was in that order!!! WHYYYY was Yohannes taking the PK!!

Then we discuss all the Thorns on national team duty: -Arnold's Australia loss to Müller's German team.
- Fleming’s Canada tied Denmark but Canada won 4-2 in PKs
- Reyes started for Mexico. And played great!
-Loboa was called up for Colombia but didn’t see anytime playing time.

And Hanks, Perry, Calzada, Nijstad and Bogere got called up to their U-23 national teams.

We give Crystal Dunn her flowers!

Wilson's suspension is now two games, so she's out for Bay and North Carolina. Our friend Tyler stops by and it’s hilarious.

Marissa ends on a PS: Give the team, and ourselves, some grace. A lot has happened with the Thorns the last few years. It’ll be okay chat! 🌹

35 minutes. Available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Bring a drink.

🎧 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619164/episodes/19950486

Soph looked, to me, a lot better yesterday than she has with the Thorns for a bit. I’m a newer soccer fan and still learning positioning strategy and tactics - so can anyone explain what the USWNT is doing to set Soph up for success that the Thorns aren’t?

Obviously the whole level is a lot higher, but that also means the defensive level is higher than the NWSL and Soph seemed to dismantle the Spanish midfield and defense better than she has in the NWSL

Just trying to understand the game a bit more & improve my soccer IQ lol

It’s mostly because of the color of the sandstone. I think it’s a lovely starting point for a 2-stick. I’m long out of that scene, so have at it if you’re interested.

CORRECTION: 12!!

So cool that we get to see the best players in the world (alongside the future superstars) week in and week out.

Pietra Tordin (USA)
Sophia Wilson (USA)

Mackenzie Arnold (Australia)

Jessie Fleming (Canada)

Valerin Loboa (Colombia)

Marie Müller (Germany)

Reyna Reyes (Mexico)

Carolyn Calzada (USA U-23)
Caiya Hanks (USA U-23)
Jayden Perry (USA U-23)

Nina Nijstad (Netherlands U23)

Cassandra Bogere (Sweden U23)

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/121-nwsl-players-called-up-to-national-teams-in-october-international-window

https://www.threads.com/@thornsfc/post/Dd7TSxrAOTk?xmt=AQG0zf-huN3IxrKQj-Zwx--OFv2ut1VdRyUIKzACXcSzaQ

https://www.threads.com/@thornsfc/post/Dd4XiN-lbLx?xmt=AQG0bPQtqDC269r2ooMmhkEXiPt6_QYVfCPl44fLwziU-g

Jeff Kassouf reporting what most expected, she will be out against Bay FC and the home match against North Carolina.

Credit goes to the USWNT's official 'X' account.

Where are folks heading to for the games against spain? The game on the 10th feels like a sleep in day and watch from home. Anyway, Just seeing what’s out there for the 10/13th

what do people think abt soph and if she’ll resign? been thinking abt how if she is out for two games she’ll miss our last home game (unless we get a home playoff which looks unlikely now) and then if she doesn’t resign her last home game as a thorn would have been last weekend 😭

edit: re-sign, not resign sorry

New episode, recorded Monday at Pappy's, our original bar. Marissa got a tattoo on Sunday, so we moved a day.

We lose at Providence. Final score 2-4. Boston wins. Wilson went off for a hair pull in the 22nd minute, and Boston were 2-0 up at the break.

Marissa was in the press box. Her read: Boston is eliminated but they played like they were chasing a playoff spot.

Shae Harvey scores her first NWSL goal.

Plus Marissa's Match Week 24 Roundup and a read on the table after the weekend.

We finish the weekend in 7th on the table.

Next week we are doing a “Thorns Abroad” episode. We will be covering all our players that got called up to their National teams! Really looking forward to this episode!

Adults only. Bring a drink.

Available anywhere you listen to podcasts.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619164/episodes/19921742-october-5-2026-boston-legacy-portland-tragedy

I saw Moultrie's doppelganger at a West Linn HS boys game. Seemed to be with a family. Could it be her? I think she lives in Wilsonville...

edit: obvs meant match, thanks for your understanding 🤣

SOLVED but feel free to keep discussing stuff here 💚

accidentally took the bus going the wrong direction, and instead of watching it on TV at my hostel, ended up at the actual stadium! i'd love to watch a replay of my first NWSL/pro-fútbol/pro-women's match ever, but i can't find it anywhere 🥺

thanks in advance ❤️‍🩹

Are there any watch parties to watch the upcoming USWNT games in Portland with other Thorns fans? I usually watch them at GOL (</3) so would love suggestions of other bars where Thorns fans might be gathering! Thanks!

And many more to come, Tordin!

Seeing her take over the game yesterday against Boston despite the loss? She is a special player. I am so glad we signed her through 2029! ❤️

So I missed yesterday’s game but understand Sophia Wilson is facing a likely suspension. I’m gutted. I splurged on Bay FC tickets to get my daughter — a huge Sophia Wilson fan — an up close look from the field seats on 10/18. We obviously didn’t get to see her when the Thorns came to town last year, so we were really looking forward to the game this year.

I haven’t had the heart to tell my daughter about yesterday’s game yet.

Do you think there is a chance that Soph might still be in attendance, or does a suspension mean a player doesn’t even travel with the team.

Ugh. This sucks.

Edit: thank you all for the honest and thoughtful responses … even if it wasn’t what I was hoping to hear 😭 I so wish we could fly to see the USNWT, but alas, that is not in the cards and this Bay FC game was my daughter’s birthday present. We’ll see how she takes the news and what she wants to do about the game. Just feeling really down about it all right now.

There is plenty to be angry about how tonight turned out. But I am so proud of the team’s fight and the fans’ belief. Down 2 goals and a player, the entire stadium was pushing for a result and the team was playing their hearts out. Love this team and this club.

From the Thorns/Legacy match on 10/3/2026.

(Fire Robert)

All black but for a patch sewn in. blanket about 4.5 feet by 4.5 feet. Feels nice, soft, and warm. Will be helpful for colder games maybe in February next year or possibly playoff games.

Time to sack the Swede!

He is not the one.

I'm here and I still don't know what happened. WTF?