Thorns' Season Ends In DC

Only one or two moments can determine the outcome of an entire season in the beautiful game. A pair of costly mistakes against the Washington Spirit was the difference between a 2-0 semifinal exit and a shot at a fourth NWSL Championship for the Portland Thorns.

Two sequences determined where and when the Thorns' season would end, but they didn't define the 2025 season.

All year long, the Thorns defied expectations and showed that they didn't care what anybody outside their locker room thought of them. Portland climbed its way to the No. 3 seed and a spot in the semifinal despite having its youngest roster in years and nearly being able to field a starting 11 of players who are out for the season.

The Thorns struggled to find offense on the road against the No. 2 Spirit. The DC side ended up being the ones to advance to the 2025 Championship, but Portland proved time and time again throughout the season that the future of the franchise is incredibly bright.

"For lack of a better term, the power of friendship and of camaraderie, and a genuine love for one another, is what has led us to a semi-final when we were picked to be 12, or whatever we were picked," captain Sam Coffey said.

"The Thorns are not an underdog club. I don't think we ever will be that," she continued. "This, absolutely, I do think was an underdog team. But I also hope that we gain respect in that even if you are young, even if you are inexperienced, that we're absolutely capable of doing incredible things."

7' Mackenzie Arnold Makes Massive Save (0-0)

The Thorns' keeper played a critical role in their quarterfinal win over San Diego. Her clutch saves at the end of regulation and in extra time kept Portland in position to pull off the victory.

Arnold helped the scoreline stay even early in the first half versus the Spirit with some clutch saves. Croix Bethune fired from beyond the 18-yard box off the counterattack. Arnold soared through the air and punched the nice-looking attempt away.

27' Spirit Break Through (0-1)

The Spirit played with a spark throughout the game that the Thorns didn't have. It was only a matter of time before they found the back of the net.

Rosemonde Kouassi sprinted almost the entire length of the field on the counterattack. Portland's defense got caught behind, and Arnold shifted to her left with the attack coming her way. In front of the goal was Gift Monday, who sent the ball into the empty right side of the net.

83' Washington Slams the Door Shut on Portland (0-2)

Washington had numerous opportunities to put the game out of reach, but couldn't capitalize. Bethune finally added insurance to the Spirit's lead in the final 10 minutes. An errant pass by the Thorns allowed Bethune to coast from midfield to a wide-open net. Arnold was positioned beyond the 18-yard box due to Portland being on the attack moments before, and Bethune made the final goal look effortless.

Coach Rob Gale expressed that, between the team's small bench and playing 120 minutes the week prior, the Thorns were a bit gassed. Coffey pointed out that Washington also came off playing extra time in the quarterfinal.

"I don't think we ran out of gas. I think we were outplayed, for sure, but I think this team wanted to show up and win a semifinal game today and be in the finals next weekend," Coffey said. "And if there were games after that that we could win, we would find the energy and strength and willingness to keep going if that's what it meant."

"I think if there's one thing about this, this group, is that we're really resilient, and I mean that physically, I mean that mentally, emotionally," she continued. "We've been through more than anyone even knows, and all we ever want to do is win games. And obviously, we didn't do enough today to make that happen, and we have to own that and take that."

Full Time: 0-2

The Thorns had the most points in the league this season when coming from a losing position, but they couldn't defy odds one last time.

"You just lost a semi-final, and they dared to dream when nobody else did for us," Gale said. "So there's tears, there's sadness, and rightly so, and they'll be hurt, and they should be. We stood there as a staff, and you see the opposition celebrating, and we've experienced that at home. We experienced that in the last game. You're angry, you're frustrated, you're sad, there's all those emotions, and rightly so, and we let them experience that."

While Portland's season comes to an end, the response it had all season long to the difficult situations it was dealt sets a foundation for the future with a resilient and gritty team culture.

"I think, as a team, what we had to overcome, and the adversity that we had to get through to get to this spot," Arnold said. "I couldn't be more proud of them. Personally, probably been the toughest year of my career so far. So to get where we did with this team, it's really special, but disappointing for sure, to end like that."

The club's focus will soon pivot to regrouping for the 2026 season and getting its roster back healthy.