You Can’t Replace Sam Coffey, so Forge Something New

September was a month full of frustration, confusion, and hope. The Thorns went 1-2-1 across their four September matches, with their only win happening away from Providence Park. They suffered a 2-1 loss to the Washington Spirit, a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Stars, a 4-1 win over the Orlando Pride, and another 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash.

The team is still sitting in a pretty good position to qualify for the playoffs as they are currently in 5th place, but with four games left in the season, there is very little room for error. Going into September, it seemed they were almost guaranteed a home playoff spot, which will now be much more of a fight to win back.

The month began with the Washington Spirit at Providence Park. Sophia Wilson started the match off right with a penalty kick that put the Thorns ahead in the 17th minute. In the 57th minute, the Spirit got their own penalty that equalized the match. In the 67th minute, there was a clear-cut Washington handball that went uncalled by the refs. In the 79th minute, the Spirit secured their second goal, which sealed the fate of the match. The most frustrating part about this game was that the Thorns were the better team for all 90 minutes. They wanted it more, they kept putting up chances, and they deserved the win. 

Moving along to the Chicago Stars game, which felt more like a loss than the Spirit game to the fans in the stands because the Thorns held off the Stars until the 92nd minute. A team like the Thorns, near the top of the table, has got to find a way to lead a team in last place in the standings by more than a point at home. 

Clearly reeling from the disappointing last few games, the Thorns came back with a vengeance, and they made it Orlando’s problem. Winning 4-1, the Thorns showed everyone that the team they know and love is still alive and ready to dominate. Passion and luck are the only things standing in the way for this team. 

Ending the month with another draw against Houston, but this draw felt more like a win because the Thorns finally proved that they can stay in the game and regain points from behind when Marie Müller pulled off the equalizer in the 85th minute.

While the results in September don’t represent the Thorns’ capabilities properly, I feel like there was a lot of important growth that will hopefully translate into a dominant finish to the season. 

The Thorns have had a challenging few seasons with coaching staff changes, injuries, legendary retirements, transfers, facility instability, and everything in between. The one throughline during it all was that they had a captain to keep them stable. Someone who left it all on the field, who would die for the club, who led with kindness, intelligence, strength, and passion. They had Sam Coffey. 

The 2025 season was a profound display of how pure heart and grit could lead a team to victory. They started the season suddenly missing most of their key players like Morgan Weaver, Sophia Wilson, Christine Sinclair, Megan Klingenberg, and Becky Sauerbrunn. Made up almost entirely of a rookie roster, they brought in promising talent like Caiya Hanks and Julie Dufour, only for season-ending injuries to tear them down again. The entire season was a lesson in improvisation, adapting and rebuilding. Through all of the chaos and despair, they pulled off a third-place finish that felt like a championship win.

Being on the sidelines at Providence Park, you can usually only hear a whisper of the team huddle, but not while Sam Coffey was at the helm. She spoke with such conviction and heart that any person within earshot would run into battle for her if called upon. 

The current Thorns roster is undeniably a force to be reckoned with. Those rookies of last season grew into some of the best players in the league; the team’s bond has only strengthened, the new generation of rookies has stepped up to the plate, and the coaching staff has found their flow. The potential for this team is astronomical, and yet they have fallen time and time again this season. From the away game dry spell to the continuous struggle to regain a lead after falling behind, there is a puzzle piece missing: whether the team is ready or willing to acknowledge it or not. 

Admitting that the leadership is not consistent this season is not a dig at the current leadership. Sam Coffey is a one-in-a-billion talent. A secret weapon this club used to the extent of its ability. A force that cannot be replicated. The only path forward to achieve everything this club is capable of is to forge something new. To find that passion and diehard energy which is already living beneath the surface and shows itself from time to time. Conjuring up a will to win that is greater than any other club in the league. 

Jessie Fleming leads by example; you’ll hear any coach or player tell you that. She puts in the most miles in every game and has a soccer I.Q. that will gain her legendary status one day. Sam Hiatt is level-headed and professional. She keeps it together no matter the score, and she knows how to build confidence. Sophia Wilson is one of the best players in the world, and she pushes everyone around her to be better just to keep up with her. Morgan Weaver has the passion. She wants to win more than anyone else on the field, and you can feel it.

All of these qualities combined can and will lead this team to be unbeatable, but they've got to find their groove to gain consistency, and I have all of the faith in the world that they will do just that.