PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 26: Sophia Smith #9 (L) of the Portland Thorns FC battles for the ball with Caitlin Cosme #26 of the Orlando Pride during the second half at Providence Park on March 26, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
From the Current’s slow start to the Thorns running through its opposition, the first two weeks of the NWSL schedule have delivered plenty to talk about.
The NWSL’s 11th year is without question its largest yet. Not only has the competition been sensational, but the attendance around the league has shown a more genuine interest in women’s club soccer around the United States. The first two weeks have been filled with both the unpredictable and the predictable.
The defending champions currently sit atop the standings to nobody’s surprise just ahead of Casey Stoney’s San Diego Wave. On the other end of the spectrum, Washington Spirit has been more impressive than many would have thought given all of the turmoil.
In just two weeks of action, it is shaping up to be one of the most captivating seasons of the NWSL in its history. Records have been broken, and youngsters have stepped up. There is so much more to come, and with 42 games in both April and May left, the electricity throughout the league that has already been generated be taken to another level. We’ll have to wait an extra week for all six teams in action, but until then, here are some of the most gripping storylines from the 12 games so far this season.
3 storylines in the NWSL schedule: after two weeks of regular season action:
3. Portland Thorns are making it look almost too easy
It looks like Mike Norris and the Portland Thorns just took a week off after winning the NWSL championship, and resumed play. Looking at the starting XI should frighten anyone. Having returned the second most players from 2022, it should not be a surprise that the Thorns look this good. Still, eight goals through two contests are just absurd. Sam Coffey is conducting Portland from the middle of the pitch while Sophia Smith and Crystal Dunn look motivated to prove something.
Nobody is stopping Smith this season, and her second goal in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon demonstrates just that. She is destined to run this league for years to come, and with a roster loaded with world-class talent behind her, it is difficult to envision anyone denying this club a repeat. Even though Norris was with the organization last season, it would make sense for there to be some bumps in the road at the beginning. None of that has happened.
In both matches, Portland showed that it was more than just one class above them, coming at its opponent in more ways than one. On both ends of the pitch, the Thorns are locked in. Just one goal conceded through two matches, and that was a set piece in which Bella Bixby made an uncharacteristic mistake between the sticks. 52.3 percent of the Thorns’ shots have been on target, and if you are the goalkeeper trying to keep them out, it has to be exhausting just how clinical this team is throughout its roster. It is not just Smith making those dazzling runs. While she does that on more than one occasion, Portland is where it is due to the amount of depth it possesses throughout its entire roster.
