The Portland Thorns 2026 Schedule Is Out
Portland soccer fans can finally start planning their summers, as the National Women's Soccer League released its 2026 schedule today. The Thorns open the season March 13 at Audi Field against the Washington (DC) Spirit, and play their first home game March 20 against their Cascadia rival, Seattle Reign FC. The Portland squad travels to Lumen Field for an away matchup against Seattle on July 12. There are no regular-season games in June, while the men's World Cup group-stage games are being played across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The three-time league champs (2013, 2017, 2022) made it to the playoffs last season, their first without longtime captain Christine Sinclair. After a thrilling home win in extra time over the San Diego Wave in the quarterfinals, they fell in the semis to the Spirit.
The Thorns will need to pick a new captain for the 2026 season. Sam Coffey, also a regular on the US national team, wore the armband last year, but she's headed to Manchester City in England's Women's Super League. Portland still has plenty of national team representation, though, with Sophia Wilson returning from maternity leave, Olivia Moultrie holding firm in the midfield, and forward Reilyn Turner receiving a recent call-up to the senior US roster. Fans are eager for the return of Morgan Weaver, who's also made appearances on the national team but has been largely sidelined in recent years following a knee injury.
The team also enters the season with a new interim head coach, former assistant coach Sarah Lowdon. She's the fourth coach since the departure of Mark Parsons—who held the post for six seasons—in 2021. His successor, Rhian Wilkinson, resigned after a single championship season due to a relationship with a player (the two have since married). The assistant promoted to replace her, Mike Norris, served a little over one season (and is still part of the Thorns staff, as technical director). The club parted ways after the 2025 season with the assistant who had been promoted to replace him, Rob Gale. The team announced Lowdon as Gale's replacement in November but said it was embarking on "a comprehensive search for the next permanent head coach."
The NWSL welcomes two expansion teams for the 2026 season, bringing its total to 16. Boston Legacy FC will pick up in New England where the Boston Breakers left off, after that team folded in 2017. Colorado-born Lindsey Heaps, who was Lindsey Horan during the six seasons she was a Thorn, is returning to the US after several seasons in Lyon, France, to play for Denver Summit FC. Fellow former Thorns Abby Smith and Janine Solis (née Beckie) will join her. Denver visits Portland to play the Thorns on August 22.
Broadcast plans for NWSL games this year are a mishmash of Amazon Prime, ION, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, ABC, various ESPN properties, Victory+, and NWSL+.
Portland Thorns 2026 Schedule
Home games in bold; Pacific time zone; subject to change
- 5pm Friday, March 13, at Washington Spirit
- 7pm Friday, March 20, vs. Seattle Reign, Providence Park
- 7pm Wednesday, March 25, at San Diego Wave
- 1pm Saturday, March 28, vs. Kansas City Current, Providence Park
- 3:30pm Saturday, April 4, at North Carolina Courage
- 3pm Sunday, April 26, at Angel City
- 7pm Wednesday, April 29, vs. San Diego Wave, Providence Park
- 10am Sunday, May 3, at Chicago Stars
- 3:30pm Friday, May 8, at Racing Louisville
- 3pm Sunday, May 17, vs. Angel City, Providence Park
- 7pm Wednesday, May 20, vs. Bay FC, Providence Park
- 10am Sunday, May 24, at Kansas City Current
- 1pm Saturday, May 30, vs. Utah Royals, Providence Park
- 4pm Sunday, July 5, vs. Racing Louisville, Providence Park
- 1pm Sunday, July 12, at Seattle Reign
- 11am Saturday, July 18, at Denver Summit
- 7pm Friday, July 24, vs. Gotham FC, Providence Park
- 4pm Sunday, August 2, at Utah Royals
- 1pm Sunday, August 9, at Boston Legacy
- 5:45pm Saturday, August 15, vs. Orlando Pride, Providence Park
- 5:45pm Saturday, August 22, vs. Denver Summit, Providence Park
- 5pm Friday, August 28, at Gotham FC
- 1pm Sunday, September 6, vs. Washington Spirit, Providence Park
- 4pm Sunday, September 13, vs. Chicago Stars, Providence Park
- 1pm Saturday, September 19, at Orlando Pride
- 5:45pm Saturday, September 26, vs. Houston Dash, Providence Park
- 5:45pm Saturday, October 3, vs. Boston Legacy, Providence Park
- 2pm Sunday, October 18, at Bay FC
- 7pm Friday, October 23, vs. North Carolina Courage, Providence Park
- 2pm Sunday, November 1, at Houston Dash
Possible playoffs November 6–8 and 13–15, with the NWSL Championship on Saturday, November 21.
