Portland Thorns FC open their 10th NWSL season this Saturday when they host the Kansas City Current Saturday at Providence Park (3pm PT, TICKETS, Twitch). Here are key numbers to know ahead of the match.
6
Christine Sinclair is one of six active players in the NWSL to have spent every season with the same club since 2013. The other 5 players are Jess Fishlock, Lauren Barnes, Alyssa Mautz, Megan Rapinoe & Tori Huster.
1st
Ten years ago, the first ever NWSL game in the league’s inaugural season in 2013 was between Portland Thorns FC and FC Kansas City. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw on April 13. Current Thorns FC player Becky Sauerbrunn, Sinclair and Thorns FC general manager played in the match.
5
Five players (Megan Rapinoe, Vicky Losada, Kim Little, Allie Long), along with Sophia Smith, have scored two or more goals in a season opener. Smith tallied a brace against Chicago to open the 2021 season with a 5-0 win on May 16 at Providence Park.
4
Portland has recorded four shutouts (2014, 2017, 2019, 2021) on the opening weekend of NWSL play, which is the most of any team in league history.
80.7
Thorns FC goalkeeper Bella Bixby finished the 2021 campaign with third-best save percentage in the league (80.7), trailing only Kailen Sheridan (84.3) and Casey Murphy (90.9).
