The energy. The atmosphere. The roar of the 20,674 fans at Providence Park on March 8, 2014. All of it hit Emily Menges as she watch the Portland Timbers’ home opener from a suite. She would be playing in this same arena in about two months, and the fan support for the Timbers of the MLS was insane.
But that’s the men’s game, figured Menges, who was drafted in January 2014 by the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League draft. She returned to Georgetown University to finish classes and graduate before relocating to Portland for the start of the Thorns’ season.