PORTLAND, Ore. — The buildup probably helped. After the possibility reached public eyes last week, we had time to accept it, though that wasn’t step one. Like some other information we see on social media, some of us tried to reject it, then rationalize — entertain it, then prepare. By the time Portland Thorns FC confirmed Mark Parsons’ future this morning, we were used to the idea, whether we’ve fully embraced it or not.
Roughly nine days ago, rumors surfaced that Parsons, the Thorns’ head coach since October 2015, would be appointed to the Netherlands women’s national team job.