The most ardent Thorns FC fans might have highlighted it on their calendar the second they saw the schedules. Both the Asian Cup and Copa América were going to deprive Portland of prominent players this spring, with both set to end during the last weeks of April. You couldn’t blame Rose City Riveters if, long before the preseason, they took their calendars, found the week of April 22, and surrounded it in thick, red highlighter, marking the when their team’s full allotment of talent would return.
Now, that return starting to happen. Hayley Raso is hampered, but she’s also back.