Portland Thorns FC did not live up to their lofty standards in the NWSL Challenge Cup. Yes, they eliminated the North Carolina Courage in their first knockout game, but that was the only game they won. They only scored three goals in their six matches.
Fans were not impressed. The Thorns had the majority of the possession in almost all of their matches but struggled to create dangerous opportunities. Despite this, coach Mark Parsons was confident in his team and the improvements they were making. He emphasized the hard work that the team put in before the Challenge Cup and getting back to their identity.