The Portland Thorns (7-2-5) return to Providence Park without their USWNT players to take on a Sky Blue FC team (2-10-2) who appear to be hitting another rough patch after looking like they were about to get a handle on their season. Sky Blue have lost three games in a row, most recently dropping 1-0 against a Houston Dash team the Thorns recently beat 5-0.
Missing Carli Lloyd is always big, but arguably more important for Sky Blue is the absence of Raquel Rodriguez. The creative midfielder and former second overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College draft has been having a big season for her team, and had a big impact the first time the Thorns played them this year, completing six dribbles through the middle of the park.