The eighth-seeded Portland Thorns were matched up with the top-ranked and tournament favorite North Carolina Courage in the quarterfinals of the NWSL Challenge Cup. Everyone knew that the Thorns would have to put in a masterful performance to get by a North Carolina team that had allowed the least goals and scored the most goals in four wins out of four matches.
Back-up goalkeeper Annabella Madeleine “Bella” Bixby was named the keeper one for the NWSL Challenge Cup. Thorns coach Mark Parsons named Bixby the number one after Adrianna Franch was left off the NWSL Challenge Cup roster due to an injured right knee.