The NWSL Challenge Cup quarterfinals will start with the same match that kicked off the tournament, the Portland Thorns versus the North Carolina Courage. The Courage enter the knockout rounds as the top seed having scored a tournament-best seven goals and allowing only one.

The one team to score against the Courage was the Portland Thorns, a team that has struggled to put the ball in the back of the net and lacked creativity and decisiveness in the final third.

The Right Side

In the first match of the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Thorns lost to the North Carolina Courage 2-1 after Lynn Williams scored in stoppage time.