Reign FC handed the Thorns their second loss of the season and first at home as Celia Jimenez Delgado scored a wonderstrike and the Reign defense restricted Portland’s attack via some strong defending and goalkeeping from the team with one of the better defensive records in the league.
Coach Mark Parsons chose to retain the back four and a half formation that has seen the team go undefeated during the World Cup period, with Christine Sinclair replacing Andressinha in attacking midfield, Caitlin Foord coming in for Simone Charley and bringing Ellie Carpenter into the starting lineup after she came off the bench away at Houston.