PORTLAND, Ore. -- “You got to prepare for the toughest game, every game.”
Some weeks, Katherine Reynolds’ words are truer than others. Last week, on the road against a nearly full-strength North Carolina Courage team, Thorns FC faced an objectively tough opponent in their season opener.
Typically, a trip to face the Chicago Red Stars would be similarly fraught, but Saturday, Portland will be facing a team which, remarkably, is dealing with a direr situation than the Thorns (5:15pm PT, NWSLsoccer.com/go90).
U.S. internationals Julie Ertz (knee) and Casey Short (ankle) are both out for Chicago, as are attacking standouts Vanessa DiBernardo (pelvis) and Yuki Nagasato (hamstring).