Portland Thorns FC have never had to go through this; at least, not at this level. The feeling of looking around your locker room, realizing nothing is working, knowing you need to fully reset your approach.
The club made drastic changes after a failed 2015 season, but there was still a foundation to build on. Players like Christine Sinclair and Tobin Heath ensured as much. Through five years of Thorns soccer, the club hasn’t had to break the emergency glass over its proverbial reset button.
The Houston Dash haven’t been as fortunate.