The excitement of a new season tends to blunt all evils, but you couldn’t blame Thorns FC and the Orlando Pride if they were a little tired of seeing each other.
Sunday’s game at Providence Park will mark the fourth time in 13 months the clubs have squared off against each other. They did so last year, in 2017’s home opener and, after one more regular-season meeting, saw each other again in the NWSL's semifinal round. Even when the Thorns advanced to the 2017 NWSL Championship game, they couldn’t totally avoid the Pride. Portland beat North Carolina at Orlando City Stadium.