Portland Thorns FC have been a star-laden team since the National Women’s Soccer League first player allocation five years ago, but if the defending league champions are going to retain their title, it may not be the Christine Sinclairs and Tobin Heaths that get the team past its final obstacles. After an offseason of prominent departures, Mark Parsons’ ability to develop the less renown names on his roster will be tested like it’s never been before.
To this point, that ability has become one of the Portland head coach’s most respected skills.