PORTLAND, Ore. – Part of the wonder of following the National Women’s Soccer League is being witness to nights like Saturday’s, when six years of small battles feel like they’ve led to that kind of performance
There they were, at Providence Park, two of the most talented teams in the NWSL – and, therefore, NWSL history, was well as women’s soccer history in this country. Both Portland Thorns FC and the Chicago Red Stars are reaching their season’s most important moments, embroiled in a six-team race for the league’s final three playoff spots. And, come the 49th minute, the world’s best female soccer player, Australian international Sam Kerr, had gone very Sam Kerr, scoring two times to take the league lead in goals (12) and give Chicago a 2-0 lead.