In a scrappy first game of the season that saw a lot of Thorns offense and expected rustiness, two moments of magic from Tobin Heath were all that Portland needed to secure victory over a depleted Orlando Pride. Caitlin Foord scored her first goal for the Portland Thorns off a back-heeled assist from Heath just before halftime, and Foord returned the favor in the second half.
Sydney Leroux, still recovering from pregnancy, was expected to be out, and Toni Pressley was also not expected to play, but Matildas Alanna Kennedy and Emily Van Egmond were both late scratches due to illness.