Portland Thorns earn surprising opening night victory in D.C. – Equalizer Soccer

Photo Credit: Portland Thorns/Fletcher Wold

The 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season kicked off Friday with relatively limited drama, considering it was an “after dark” game on Friday the 13th, and the way the Washington Spirit played in some of last season’s most late-goal-heavy games. But the result was still arguably a surprise as the Portland Thorns defeated the favored home team in front of a sold-out crowd at Audi Field.

The first half looked like two teams playing their first game of the season — choppy and disconnected, neither registering a shot on target. Portland understandably looked like a team that had only hired a head coach, Robert Vilahamn, nine days earlier and had him join just two days ago. Washington looked better by comparison, but still didn’t manage to significantly test the Thorns’ goalkeeper.

Washington still appeared to be the team creating better chances, but it was Portland that scored the first and only goal. Midfielder Olivia Moultrie, who at just 20 years old is the longest-tenured active Thorns player, scored the game-winner and first goal of the new season, assisted by second-year player Pietra Tordin, who recorded her first career NWSL assist.

Moultrie scored eight goals last year and got off to the kind of start Portland would’ve hoped for, after selling Sam Coffey to Manchester City left Portland with a massive midfield hole, both in leadership and defensive presence. Without Coffey, Moultrie has to be at least part of filling that gap. She did that Friday night, looking like an experienced and determined leader for her team, ready to step into an even brighter spotlight.

Neither team generated many significant chances in the end, but Portland was the team that took advantage of its limited opportunities. The result avenged the Thorns’ semifinal loss to the Spirit in the 2025 NWSL Playoffs and marked their first win at Washington since August 2022.

Fans were treated to ‘Double Espresso’ in this game, as Trinity Rodman looked like her typical offensive firestorm self, and Sophia Wilson (nee Smith) made her official return after maternity leave. Though Wilson got some gametime in a preseason friendly on March 6 against C.F. Monterrey, she entered Friday’s game in the 77th minute, making her first NWSL appearance since November 2024.

As the first games of the season often do, the matchup featured multiple debuts on both sides. The Thorns started two debutants, goalkeeper Morgan Messner and midfielder Cassandra Bogere (the positional replacement for Coffey), and brought in rookie midfielder Shae Harvey and forward Maddie Padelski later in the game. Washington started by debuting Italian defender Lucia Di Guglielmo, and forward Tamara Bolt made her debut later. The Spirit also helped make history when they brought on 18-year-old Claudia Martínez, who became the first Paraguayan player to play in the NWSL. She was signed in January from Club Olimpia for a $950,000 transfer fee, according to ESPN.

Though opening night didn’t deliver a lot of goals, it did immediately raise questions about some of the predictions made about these teams. It wasn’t the start Washington would have wanted on their quest for an NWSL Shield, while it was great for a Portland team looking to prove they are still one of the best after losing Coffey and hiring a new head coach.