Thorns open NWSL playoffs at Washington on ABC as Timbers clinch No. 7 seed (Nov. 8)
Quick Read
The Portland Thorns play the Washington Spirit in a single-elimination NWSL quarterfinal today at noon Pacific at Audi Field, live on ABC.
Sophia Wilson finished the regular season with 15 goals, third in the league, and has scored in six straight road matches.
The Timbers beat Austin FC 2-0 on Saturday to clinch the No. 7 seed in the West and skip the Wild Card round.
Portland will face No. 2 FC Dallas in a best-of-three Round One series, with Game 2 at Providence Park; tickets go on sale Monday at 2 p.m.
This story contains affiliate links. Willamette News may earn a commission.
By the Willamette News Sports Desk. Edited by Channing Webb.
It's a big Portland soccer weekend. The Thorns open the NWSL playoffs today in Washington, D.C., a night after the Timbers punched their ticket to the MLS Cup Playoffs in Texas.
Thorns at Spirit: win or go home
The Thorns face the Washington Spirit at noon Pacific (3 p.m. Eastern) at Audi Field. The match airs nationally on ABC and ESPN Deportes and streams on the ESPN app, according to the NWSL. The quarterfinal is single elimination.
Washington is the No. 3 seed and has sold out all four of its home playoff matches over the past two seasons, the Spirit said. The Spirit beat Portland 2-0 in last year's semifinal at Audi Field, and they handed the Thorns their first-ever home loss to Washington in September, 2-1. Portland won the season opener 1-0 in D.C.
The headliner for Portland is Sophia Wilson, who missed all of 2025 and came back with 15 goals, third in the league, CBS Sports reported. Wilson tied a league record with 10 road goals this season and has scored in six straight away matches. Midfielder Pietra Tordin, 22, has stepped up after Olivia Moultrie's season-ending injury, with eight goals and nine assists.
History is the hurdle. Portland hasn't won a non-final playoff game on the road since 2013, the league's first season, The Oregonian noted. Washington will also be without midfielder Hal Hershfelt, who tore her ACL less than two weeks ago. Because Utah upset San Diego on Friday, the winner today earns a home semifinal next weekend. Fans can find Thorns gear on Amazon ahead of kickoff.
Timbers clinch with 2-0 win at Austin
The Timbers needed a win on MLS Decision Day and got one early. Ariel Lassiter scored in the third minute off a Vincent Janssen pass, and Kristoffer Velde added a long-range strike in the 70th minute, the club said. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made seven saves for the clean sheet.
It was Portland's fourth straight win and fifth match in a row without a loss. The Timbers finished 13-14-7 with 46 points, seventh in the Western Conference, good for their third straight playoff trip and their highest seed since 2021. Since Marti Cifuentes took over as coach on Aug. 16, the team went 6-6-4.
"The team has grown a lot over the past three months. We are far from perfect," Cifuentes said, per MLSsoccer.com. "We're ready for the next challenge."
What's next for the Timbers
Portland faces No. 2 seed FC Dallas in a best-of-three Round One series that starts around Nov. 20. Game 1 is in Dallas, Game 2 is at Providence Park, and a Game 3, if needed, returns to Dallas. Every match produces a winner, with penalty kicks if it's tied after regulation, and no extra time. Dates and kickoff times are still to be announced, per the Timbers and MLS. Tickets for Game 2 go on sale Monday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. Pacific, and Timbers gear on Amazon is available for the run.
Dallas is led by striker Petar Musa, who had 22 goals and six assists, and the club topped 60 goals in a season for the first time.
Sources
NWSL: 2026 NWSL Playoffs schedule
Washington Spirit: Playoff preview, Spirit vs. Portland (Nov. 7, 2026)
CBS Sports: Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns, where to watch
The Oregonian/OregonLive: Keys to winning on the road
Portland Timbers: Recap, Timbers beat Austin FC 2-0 to earn spot in postseason
Portland Timbers: Timbers clinch spot as No. 7 seed
MLSsoccer.com: Portland Timbers ride hot streak into Audi MLS Cup Playoffs
MLSsoccer.com: Playoffs field set and Wild Card schedule announced
Cover photo: Providence Park, Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew, 2016-03-05, by Tech. Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Related stories
As an Amazon Associate, Willamette News earns from qualifying purchases.
Comments