MATCH RECAP | Portland Thorns FC Fall 3-1 on the Road to Kansas City Current in 2025 NWSL Season Opener
Olivia Moultrie opens Portland’s 2025 scoring account and Thorns see three NWSL rookie debuts.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Saturday, March 15, 2025) – The Portland Thorns opened their 2025 NWSL season with a 3-1 road defeat against Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium.
The Thorns would face an uphill battle in the first half after 2024 NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga scored in the opening minutes before Michelle Cooper’s long-distance strike doubled the lead for Kansas City in the 24’. Debinha would add a third for the Current in the 38’ off a redirected save from Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
After a much-needed break to regroup and refocus, midfielder Olivia Moultrie would open the scoring minutes into the second half to establish Portland’s intention to fight back and pull itself into the match.
The Thorns looked a lot stronger on both ends of the field in the second 45 minutes. The defense won 7 of 9 tackles and intercepted 6 KC efforts while the Portland offense tripled its attacking effort at goal by recording 9 attempted shots.
The Thorns did have an opportunity to double its lead in the 84’ after being rewarded a penalty off a Kansas City handball, but Moultrie’s attempt hit the cross bar. Despite the Thorns continuing to push to add more goals onto the scoreboard, the match came to an end and Portland must take away the lessons and positives from today’s match ahead of next weekend’s Home Opener vs Angel City FC.
TEAM NOTES
- Olivia Moultrie, 19, has now recorded the most goal contributions (25) by a teenager for an NWSL team with 12 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.
- Olivia Moultrie now has 11 NWSL regular season goals and continues her pursuit to becoming the teenager with the most regular season goals before the age of 20 (Jaedyn Shaw currently holds the top spot and registered 13 before turning 20 last November).
- Rookie defender Jayden Perry made her professional debut as a starter for the Thorns, contesting the full 90 minutes.
- Forward rookies Caiya Hanks and Pietra Tordin also made their professional debuts, coming on as second-half substitutes in the 73rd and 87th minute, respectively.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will host Angel City FC for their 2025 NWSL Home Opener next Friday, March 21 at Providence Park. Tickets are available for purchase now at thorns.com/tickets. Kickoff on Prime Video is scheduled for 7 pm PT.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
FIRST HALF
KC - Temwa Chawinga (Debinha) 4’: Off a long cross 40-yards out from Debinha, Chawinga would beat Arnold 1v1 in the box open the scoring.
KC - Michelle Cooper 24’: Cooper struck the ball into the top right corner from 40-yards out.
KC – Debinha 38’: Just around the six-yard box, Debinha would tap in the ball off a redirected save from Arnold.
SECOND HALF
POR – Olivia Moultrie (Hina Sugita) 49’: Sugita would dribble her way into the top of the box to find Moultrie who sent the ball into the bottom right corner to open Portland’s 2025 scoring account.
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns FC (4-3-3) Mackenzie Arnold, Reyna Reyes (Mallie McKenzie 73’), Isabella Obaze, Jayden Perry, Kaitlyn Torpey, Sam Coffey-C, Hina Sugita (Caiya Hanks 73’), Jessie Fleming (Payton Linnehan 64’), Olivia Moultrie, Alexa Spaanstra (Reilyn Turner 64’), Deyna Castellanos (Pietra Tordin 87’)
Subs not used: Bella Bixby, Sam Hiatt, Daiane, Moira Kelley
Kansas City Current (4-3-3): Lorena, Ellie Wheeler, Kayla Sharples, Alana Cook, Elizabeth Ball (Izzy Rodriguez 46’), Lo’eau LaBonta-C, Claire Hutton (Rocky Rodriguez 67’), Vanessa DiBernardo (Bayley Feist 90’), Temwa Chawinga, Debinha (Haley Hopkins 85’), Michelle Cooper (Nichelle Prince 67’)
Subs not used: Laurel Ivory, Flora Marta Lacho, Katie Scott, Jereko
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: Reyna Reyes (Yellow) 19’, Hina Sugita (Yellow) 51’
KC: Claire Hutton (Yellow) 14’
MATCH STATS
POR | KC
Goals: 1|3
Assists: 1|1
Possession 53|47
Shots: 12|16
Shots on Target: 3|6
Saves: 0|0
Tackles: 16|24
Tackles Won: 11|15
Interceptions: 14|12
Fouls: 8|11
Offsides: 1|3
Corner Kicks: 4|5
MATCH RECAP | Portland Thorns FC Fall 3-1 on the Road to Kansas City Current in 2025 NWSL Season Opener
Olivia Moultrie opens Portland’s 2025 scoring account and Thorns see three NWSL rookie debuts.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Saturday, March 15, 2025) – The Portland Thorns opened their 2025 NWSL season with a 3-1 road defeat against Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium.
The Thorns would face an uphill battle in the first half after 2024 NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga scored in the opening minutes before Michelle Cooper’s long-distance strike doubled the lead for Kansas City in the 24’. Debinha would add a third for the Current in the 38’ off a redirected save from Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
After a much-needed break to regroup and refocus, midfielder Olivia Moultrie would open the scoring minutes into the second half to establish Portland’s intention to fight back and pull itself into the match.
The Thorns looked a lot stronger on both ends of the field in the second 45 minutes. The defense won 7 of 9 tackles and intercepted 6 KC efforts while the Portland offense tripled its attacking effort at goal by recording 9 attempted shots.
The Thorns did have an opportunity to double its lead in the 84’ after being rewarded a penalty off a Kansas City handball, but Moultrie’s attempt hit the cross bar. Despite the Thorns continuing to push to add more goals onto the scoreboard, the match came to an end and Portland must take away the lessons and positives from today’s match ahead of next weekend’s Home Opener vs Angel City FC.
TEAM NOTES
- Olivia Moultrie, 19, has now recorded the most goal contributions (25) by a teenager for an NWSL team with 12 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.
- Olivia Moultrie now has 11 NWSL regular season goals and continues her pursuit to becoming the teenager with the most regular season goals before the age of 20 (Jaedyn Shaw currently holds the top spot and registered 13 before turning 20 last November).
- Rookie defender Jayden Perry made her professional debut as a starter for the Thorns, contesting the full 90 minutes.
- Forward rookies Caiya Hanks and Pietra Tordin also made their professional debuts, coming on as second-half substitutes in the 73rd and 87th minute, respectively.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will host Angel City FC for their 2025 NWSL Home Opener next Friday, March 21 at Providence Park. Tickets are available for purchase now at thorns.com/tickets. Kickoff on Prime Video is scheduled for 7 pm PT.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
FIRST HALF
KC - Temwa Chawinga (Debinha) 4’: Off a long cross 40-yards out from Debinha, Chawinga would beat Arnold 1v1 in the box open the scoring.
KC - Michelle Cooper 24’: Cooper struck the ball into the top right corner from 40-yards out.
KC – Debinha 38’: Just around the six-yard box, Debinha would tap in the ball off a redirected save from Arnold.
SECOND HALF
POR – Olivia Moultrie (Hina Sugita) 49’: Sugita would dribble her way into the top of the box to find Moultrie who sent the ball into the bottom right corner to open Portland’s 2025 scoring account.
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns FC (4-3-3) Mackenzie Arnold, Reyna Reyes (Mallie McKenzie 73’), Isabella Obaze, Jayden Perry, Kaitlyn Torpey, Sam Coffey-C, Hina Sugita (Caiya Hanks 73’), Jessie Fleming (Payton Linnehan 64’), Olivia Moultrie, Alexa Spaanstra (Reilyn Turner 64’), Deyna Castellanos (Pietra Tordin 87’)
Subs not used: Bella Bixby, Sam Hiatt, Daiane, Moira Kelley
Kansas City Current (4-3-3): Lorena, Ellie Wheeler, Kayla Sharples, Alana Cook, Elizabeth Ball (Izzy Rodriguez 46’), Lo’eau LaBonta-C, Claire Hutton (Rocky Rodriguez 67’), Vanessa DiBernardo (Bayley Feist 90’), Temwa Chawinga, Debinha (Haley Hopkins 85’), Michelle Cooper (Nichelle Prince 67’)
Subs not used: Laurel Ivory, Flora Marta Lacho, Katie Scott, Jereko
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: Reyna Reyes (Yellow) 19’, Hina Sugita (Yellow) 51’
KC: Claire Hutton (Yellow) 14’
MATCH STATS
POR | KC
Goals: 1|3
Assists: 1|1
Possession 53|47
Shots: 12|16
Shots on Target: 3|6
Saves: 0|0
Tackles: 16|24
Tackles Won: 11|15
Interceptions: 14|12
Fouls: 8|11
Offsides: 1|3
Corner Kicks: 4|5
.avif)
