Sophia Wilson is back with a vengeance. After missing the 2025 season, she’s finished the 2026 regular season with 15 goals, the third-most in the league behind only Ashley Sanchez and Barbra Banda. Those 15 goals are an impressive number as she and the Thorns enter the NWSL playoffs, where they’ll travel to face the Washington Spirit. But while Wilson and Trinity Rodman will be the headliners of the match, how Portland’s attack functions will be critical as they try to stop the Spirit from making a run to their third consecutive appearance in the NWSL final in Sunday’s quarterfinal matchup.
Losing Olivia Moultrie to injury only 16 games into the season was a blow to the squad, but another creative force has stepped forward to lead the attack in 22-year-old midfielder Pietra Tordin. With nine assists and eight goals, she has finished the season with the third-most assists in the league, and her play will be one of the major factors in whether Portland can get past the Spirit. Talent-wise, Washington is expected to win the match, but they can be susceptible to defensive breakdowns, which is when Tordin can strike.
She’s already been rewarded with a United States women’s national team call-up and made her debut against Spain, and her partnership with Wilson has been the driving force behind Portland’s season. Tordin has 51 key passes this season, and 20 of those have been directly to Wilson. Having a striker of Wilson’s caliber to pick out does make things easier for Tordin when Portland attack, but Tordin’s talent and ability to string plays together make the Thorns quite a dangerous team.
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With the match at home, Adrian Gonzalez and the Spirit will be under pressure, as expectations are high this season. This is a team that is expected to win an NWSL title, and if it doesn’t happen, they could be looking for a new coach next season. Gonzalez has done a good job with the squad, but they’re built to win. That pressure also makes it tougher to deal with Portland coming to town with the pressure off. The Thorns may be one of the NWSL’s most successful teams in history, but in needing to rebound from Moultrie’s injury, they’re playing with house money. It’s exactly the kind of team that can win an NWSL championship if things break their way, and with Tordin in the form that she’s in, the Thorns have the talent to go on a run. It all begins with Washington.
How to watch Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns, odds
Date: Sunday, Nov. 8 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Audi Field — Washington, D.C.
TV: ABC | Live stream: Fubo TV (Try for free)
Odds: Washington Spirit -105; Draw +280; Portland Thorns +230
