NWSL

Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns FC, 2025 NWSL, Playoffs - Semifinals

· NWSL
Washington Spirit
  • 27': Gift Monday
  • 83': Croix Bethune
FT
2 - 0
Portland Thorns FC

    Washington beats Portland to head back to NWSL final

    The Washington Spirt are heading back to the NWSL Championship after beating the Portland Thorns 2-0 at Audi Field on Saturday.

    Match Timeline

    • 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
    • 0': First Half begins.
    • 4': Offside, Washington Spirit. Gift Monday is caught offside.
    • 7': Attempt saved. Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns).
    • 7': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Mackenzie Arnold.
    • 9': Attempt missed. Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gift Monday.
    • 10': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Kaitlyn Torpey.
    • 14': Attempt saved. Deyna Castellanos (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit). Assisted by Kaitlyn Torpey.
    • 14': Attempt blocked. Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Croix Bethune.
    • 16': Attempt blocked. Gift Monday (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kate Wiesner with a cross.
    • 16': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Isabella Obaze.
    • 19': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
    • 19': Reyna Reyes (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 19': Delay in match because of an injury Kaitlyn Torpey (Portland Thorns).
    • 21': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 23': Foul by Reyna Reyes (Portland Thorns).
    • 23': Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 24': Attempt saved. Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns). Assisted by Kate Wiesner with a cross.
    • 25': Attempt missed. Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
    • 26': Corner, Portland Thorns. Conceded by Rebeca Bernal.
    • 27': Goal! Washington Spirit 1, Portland Thorns 0. Gift Monday (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rosemonde Kouassi following a fast break.
    • 31': Attempt saved. Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner by Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns).
    • 31': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Mackenzie Arnold.
    • 33': Delay in match because of an injury Reilyn Turner (Portland Thorns).
    • 33': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 36': Attempt blocked. Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Croix Bethune.
    • 36': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Kaitlyn Torpey.
    • 39': Foul by Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit).
    • 39': Reilyn Turner (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
    • 41': Foul by Alexa Spaanstra (Portland Thorns).
    • 41': Kate Wiesner (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 43': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Kaitlyn Torpey.
    • 44': Attempt missed. Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.
    • 44': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
    • 44': Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 44': Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
    • 45': Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
    • 45'+1': Attempt saved. Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns). Assisted by Croix Bethune.
    • 45'+3': Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 45'+3': Foul by Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns).
    • 45'+4': First Half ends, Washington Spirit 1, Portland Thorns 0.
    • 45': Second Half begins Washington Spirit 1, Portland Thorns 0.
    • 46': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Kaitlyn Torpey.
    • 48': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
    • 48': Reyna Reyes (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 49': Attempt missed. Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
    • 51': Attempt saved. Deyna Castellanos (Portland Thorns) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit). Assisted by Jessie Fleming with a cross.
    • 51': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Sam Hiatt.
    • 52': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Jessie Fleming.
    • 56': Attempt saved. Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns). Assisted by Sofia Cantore.
    • 56': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Reyna Reyes.
    • 57': Attempt saved. Rebeca Bernal (Washington Spirit) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Mackenzie Arnold (Portland Thorns). Assisted by Hal Hershfelt with a cross.
    • 57': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Mackenzie Arnold.
    • 60': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
    • 60': Reyna Reyes (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 61': Foul by Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit).
    • 61': Sam Hiatt (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 63': Foul by Isabella Obaze (Portland Thorns).
    • 63': Gift Monday (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 63': Substitution, Portland Thorns. Mallie McKenzie replaces Kaitlyn Torpey.
    • 63': Substitution, Portland Thorns. Pietra Tordin replaces Alexa Spaanstra.
    • 64': Foul by Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns).
    • 64': Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 67': Foul by Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns).
    • 67': Gift Monday (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 67': Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
    • 68': Attempt missed. Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kate Wiesner with a cross following a set piece situation.
    • 69': Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
    • 69': Delay in match because of an injury Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns).
    • 71': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 73': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Deborah Abiodun replaces Leicy Santos.
    • 73': Foul by Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit).
    • 73': Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 74': Foul by Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit).
    • 74': Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 75': Attempt saved. Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit).
    • 75': Deyna Castellanos (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 75': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
    • 78': Foul by Gift Monday (Washington Spirit).
    • 78': Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 79': Corner, Portland Thorns. Conceded by Tara McKeown.
    • 80': Attempt blocked. Deyna Castellanos (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
    • 80': Foul by Gift Monday (Washington Spirit).
    • 80': Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
    • 81': Delay in match because of an injury Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit).
    • 82': Substitution, Portland Thorns. Laila Harbert replaces Deyna Castellanos.
    • 82': Substitution, Portland Thorns. Daiane replaces Reilyn Turner.
    • 82': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 83': Attempt blocked. Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Reyna Reyes.
    • 83': Goal! Washington Spirit 2, Portland Thorns 0. Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
    • 86': Substitution, Portland Thorns. Jayden Perry replaces Sam Hiatt.
    • 86': Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 86': Foul by Laila Harbert (Portland Thorns).
    • 88': Attempt blocked. Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jessie Fleming.
    • 88': Corner, Portland Thorns. Conceded by Hal Hershfelt.
    • 88': Attempt blocked. Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Reyna Reyes.
    • 89': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Paige Metayer replaces Rosemonde Kouassi.
    • 90': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Trinity Rodman replaces Sofia Cantore.
    • 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
    • 90'+2': Attempt blocked. Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Olivia Moultrie.
    • 90'+5': Attempt missed. Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Croix Bethune.
    • 90'+7': Offside, Washington Spirit. Trinity Rodman is caught offside.
    • 90'+8': Second Half ends, Washington Spirit 2, Portland Thorns 0.
    • 0': Match ends, Washington Spirit 2, Portland Thorns 0.

    Statistics

    https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/soccer/500/15362.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originPOR WAShttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/soccer/500/15365.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
    7 Fouls 11
    1 Yellow Cards 1
    0 Red Cards 0
    0 Offsides 2
    3 Corner Kicks 11
    6 Saves 3
    46.3 Possession 53.7
    10 SHOTS 16
    3 ON GOAL 8
    0.3 On Target % 0.5
    0 Penalty Goals 0
    0 Penalty Kicks Taken 0
    293 Accurate Passes 353
    382 Passes 440
    0.8 Pass Completion % 0.8
    3 Accurate Crosses 6
    10 Crosses 15
    0.3 Cross % 0.4
    37 Long Balls 27
    10 Accurate Long Balls 9
    0.3 Long Balls % 0.3
    5 Blocked Shots 3
    13 Effective Tackles 5
    19 Tackles 16
    0.7 Tackle % 0.3
    10 Interceptions 10
    39 Effective Clearances 18
    39 Clearances 18

    Game Information

    Competition: NWSL

    Venue: Audi Field
    Location: Washington, District of Columbia, USA
    Attendance: 19,365

    Line-Ups

    WAS Washington Spirit (4-1-4-1)

    No. Name
    1 Aubrey Kingsbury (GK)
    9 Tara Rudd
    4 Rebeca Bernal
    17 Hal Hershfelt
    6 Kate Wiesner
    24 Esme Morgan
    7 Croix Bethune
    10 Leicy Santos
    27 Sofia Cantore
    19 Rosemonde Kouassi
    21 Gift Monday
    Washington Spirit Substitutes:
    Paige Metayer, Trinity Rodman, Sandy MacIver, Heather Stainbrook, Courtney Brown, Kysha Sylla, Narumi Miura, Deborah Abiodun, Brittany Ratcliffe.

    POR Portland Thorns FC (4-2-3-1)

    No. Name
    18 Mackenzie Arnold (GK)
    5 Isabella Obaze
    16 Sam Hiatt
    2 Reyna Reyes
    20 Kaitlyn Torpey
    13 Olivia Moultrie
    17 Sam Coffey
    21 Jessie Fleming Yellow Card
    66 Reilyn Turner
    10 Deyna Castellanos
    77 Alexa Spaanstra
    Portland Thorns FC Substitutes:
    Pietra Tordin, Laila Harbert, Naomi Powell, Mallie McKenzie, Jayden Perry, Bella Bixby, Valerin Loboa, Daiane, M.A. Vignola.

    NWSL News

    USWNT transfer grades: Rodman, Heaps, Macario and more moves
    USWNT transfer grades: Rodman, Heaps, Macario and more moves

    A bunch of USWNT stars have moved in-and-out of the NWSL and Europe on big-money deals. Let's grade them all!

    Catarina Macario makes record-breaking move to San Diego
    Catarina Macario makes record-breaking move to San Diego

    Jeff Kassouf breaks down Catarina Macario's record-setting move to San Diego and what it means for the NWSL.

    Gotham FC to play Washington Spirit in NWSL Citi Field debut
    Gotham FC to play Washington Spirit in NWSL Citi Field debut

    Reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC will play at Citi Field, home of MLB's New York Mets, on July 15 against the Washington Spirit in a rematch of the 2025 NWSL Championship.

    Barbra Banda, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Heaps - 10 NWSL Players to Watch in 2026
    Barbra Banda, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Heaps - 10 NWSL Players to Watch in 2026

    The 2026 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season is underway, with big names to watch. USA stars Lindsey Heaps and Catarina Macario arrive soon from Europe, joining the likes of Barbra Banda and Trinity Rodman.

    NWSL Power Rankings: Portland goes No. 1 in 2026's first week
    NWSL Power Rankings: Portland goes No. 1 in 2026's first week

    With the first matchday of the 2026 season in the books, ESPN ranks all 16 NWSL clubs from first to worst in this week's edition of Power Rankings.