Seattle Reign vs. Portland Thorns: A Simple Guide to the Big Match

What’s Been Happening With the Reign?

• The Seattle Reign (our local women’s soccer team) are playing in their own stadium for the first time since May 15.
• The league took a break so players could rest or watch the men’s World Cup (a huge soccer tournament).
• Last weekend, they traveled far away to North Carolina to play a team called the Courage.
  • A player named Sally Menti scored her very first goal this season early in the game. Yay!
  • But only 3 minutes later, the other team scored too, so the score was level (tied).
  • After halftime, the referee gave North Carolina a penalty kick (a free shot from a special spot because of a foul). That changed everything, and Seattle lost 1‑3.

How Are the Portland Thorns Doing?

• Portland is Seattle’s biggest rival (like a sibling from another nearby city).
• Last Sunday, they played their first game back and won 4‑0 against Racing Louisville. They didn’t let the other team score at all (that’s called a “shutout”).

The History Between These Teams (The Cascadia Clash)

This rivalry is called the Cascadia Clash because Seattle and Portland are close neighbors in the Pacific Northwest.

• Overall, Seattle has won 16 times, lost 18 times, and tied 10 times against Portland.
• When playing at home in Seattle, they are 9 wins, 6 losses, 6 ties.
• The last time Seattle beat Portland was on April 18, 2025. They won 1‑0, and the only goal was scored super early (4th minute) by Maddie Dahlien.
• Earlier this season (Week 2), Portland won 2‑0 even though they had two players sent off with red cards (meaning they had to play with fewer people). Seattle wants to do better this time.

Big News: This match is described as the best rivalry in women’s soccer, and it’s back at Lumen Field on Sunday! (A match preview on Sounder at Heart calls it exactly that.)

Keys to the Game (How Seattle Can Win)

Here are three simple tips for the Reign:

• Stop Sophia Wilson: She’s a star for Portland; don’t let her get chances to shoot.
• Be Sharp in Front of Goal (the “box”): In the last meeting, Seattle kicked the ball from the sides into the middle 49 times (these are called crosses) and shot 17 times but couldn’t score enough. Portland defended well, but small changes could help Seattle finally break through.
• Guard the Middle and Restarts: Lock down Portland’s midfield (the players in the center who pass a lot) and be careful during set pieces (planned plays after fouls or out‑of‑bounds).

Team News: New Players, Injuries, and Crowd Size

Portland’s Roster Moves

• Portland signed a Dutch player named Nina Nijstad from a team in the Netherlands (PSV Eindhoven Vrouwen). She came up through Dutch youth teams and has played 4 games (called “caps”) and scored 2 goals for the grown‑up national team. But the summer transfer window (the time when teams can add players) officially opens on Tuesday, July 14, so she cannot play on Sunday.
• Portland also sent a forward (striker) named Mimi Alidou to a team in Montreal, Canada (the Montreal Roses of the Northern Super League) for a price we don’t know. She is from Montreal, joined Portland in 2025, and played 32 games for them.

Attendance and Seattle Injuries

• This game is expected to be the 4th biggest crowd ever at Lumen Field for the Reign.
• Players Shae Holmes (knee) and Claudia Dickey (ankle) are still hurt and can’t play, but they are practicing a bit and are day‑to‑day.
• Madison Curry (ankle) is also out.
• Good news: Jess Fishlock might play for the first time since April 26, when he hurt his left leg against Utah Royals. Coach Laura Harvey said on Saturday morning that they’d decide after practice. He is listed as a substitute (someone who can come off the bench) and is available.

Important Points – Who Is Out or Away:

Seattle Reign:

• Out: Lynn Biyendolo (having a baby – maternity leave), Madison Curry (ankle), Claudia Dickey (ankle), Shae Holmes (knee)
• Maybe playing (Questionable): Jess Fishlock (lower leg)
• Away for youth national team: Sofia Cedeño and Evan O’Steen (USA Under‑20 Women’s team)

Portland Thorns:

• Out: Morgan Weaver (knee – season‑ending injury), Caiya Hanks (knee – season‑ending), Bella Bixby (knee – season‑ending), Julie Dufour (knee – season‑ending), Reilyn Turner (knee)
• No questionable players
• Away for youth national team: Valerin Loboa (Colombia Under‑20)

Current Standings (like a scoreboard rank):

• Reign: 12th place, record 4 wins, 6 losses, 2 ties, goal difference ‑5 (they’ve let in 5 more than they scored). Recent form: Loss, Loss, Win, Loss, Loss (shown as LLWLL).
• Thorns: 2nd place, record 8 wins, 3 losses, 3 ties, goal difference +10. Recent form: Draw, Win, Loss, Draw, Win (shown as DWLDW).

The Referees (The Rule Keepers)

• Main referee (the boss on the field): Abdou Ndiaye
• Assistant referees (help from the sides): Jennifer Garner and Seth Martin
• Fourth official (helps with substitutions): Justin St. Pierre
• Video assistant referee (watches on screen): Corbyn May

How to Watch the Match

Follow these simple steps to tune in:

1. Date & Time: Sunday, July 11th, at 1:00 PM Pacific Time.
2. Place: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington (if you’re there) or your TV.
3. TV Channel: ESPN, with commentators Jacqui Oatley and Jordan Angeli.
4. Free Streaming: No, you cannot watch for free in the US.

Lineups and Social Media Posts

The teams shared their starting players on Bluesky (a social media app):

• Seattle Reign posted: “45th edition of the Cascadia Rivalry loading Lineup Notes rgnfc.com/3TgLok5” (This is the 45th time they meet!)
• Portland Thorns posted: “Rose City > Emerald City ESPN” (Rose City is Portland’s nickname, Emerald City is Seattle’s.)

Highlights and Joining the Chat

• Video highlights will be added as the game goes on.
• Fans can talk in the Discord chat (for Supporter tier and above) or in the comments below.
• This article is a watch‑along from Sounder at Heart, and they may earn a small bit of money if you buy something through their links.

Summary

To sum up: The Seattle Reign are back home after a long break and a tough loss in North Carolina. Their rivals, the Portland Thorns, are doing great and won big last week. Historically, Portland has the edge, but Seattle wants revenge from an early‑season loss. Key things for Seattle: stop Sophia Wilson, finish chances, and defend well. Many players are injured on both sides, but Jess Fishlock might return. The game is Sunday, July 11 at 1 PM on ESPN at Lumen Field, with a big crowd expected. Tune in and enjoy the best rivalry in women’s soccer!

FAQ

1. What is the Cascadia Clash?
It’s the name for matches between Seattle Reign and Portland Thorns, two women’s soccer teams from neighboring regions. They’ve now met 45 times.

2. Why can’t Nina Nijstad play for Portland yet?
She was just signed from a Dutch team, but the official period for new signings opens on July 14, so she must wait until after Sunday’s match.

3. Is the game free to watch online?
No, in the US you need ESPN; there is no free stream.

4. Who are the referees for the match?
The head referee is Abdou Ndiaye, helped by Jennifer Garner and Seth Martin, with fourth official Justin St. Pierre and video ref Corbyn May.

5. What happened in Seattle’s last game before this?
They lost 1‑3 to the North Carolina Courage after an early lead by Sally Menti and a second‑half penalty.