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Portland, Ore. (09/06/2026) – The Washington Spirit took all three points in Portland for the first time in club history with a 2-1 comeback win over Thorns FC at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon. Defender Tara Rudd netted a second half equalizer before midfielder Mélissa Bethi netted her first Spirit goal in match-winning fashion in the 80th minute.
Thorns FC started the match on the front foot with some threatening chances in the opening minutes. In the fourth minute, the home side earned a free kick near the box and landed a shot on target but Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver stepped in front to make the save. In the 17th minute, Washington conceded a penalty kick after a foul in the box. One minute later, forward Sophia Wilson connected on the ensuing attempt to give Portland the 1-0 lead.
Just 12 minutes later, Thorns FC appeared poised to double its lead but MacIver made two impressive stops in rapid succession. The keeper tipped a cross near the end line away from a charging Portland attacker deep in the box before getting back to her feet, and diving to save a rebound shot from the right side of the box. Washington was able to keep Portland from finding the back of the net again before halftime as the sides went inside for the break.
Portland came out firing in the second half. In the first minute out of the locker rooms, the Thorns’ Pietra Tordin took a shot in the Spirit box that went off the post. Thorns FC would attempt two more shots before the 50th minute.
The tide began to turn in favor of the Spirit in the 56th minute when Washington drew a foul in the box for a penalty kick of its own. Defender Tara Rudd stepped up to the spot and buried her attempt to bring the match level. Washington kept pressure on the Portland defending third with three more shots over the next 15 minutes, including a header in the box from Sofia Cantore that was saved by Thorns FC keeper Mackenzie Arnold. The Spirit made its first substitution of the match in the 73rd minute, sending midfielder Andi Sullivan on for Monique Ngock.
Washington broke through for its first lead of the match in the 80th minute. Trinity Rodman received a ball on the wing from Paige Metayer and sent a cross from the end line into the center of the box. Midfielder Mélissa Bethi, in her first career NWSL start, received the cross and fired a quick shot past Arnold and into the back of the net for the 2-1 lead. The goal was the first in a Spirit kit for Bethi.
Over the final minutes of the match, including a lengthy ten minutes of stoppage time, the Spirit was able to maintain a good portion of possession, even recording some shots of its own to try and extend its lead. On the defensive end, Sullivan collected two yellow cards for tactical fouls and had to leave the match. MacIver would make two more saves as the match winded down before the final whistle blew. Today’s win marked two special occasions: Washington was victorious in Portland for the first time ever and Head Coach Adrián González recorded his 28th regular season win at the helm, making him the winningest coach in Spirit history.
Next up, the Spirit will return home to host expansion side Boston Legacy FC next weekend at Audi Field. Kicking off at 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday, September 13, the match will air on ESPN.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit
Date: Sunday, September 6, 2026
Venue: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. PDT
Weather: Mostly cloudy, low-60s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Portland | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Washington | 0 | 2 | 2 |
POR – Sophia Wilson – 18′ (PK)
WAS – Tara Rudd – 59′ (PK)
WAS – Mélissa Bethi – 80′ (assisted by Trinity Rodman)
Lineups:
POR: 18 – Mackenzie Arnold; 25 – M.A. Vignola (2 – Reyna Reyes, 84’); 24 – Jayden Perry; 16 – Sam Hiatt; 4 – Carolyn Calzada (11 – Maddie Padelski, 84’); 21 – Jessie Fleming; 19 – Pietra Tordin; 20 – Nina Nijstad; 9 – Sophia Wilson; 66 – Reilyn Turner (23 – Marie Müller, 63’); 22 – Morgan Weaver (7 – Caiya Hanks, 46’)
Unused Substitutes: 35 – Morgan Messner; 6 – Cassandra Bogere; 15 – Shae Harvey; 29 – Mallie McKenzie; 41 – Renee Lyles
WAS: 18 – Sandy MacIver; 14 – Gabrielle Carle; 24 – Esme Morgan; 9 – Tara Rudd; 26 – Paige Metayer; 8 – Monique Ngock (12 – Andi Sullivan, 73’); 17 – Hal Hershfelt; 7 – Mélissa Bethi (5 – Élisabeth Tsé, 90+8’); 2 – Trinity Rodman; 27 – Sofia Cantore (21 – Gift Monday, 87’); 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi (35 – Madison Haugen, 88’)
Unused Substitutes: 28 – Sara Wojdelko; 31 – Kaylie Collins; 13 – Lucia Di Guglielmo; 16 – Tamara Bolt; 29 – Emma Gaines-Ramos
Stats Summary: POR / WAS
Shots: 17 / 10
Shots On Goal: 7 / 5
Saves: 3 / 6
Fouls: 14 / 14
Offsides: 1 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
WAS – Monique Ngock – 26′ – Yellow Card
WAS – Tara Rudd – 32′ – Yellow Card
WAS – Andi Sullivan – 90+2′ – Yellow Card
POR – Jayden Perry – 90+3′ – Yellow Card
WAS – Andi Sullivan – 90+7′ – Second Yellow Card
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