Pietra Tordin and Sophia Wilson have become the attacking engine for the Portland Thorns as the club enters the NWSL playoffs with a quarterfinal trip to face the Washington Spirit on Sunday at Audi Field.
Wilson's scoring return
Wilson sat out the 2025 season, but she returned to finish the 2026 regular season with 15 goals, the third-highest total in the league behind Ashley Sanchez and Barbra Banda. That production gives Portland a proven finisher for the postseason, even though Wilson and Trinity Rodman are expected to draw most of the attention in Sunday’s matchup.
Tordin fills the creative gap
Portland lost Olivia Moultrie to injury just 16 games into the season, a significant setback for the squad. In her place, 22-year-old midfielder Pietra Tordin has led the attack, closing the regular season with nine assists and eight goals. Her assist total ranked third in the league.
Tordin’s play will be central to whether Portland can advance past Washington. She has already earned a United States women’s national team call-up and made her debut against Spain. Her connection with Wilson has driven Portland’s season: Tordin recorded 51 key passes, and 20 of those went directly to Wilson.
Having a striker of Wilson’s quality to find makes Tordin’s job easier, but her ability to link plays and create chances is what makes the Thorns dangerous. Washington may be favored on talent, yet the Spirit can be vulnerable to defensive breakdowns, and those are the moments Tordin can exploit.
Pressure on Washington, freedom for Portland
Washington will host the match with high expectations. The Spirit are viewed as a team built to win an NWSL title, and failure to do so could lead to a coaching change. Adrian Gonzalez has done a strong job with the squad, but the roster is constructed to contend for a championship.
That pressure could make the Spirit more vulnerable against a Portland side playing with less weight on its shoulders. The Thorns have a rich history of success in the NWSL, but after losing Moultrie, they are in rebound mode, a position that allows them to play freely. With Tordin in her current form, Portland has the talent to make a playoff run, and it starts with Washington.
Match details
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
- TV: ABC
- Live stream: Fubo TV
- Odds: Washington Spirit -105; Draw +280; Portland Thorns +230
