Portland Thorns
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| Full name | Portland Thorns FC |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | PTFC, BAONPDX |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Stadium | Providence Park |
| Capacity | 21,144 |
| Owner | Merritt Paulson |
| Head Coach | Mark Parsons |
| League | National Women's Soccer League |
| Website | Club home page |
The Portland Thorns FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 in the (then) eight-team National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) that receives support from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF). The Portland franchise is owned by Peregrine Sports LLC, which also owns the Portland Timbers. The Thorns, the Houston Dash, and the Orlando Pride are the only NWSL teams with Major League Soccer affiliation.
In its inaugural season, the Portland Thorns FC placed third during the regular season and won the first ever NWSL championship game.
On September 25, 2016, Portland Thorns FC won the 2016 NWSL Shield after beginning the 20 game season with a 12-game unbeaten streak.
The genesis of elite Oregon women's soccer started before the creation of the NWSL in 2012. An elite women's travelling team started in Portland after the 1996 Summer Olympics and 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup excitement along with teams owned by the Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps and a team in Spokane. The four teams were to be entered into the USL W-League's W-1 division for the 2001 season, the same year as the first Women's United Soccer Association season. In Portland the team was christened the Portland Rain and played the 2000 season in the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL). The team played the 2001 season in the W-League before returning to the PCSL until 2003 when the team folded. Women's soccer was also well supported via the University of Portland Pilots.
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