Went to the Portland Thorns FC home opener yesterday!
I'm hooked (and really glad I popped for a season ticket!). The quality of play was very high - a big step up in terms of players being in sync with each other compared to the start of the season the week before. The atmosphere was insane...not really any different from a Timbers game, with the exception of not having the chants going on every minute of each half (this was actually really refreshing...sometimes the Timbers Army, bless their hearts, seems more focused on themselves than on the football).
Some things that stood out:
* The skill level on display, particularly from some of the internationals, was mind-blowing. While I realize these women don't have the pace and strength to play in a men's professional league, their touch on the ball and other skills were actually better than the norm for MLS. Not surprising, I guess: MLS doesn't yet attract many of the world's very best men (they end up in the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, etc...), but the NWSL has some of the absolute best women in the sport.
* In person, Alex Morgan's speed is astonishing. She regularly beat some very athletic defenders to open space on the wings, and not because they were caught napping. She has insane pace.
* Christine Sinclair has terrific vision. She's filling an unusual role for someone who's one of the best scorers in the history of women's footy: a playmaker. But her vision (and passing skills) are such that she plays as if she's been an attacking midfielder her entire career.
* Jess Fishlock is going to be the inaugural season's breakout star. With Hope Solo, Amy Rodriguez, and Megan Rapinoe out, she's the Reign's best player. When they get back, Fishlock might still be the Reign's best player. The Welsh international was an absolute terror in the midfield, and scored the Reign's only goal, to boot.
Great stuff...
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