Rose City Red Card

Washington 4, Portland 1 in the quarterfinal, and the season is over. Alan needed a nap and Marissa's whole week is shot.Bethi scored six minutes in, Arnold went down and stayed on, and Marissa called it some of the worst defense Portland has played all year. Vilahamn changed two players at 38 minutes, Tordin got one back, and then Rodman again. Perry's second yellow came in the 88th minute with the game gone.What it was: Portland's best regular season by points, with 50 points, 50 goals, 14 wins to tie 2017, and sixth place. Fleming played every regular-season minute and Tordin is extended through 2029. Marissa goes through who is under contract, then says Soph is leaving. That is her read, not news. She wants that money spent on defenders. On Vilahamn: nothing brilliant, she doesn't like him, and he should get a full season anyway.Plus Marissa's playoff weekend roundup (Utah 1–0 San Diego, Kansas City 1–0 Angel City in overtime, Gotham 1–0 Seattle on an own goal, and a goodbye to Jess Fishlock), the semifinals as of the recording (Washington v Utah, Gotham v Kansas City), Marissa's pick of a Spirit–Gotham final, and four Thorns on the 50-person US list for World Cup qualifying. We tried witchcraft. It did not work.Recorded Sunday, November 8, 2026, after the quarterfinal. Bracket as of the recording.Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Cold open: Washington 4, Portland 1, and the season ends01:44 The match: Bethi at six minutes, a 3–0 hole, Tordin's goal, and Rodman again07:06 What it was: 50 points, 50 goals, and who's under contract08:49 Soph's unsigned deal and a million dollars of cap space10:45 Vilahamn, and the Sam Coffey hole15:12 Marissa's playoff weekend roundup21:09 What's next: the semifinals, predictions and Concacaf24:40 Sign-off: the witchcraft didn't work

Houston 0–2 Portland on Decision Day: Soph twice, a sixth-place finish, and club records of 50 points and 50 goals.Back at Pappy's the day after. Alan watched from a pizza place with no TVs and missed the first goal: Hanks beat her defender, Turner backheeled it, and Soph finished at 34'. Then a penalty saved, a VAR retake for encroachment, and a thank-you to the Etsy witches.The record season: 14 wins to tie 2017, Wilson's 15 goals and 20 contributions, Fleming playing every minute of all 30 games, and Tordin on nine assists. Soph still hasn't re-signed, so Marissa is choosing peace.Plus the Decision Day edition of Marissa's Match Week Roundup (all eight games at once, and she is not happy about it), the quarterfinal preview at Washington on Sunday, Nov 8, and breaking news: Hanks, Tordin, Turner and Wilson are on the US preliminary roster for the Concacaf W Championship.Recorded Monday, November 2, 2026, the day after Decision Day. Standings are as of the recording.Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Cold open: 2–0 at Houston, Soph twice, and two club records02:04 The match: Hanks, Turner's backheel, Soph, and a retaken penalty09:10 The record season: 50 points, 50 goals, Wilson, Fleming and Tordin12:28 Soph's contract, and choosing peace13:52 Marissa's Match Week Roundup: the Decision Day edition21:06 Quarterfinal preview: at Washington, Sunday, Nov 826:16 Breaking news: four Thorns on the US preliminary roster31:39 Predictions and sign-off

Thorns 1–0 North Carolina, and we're in. Marie Müller from 20 yards in the 60th minute, a 10th straight playoff season, and the first NWSL team to 100 clean sheets.Back at Pappy's two days after the win. It was Marissa's first game in the stands this season: a cagey first half, then Müller arriving at a full sprint to hit it first time. Portland had about a third of the ball and seven shots on target to North Carolina's two.Marissa walks back last week's "put Messner in" (blame the Haterade). Arnold kept her 8th clean sheet, the team's 10th. And how do you score without Soph? Anybody can score.Then the night: five of us in Rose City Red Card shirts, a pub beer for the passphrase, Build a Bonfire, and Randi from Episode 1, who spent the week reading the rules.Plus Marissa's Match Week Roundup with a Gotham goal live on air, the three Zambia internationals held out by a US re-entry rule, and Decision Day. As of our Sunday recording, seven of the eight playoff places are decided, and Soph is back for Houston.Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Cold open: 1–0, Müller from 20 yards, and we're in02:27 The match: a cagey first half and Müller's 60th-minute rocket09:28 The back line: Haterade, and Arnold's 8th clean sheet12:05 Scoring without Soph16:27 The night: five of us in RCRC shirts, and Build a Bonfire21:04 Marissa's Match Week Roundup: Week 26, and a Gotham goal live27:09 The Zambia story: three players held by a re-entry rule30:06 Decision Day: Houston, and Soph is back32:51 Sign-off: a queer podcast, and Providence Park is for everybody

Bay FC 2–2 Thorns. Down 2–1 at the 86th minute, and Caiya Hanks saves a point.Back at Pappy's on a Monday, the day after Bay and the first game without Sophia Wilson. Weaver scored early, Bay had a penalty overturned while Marissa was outside avoiding the VAR check, Bay went ahead, and Hanks followed up her own rebound to save it. Julie Dufour is back.Then what's wrong at the back. Marissa's take: we don't have a six, and we need a faster center-back next to Perry. Gossip hour is Soph's contract, which runs through 2026 with nothing announced. Marissa thinks she's leaving, and she'll tell you that's a guess.Plus Marissa's Match Week Roundup and the table. As of our Monday recording, Portland were 7th on 44: beat North Carolina at home on Friday, Oct 23, and we're in.We'll be there in Rose City Red Card shirts.Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Back at Pappy's: disappointed, but not surprised03:51 Bay FC 2–2 Thorns: the overturned penalty, and Hanks at 86'12:49 What's wrong at the back: we need a six22:10 Gossip hour: Soph's contract28:56 Marissa's Match Week Roundup: Week 2535:27 The table: one through ten37:02 Coming up: North Carolina on Friday, then Decision Day38:38 Find us Friday: the RCRC shirts

Recorded at Dingo's during the October international break. There was no Thorns match this week, so we follow where every Thorns player went, starting with USA 0–2 Spain. Our Pappy's friend Tyler drops in partway through.Sophia Wilson's suspension is now two matches. She misses Bay (Sun Oct 18) and North Carolina at home (Fri Oct 23). Club suspensions don't carry over to internationals, so she started against Spain. She still has no new contract, which raises the question of whether we've seen her last game at Providence Park.USA 0–2 Spain at Audi Field (sellout, 19,220). Spain scored twice in the first 14 minutes. The US were much better in the second half: Wilson's goal was ruled out for offside, and Lily Yohannes had a second-half penalty saved after Wilson was fouled.The penalty debate. Wilson was the player fouled and is 11 for 11 on career penalties for Portland. Alan's read is that the order was set before the game: Heaps was first on the list but had been subbed off, so Yohannes was next. Alan and Marissa still want to know why the list is in that order.Marissa's hot takes: the Heaps, Yohannes and Lavelle midfield "will never work." Sam Coffey was badly missed. Yohannes should go to the U-23s until she's ready. Tordin's technical game is what this midfield lacks.Thorns Abroad: Arnold's Australia lost 4–2 to Müller's Germany, with Thorns on both sides. Canada drew 1–1 with Denmark and won an unofficial shootout (Marissa had Fleming as captain). Marissa said Reyes started and played well in Mexico's 4–3 home loss to Jamaica. Marissa said Loboa was a late call-up for Colombia. Hanks, Perry and Calzada went to the USA U-23s, Nijstad to the Netherlands U-23s and Bogere to the Sweden U-23s.Crystal Dunn, a former Thorn, was honored before the match. She has 160 caps and 25 goals, and she scored the 93rd-minute semifinal winner against San Diego on the way to the 2022 title.Coming up: the US play Spain again on Tuesday at Subaru Park (4 PM PT). Will Tordin get minutes? The Thorns are at Bay on Sunday, then home to North Carolina on Friday Oct 23. Alan and Marissa will be at that game as fans.Recorded Sunday, October 11, 2026, before the Tuesday rematch. Suspension and contract details are as of the recording.Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Back at Dingo's, and the international break02:54 Wilson's ban is now two games04:04 USA 0–2 Spain07:53 Our friend Tyler drops in11:26 Marissa's counterpoints20:36 Wilson and Tordin in camp23:07 Thorns Abroad28:16 Crystal Dunn's tribute30:03 What's next: Spain again, Bay, and a game as fans33:55 Marissa's PS: give the team some grace

Portland 2-4 Boston. Down to ten in the 22nd minute, down two at the break, and still in it until stoppage time.We're back at Pappy's, our original bar, on a Monday, because Marissa got a tattoo on Sunday. It says "gay" in Old English, lowercase g, so it doesn't read "hey".Marissa was in the press box. Boston played like a team chasing playoff points, not one that was already eliminated. Sophia Wilson was sent off for a hair pull right in front of the referee, and Marissa isn't arguing with the red. Boston scored twice before halftime. Then, with ten players, Portland played what Marissa calls some of their best soccer. Pietra Tordin's penalty made it 2-1, and Shae Harvey scored her first NWSL goal off the bench. Boston scored either side of it, in the 88th minute and in stoppage time. Marissa has questions about Mackenzie Arnold's positioning on those two goals. She also says no one player loses a game.Then the good news. Tordin's penalty made Portland the first club to 50 regular-season penalty goals, and she has her first senior USA call-up. Jessie Fleming set the club's single-season appearance record and has played 51 games in a row. Alan has a new jersey, and Marissa wants the owners to bring back red, black and green.Plus Marissa's Match Week 24 Roundup, the table after the weekend's games (seventh, three clear of Seattle with three to play), and USA v Spain in the international break. Thorns Abroad is next week.Recorded Monday, October 5, after every Week 24 game was played.Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Back at Pappy's, and Marissa's new tattoo04:55 Marissa at the game, and Stephanie from the Mercury06:34 Portland 2–4 Boston10:52 Wilson's second red card12:37 Tordin's penalty, Harvey's first goal, and the last two goals15:39 A new coach, and the players we've lost17:25 Milestones, Tordin's call-up, and Thorns Abroad19:54 Alan's new jersey and Fleming's record22:03 Marissa's Match Week 24 Roundup27:27 The table after the weekend, with three to play30:43 The international break: USA v Spain and the FIFA rankings33:25 The NWSL table35:08 Sign-off

Portland 1-1 Houston. Twenty shots, eight corners, one point.Our first show at Dingo's Sports Pub on SE Stark, where the Matildas kit hangs a couple of jerseys down from the Thorns. Alan ordered a Portland IPA to undo last week's Seattle beer curse. Marissa ordered Tito's.It was Hispanic Heritage Night at Providence Park, with 18,247 there and every announcement in English and Spanish. Houston's Kat Rader scored in the 10th minute, and Portland chased the game until Marie Müller finished first time in the 85th after Sophia Wilson drew three defenders. Marissa's verdict: this was not on the defense. Reyes and Vignola were excellent. The finishing and the set pieces weren't: eight corners and no plan. Credit to Houston's interim coach, with a win and a draw in two weeks, and to Rader, a rookie with 10 goals.Then the milestones. Jessie Fleming made her 50th straight league start and wore the armband. Wilson's assist was her 18th goal contribution of the season, tying the club record she set in 2024. Portland's 100th regular-season clean sheet, which no NWSL club has reached, is still out there for Boston on October 3.Plus Marissa's Match Week 23 Roundup, the table as it stood after Saturday, and congratulations to Val Loboa, whose Colombia beat Italy for bronze at the U-20 Women's World Cup, the country's first U-20 podium.Recorded Sunday afternoon, September 27, before Utah played North Carolina later that day, so the table talk is as of Saturday night.Adults only. Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Our first show at Dingo's03:56 Portland 1–1 Houston11:13 Eight corners, no plan, and credit to Houston13:59 Fleming's 50th, Wilson ties her record, and the 100th clean sheet18:50 Marissa's Match Week 23 Roundup25:44 The table after Saturday28:09 Val Loboa and Colombia's U-20 World Cup bronze29:44 Thanks to Dingo's, and Boston next

Orlando 1-4 Portland. Four goals, four scorers.We're back after a week off. We both had some medical stuff to deal with. We start with the episode we never recorded: Portland 1-1 Chicago on the 13th, the draw that felt like a loss.Then Orlando. Nina Nijstad scored in the 3rd minute, her first NWSL goal, set up by Sophia Wilson. Wilson scored the penalty Caiya Hanks drew, her 11th career penalty, which passes Christine Sinclair's club record. Morgan Weaver scored from outside the box in the 74th, her first goal in 687 days after three knee surgeries, and Cassandra Bogere got her first NWSL assist on it. Renee Lyles came off the bench and scored in the 88th, Wilson assisting again. Wilson finished with a goal and two assists in her 100th regular-season game.Marissa's read: Portland took their foot off the gas after half an hour, let Orlando back in at 2-1, and then the subs took over.The next clean sheet is Portland's 100th shutout, and no NWSL club has ever reached 100. Houston at Providence Park is the next chance. Portland are fifth, level with Utah on points, and a top-four finish means a home playoff game.Plus Marissa's Match Week Roundup, a rain-soaked camera that made Chicago 0-3 Spirit close to unwatchable, and Val Loboa's stoppage-time winner against Nigeria that sent Colombia to the U-20 World Cup semifinals.Recorded at Pappy's on September 22, so the table and the shutout count are as of that night.Adults only. Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Back after a week off, and the Chicago draw that felt like a loss02:39 Orlando 1–4 Portland05:58 Nina Nijstad's first NWSL goal, and the four goals11:06 Portland's 100th shutout is still out there12:20 Houston next, and the race with Utah for a home playoff game16:08 Marissa's Match Week Roundup20:00 Chicago 0–3 Spirit, and the camera that got rained on24:35 Val Loboa sends Colombia to the U-20 World Cup semifinals26:29 Thanks to Pappy's, and a hint about next weekTHE NUMBERSGoals: Nijstad 3', Wilson (penalty) 28', Weaver 74', Lyles 88'. Lemos 30' for Orlando.Shots: Orlando 19, Portland 17. On target, Portland 13 to 6.Attendance: 7,602 at Inter&Co Stadium.Wilson: a goal and two assists. 11 career penalties, one more than Sinclair.Table (at recording): Portland fifth on 42, level with Utah on points and goal difference. Utah are ahead on total wins, 13 to 12.Next: Portland v Houston, Saturday September 26, Providence Park.

Portland 1-2 Washington. The first home loss of the season, and the Spirit's first win in Portland ever.Portland had played ten at home this year and lost none of them. This was the eleventh. Washington came in missing seven players and won anyway.Sophia Wilson scored from the spot in the 18th, her tenth career penalty from ten attempts. Only one other player in NWSL history has done that. Tara Rudd equalized from the spot in the 59th, given after a video review. Melissa Bethi got the winner in the 80th, her first for the Spirit, set up by Trinity Rodman.Then the 68th minute. Rudd handled it in her own box and nothing was called. No whistle, no check. She was Washington's captain, she had been booked at 32', and she had scored the penalty nine minutes earlier. Marissa asked for the rules on it, so we went through Law 12 on air.The part that makes it worse: the VAR was working that night. It had already intervened to give Washington their penalty.Portland outshot Washington 17 to 10, and 7 to 5 on target, and lost. Alan's read is shorter than Marissa's. He texted her mid-match that Washington looked desperate and Portland looked tired, and desperate beats tired every time.Marissa was in the press box for this one. She has the room at 59' and at 80', a kid reporter who asked a better question than she did, and Hirschfeld on the touchline going "wow, it's loud."Also in it: Reilyn Turner available and not playing until Mueller came on for her at 63', Calzada keeping Rodman quiet right up until Rodman assisted the winner, deadline day, and Marissa's Match Week Roundup.Portland are sixth on 38. Three teams landed on 39 above them over the weekend. Chicago at home on the 13th.Adults only. Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Cold open: the first home loss of the year03:25 The handball nobody called09:44 Marissa at the ground17:46 Turner, and what Mueller coming on showed21:02 A guest ad read, and the healthiest roster of the year27:52 Marissa's Match Week Roundup36:42 What's next: Chicago at homeTHE NUMBERSAttendance: 19,065.Shots: Portland 17, Washington 10. On target 7 to 5. Possession 44.7%.Home record: 7-0-3 becomes 7-1-3. Goals conceded at home go from 5 to 7.Wilson: 10 for 10 on career penalties, second player in league history to do it. 12 goals this season.Table: Portland sixth on 38. North Carolina, Utah and San Diego all on 39.Next: Portland v Chicago, Saturday September 13, Providence Park.

Gotham 1-1 Portland. A point on the road at the team top of the table, and Portland had 26% of the ball to get it.Jaedyn Shaw scored in the 60th. She admitted afterwards it was meant to be a cross. It still chipped Mackenzie Arnold, who was off her line. Sophia Wilson equalized from the spot in the 75th, her eleventh of the season, after Pietra Tordin got her ankle stepped on inside the box and her shoe came off. Play carried on for two minutes before VAR looked at it.Marissa's argument is that this was the best the defense has looked all season, and that the reason is boring. Same four as the previous match. Vignola, Perry, Hiatt, Calzada, two games running. Familiarity, not signings.Her quote of the pod follows from it. She is not a sports analyst, she is drinking well vodka in a bucket hat at 2:45 on a Sunday, but it looks to her like Portland are trading some of their scary offense for that defense. The midfield sits instead of pressing. Sophia Wilson ends up alone on an island up top. Marissa will take the trade and points at Gotham grinding out 1-0 wins all year.Then the weekend happened. Portland went into it third. Utah beat Orlando on Saturday, Washington beat Bay FC on Sunday morning, and by the time we sat down the Thorns were fifth on 38. One point off fourth.Also in it: Jayden Perry as the best centerback on the team in her second pro season, Nina Nijstad taking people on one-v-one and picking up a booking for it, Tordin still one assist off the league record, and Marissa's Match Day Roundup.Five of the last eight are at Providence Park. Portland have not lost there all year.Adults only. Bring a drink.CHAPTERS00:00 Cold open: a point at the best team in the league03:26 The defense, and why the reason is boring09:10 The two goals13:02 Vignola and Tordin, Perry, Nijstad15:56 The table: third to fifth in one weekend21:41 Marissa's Match Day Roundup22:40 What are we drinking25:27 What's next: five of the last eight at homeWHAT WE WERE DRINKINGMarissa: a shot of well vodka and a big cup of water. She was sent a list of suggestions and had the well vodka anyway.Alan: a Lagunitas IPA. He ordered every drink a listener recommended that the bar actually had, which came to none of them.THE NUMBERSPossession: Gotham 74%, Portland 26%. Portland still had the better of the shot count.Table: Portland fifth on 38, one point off fourth. Gotham top on 45.Tordin: 9 assists. The NWSL single-season record is 10, set by Tobin Heath for Portland in 2016 and equaled by Croix Bethune at the Washington Spirit in 2024.Next: Portland v Washington Spirit, Sunday September 6, 1pm, Providence Park.