Portland Thorns vs Washington Spirit: Live Stream, Kickoff Time & More

The 2026 NWSL season kicks off Friday night with a marquee clash as the Washington Spirit host the Portland Thorns at Audi Field, Washington, D.C. Kick-off is set for 8 p.m. ET and tickets are still available, while fans can stream the action live on NWSL+ and Prime Video. Why this match matters • Season-opening statement: Both sides enter with title aspirations after an offseason of high-profile moves and front-office changes, making “Portland Thorns vs Washington Spirit” the must-search fixture of Week 1. • Recent history: The Spirit owned the 2025 series 2-1, highlighted by a 2-1 regular-season win and a 2-0 playoff semifinal that ended Portland’s quest for back-to-back championships. Team news & projected lineups • Washington Spirit: Interim coach Jonatan Giráldez (still awaiting visa clearance) leaves assistant Adriana Moreno on the touchline. Forward Trinity Rodman, fresh off a nine-goal campaign, partners electric rookie Ella Stevens. Midfielder Croix Bethune anchors a diamond behind them. Winger Deyna Castellanos (hip) and full-back Kate Wiesner (calf) have been ruled out, thinning the Spirit bench. Projected XI: Kingsbury; Reyes, Hiatt, Obaze, Torpey; Staab; Bethune, Coffey; Rodman, Kgatlana, Stevens. • Portland Thorns: New head coach Mike Norris unleashes a 4-3-3 built around reigning MVP Sophia Smith, with Brazilian playmaker Ary Borges debuting in midfield. Veteran Becky Sauerbrunn anchors a back line missing Emily Menges (knee) but boosted by U-20 standout Gisele Thompson. Projected XI: Bixby; Kuikka, Sauerbrunn, Thompson, Rodriguez; Sam Coffey, Borges, Rodríguez; Weaver, Smith, Sinclair. Key match-ups to watch 1. Trinity Rodman vs Becky Sauerbrunn – youth meets world-class experience; whoever wins this duel could tilt momentum. 2. Sam Coffey vs Croix Bethune – two elite distributors whose passing lanes dictate tempo. 3. Set pieces – Portland scored 22 percent of its 2025 goals from dead-ball situations, while Washington conceded a league-low four. Form guide & stats • Portland finished 2025 with the league’s best attack (53 goals) but kept only six clean sheets. • Washington lost just once at Audi Field last year, riding a seven-match unbeaten home streak into Friday. How to watch & follow • TV/streaming: Prime Video (USA), NWSL+ (global). • Radio: Thorns 750 AM, Spirit iHeartRadio. • Social: Hashtags #PORvWAS and #NWSL2026 will feature live highlights, lineup graphics, and behind-the-scenes content. Prediction Expect an end-to-end opener rich in attacking flair. With Rodman feeding off home energy and Smith eager to silence the crowd, a 2-2 thriller feels written in the stars. One thing is certain: “Portland Thorns vs Washington Spirit” is your essential search this weekend.