With 10 games left in the National Women’s Soccer League’s regular season, the Portland Thorns are in perfect position.
Having only lost twice in 14 games, Portland sits on top of the league, one-point ahead of the defending champions, North Carolina Courage, and three points in front of another major postseason threat, the Chicago Red Stars. Come the playoffs, two of the league’s three big talent bases are likely to be bracketed together in the semifinals, and although this wasn’t the case last season, the team that finishes first will probably avoid a championship-caliber opponent in the postseason’s first round.