Portland Thorns FC are making their push for the playoffs difficult on themselves. And they're doing it without one of their star players.
The Thorns drew 2-2 with Bay FC on Sunday as star forward Sophia Wilson served the first of a two-game ban for violent conduct, with the dropped points putting them within reach of the chasing Seattle Reign and North Carolina Courage in the race for the final NWSL playoff spots.
With Wilson on the sidelines, it was Caiya Hanks that rescued a point for the Thorns on Sunday, with her late goal levelling the score following Kennedy Fuller's strike putting Bay FC ahead in the 67th minute.
The result leaves the Thorns in 7th place on 44 points with one game to play -- against the 8th-placed Courage on Oct. 23. The Reign are on the outside looking in for the playoff picture, but still have a shot at the postseason if results go their way in their final two games.
Portland, which has dropped an NWSL-leading 23 points from winning positions, has only missed the playoffs once in franchise history and will be without United States star Wilson on Friday against the Courage.
Earlier on Sunday, the Orlando Pride beat the Houston Dash 2-1, with both teams effectively eliminated from postseason contention.
Bay FC, which began play in the league as an expansion team in 2024, cannot qualify for the playoffs.
