U.S. U-23 WNT to Play in Thorns Spring Invitational for Fourth Straight Year
USA Will Face Reign FC, Portland Thorns FC and Chicago Red Stars from March 29-April 4 at Providence Park
CHICAGO (Feb. 11, 2020) – For the fourth year in a row, the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team will take part in the Thorns Spring Invitational Tournament, this year running from March 29 through April 4 in Portland, Ore. The U.S. will once again take on three NWSL teams during their pre-season preparations, providing extremely valuable experience against professional players for the U.S. team. All six games will take place Providence Park, home of Portland Thorns FC.
These will be the first matches for new U.S. U-23 head coach Matt Potter.
This is the fifth year of the pre-season tournament, and this year’s field once again features the U.S. U-23 WNT, the Chicago Red Stars, Portland Thorns FC and Reign FC. The competition will take place with doubleheaders over three matchdays.
The USA opens against Reign FC on Sunday, March 29 at 2:30 p.m. PT, while Portland will face Chicago at 5 p.m. PT. The second matchday on Wednesday, April 1, features Chicago vs. Reign FC at 5 p.m. PT while the USA will take on Portland at 7:30 p.m. PT. The U.S. finishes against the Red Stars on Saturday, April 4 at 5 p.m. PT and Portland wraps things up with rival Reign FC at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Individual tickets, which allow entry to both matches each day, start at $8 and go on sale to the general public starting Thursday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. PT online at www.thornsfc.com. Full tournament ticket packages, starting at $15, also will be available for purchase online.
At last year’s Thorns Spring Invitational, with a roster of 22 collegiate players and two professionals, the USA fell to Vlatko Andonovski’s Reign FC 2-1 as Ashley Sanchez, the fourth pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft by the Washington Spirit, scored. The young Americans then defeated the Thorns FC 1-0 on a goal from 2018 and 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Catarina Macario and downed the Red Stars 2-1 on goals from Emily Fox and Channing Foster.
At the 2018 tournament, with a roster of 23 collegiate players and one professional, the USA fell 2-1 to the Houston Dash, drew the Thorns 2-2 and took down the Red Stars 1-0. Macario scored all four of the USA’s goals in the tournament.
2020 Thorns Spring Invitational Schedule
Providence Park; Portland, Oregon
Sunday March 29
2:30 p.m. – Reign FC vs U.S. Under-23 WNT
5:00 p.m. – Portland Thorns vs Chicago Red Stars
Wednesday April 1
5:00 p.m. – Chicago Red Stars vs Reign FC
7:30 p.m. – Portland Thorns vs U.S. Under-23 WNT
Saturday April 4
5:00 p.m. – U.S. Under-23 WNT vs Chicago Red Stars
7:30 p.m. – Portland Thorns vs Reign FC