PORTLAND, Ore. — Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse made a club-high 12 saves, but Orlando was shut out 4-0 by the Portland Thorns in both teams' National Women's Soccer League season-opener on Sunday.

What You Need To Know

  • The Orlando Pride dropped their NWSL season-opener to defending champion Portland 4-0

  • Pride goaltender Anna Moorhouse made a club-record 12 saves in the loss

  • Four different players, including reigning NWSL MVP Sophia Smith, scored for Portland

  • The Pride will play their home opener next Sunday at 5:30 p.m. 

Reigning NWSL MVP Sophia Smith scored in the 22nd minute for the Thorns.

It was the 100th victory for the Thorns, making them the first NWSL team to reach that milestone. Portland, which has won three league titles, unfurled its 2022 championship banner at Providence Park before the game.

Moorhouse's 12 saves beat the previous Pride record held by Ashlyn Harris, who made 10 saves on April 29, 2017, against the North Carolina Courage.

Morgan Weaver scored an early goal for the Thorns before Smith’s goal off a pass from Christine Sinclair made it 2-0. Hina Sugita added a third goal for the Thorns in the 49th.

Michele Vasconcelos added a fourth goal for the Thorns in the 76th minute. It was her first goal for the Thorns and first NWSL goal since she was with the Chicago Red Stars in 2019.

Smith has scored in the season opener for three consecutive years.

Pride captain Marta made her return to the pitch a year to the day after injuring an anterior cruciate ligament on March 26, 2022, keeping her out for the rest of last season. 

Defender Emily Madril and forwards Messiah Bright and Adriana made their debuts with the Pride Sunday. 

“Obviously we are disappointed with the result and the goals we conceded, but I think there are a lot of positives to take away," Pride coach Seb Hines said. "We came here and tried to play the right way. We tried to control the game in possession, and when you do that, there has to be an objective to score, and I don’t think we created enough opportunities to score.

"That is something we will review and look back at with video and ultimately toward going into the season, we want to possess to score goals. Credit to Portland, they got us in transition and were very direct and front-footed. We will just have to evaluate moving forward.”

The Pride will play their home-opener at Exploria Stadium against the 2022 expansion side Angel City FC at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.