Portland Business Journal's Erik Siemers published a writeup in this week's magazine about the NWSL, Portland Thorns FC and owner Merritt Paulson. Siemers goes through the struggles for a professional sports league in its infancy, and presents the Thorns as the stellar example in the new league.
The writeup is particularly positive toward the Thorns and the business model shift. Siemers also hits on the bevy of talent that has flocked to U.S. professional women's soccer in the last two years.
"Its greatest asset is its talent level. NWSL clubs already employ some of the biggest names in global women’s soccer. In addition to Morgan and Sinclair, that list includes U.S. stars Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe in Seattle, and Abby Wambach for Western New York. The Thorns this year added global star power in Spain’s Verónica Boquete and German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer — the reigning winner of the Ballon d’Or, the award given each year by soccer’s governing body, FIFA, to the best men’s and women’s players in the world."
You can read the full writeup on Portland Business Journal's website here. Portland (1-1-0) is looking to open their season at home with a win against FC Kansas City (0-1-1) at 7 p.m. at Providence Park on Saturday (TICKETS).
