2026 is truly a momentous year for women's sports in the Rose City.
2026 also marks the first year where the state and city will have three professional women’s sports teams: Portland Thorns (NWSL), Portland Fire (WNBA), and Portland Cascade (AUSL).
The Rose City Breakdown is a Cascadia FC and Stumptown Footy collaboration.
This new podcast comes with one simple premise:
We want to highlight women's sports in Portland, giving teams a safe platform and the coverage they deserve.
Each episode will have something for everyone, whether you want high level discussions, deeper dive into analytics, tactical breakdowns, or interviews that capture all types of stories and invoke all sorts of emotions.
What to expect?
Phuoc Nguyen: Lead host providing key information and updates
Melina Gaspar: Lead analytics and tactical mastermind
Lily Crane: Lead voice, reporter, and commentator
If you see our logo, it is created by the one and only Jacob Stevens (https://www.instagram.com/jacobastevens/), who also created the latest Stumptown Footy logo. And once again, delivers another masterpiece.
Thorns’ Home Woes, Pietra Tordin’s USWNT debut, Playoffs? And could this be Sophia Wilson’s last home match?
Welcome back to the Rose City Breakdown.
Attacker Pietra Tordin has earned her first cap for the USWNT as she joined Sophia Wilson in two tough friendlies against top-ranked Spain.
Also on international duty were: Reyna Reyes (Mexico), Marie Müller (Germany) Mackenzie Arnold (Australia), Jessie Fleming (Canada), Nina Nijstad (Netherlands U-23), Cassandra Ella Bogere (Sweden U23), Carolyn Calzada (U.S. U-23), and Jayden "JP" Perry (U.S. U-23).
Unfortunately at the club level, the Portland Thorns have continued their home struggles at Providence Park, failing to win any of their past four matches there.
There latest defeat? A 2-4 loss to NWSL expansion side, Boston Legacy FC. After a loss to Washington Spirit, draws against Chicago Stars and Houston Dash, this loss sets PTFC back to seventh in the NWSL.
While the talk has been about the postseason, what have their playoff odds dropped to? How can the side finish strong down the stretch or is it another Rose City late-season collapse?
After the semifinal appearance last season under Rob Gale, what exactly are the expectations for head coach Robert Vilahamn?
As announced by the NWSL last week, Sophia Wilson's red card for violent conduct has been upgraded to two matches. She will miss the team's match at Bay FC and the final home match against North Carolina Courage. Has she played her final home match as Thorn?
How will they make it work without the superstar? Phuoc Nguyen and Melina Gaspar discuss and preview the Bay FC match...
In our weekly film review, Melina's corner shows how the long-ball has given Portland trouble, the final third issues, and passing problems.
Does possession matter? With the top three teams and six of the eight playoff teams listed with most possession it seems to be a new trend...
1 Oct 2026
Portland Thorns have ANOTHER PROBLEM, Boston Legacy Match Preview, & Reviewing Portland Fire Season Review
Welcome back to the Rose City Breakdown!
In the latest, USWNT roster, forward Pietra Tordin was named to her first ever senior team camp - a more than deserved honor for the rising and blossoming star.
On this podcast, co-hosts Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win) and Melina Gaspar discuss the Portland Thorns' latest problem: home form - only two points in the last three games at Providence Park.
The duo also discuss the team's struggles against the low block, issues in final third, and decision-making causing much of it.
How high is the ceiling for PTFC? They debate how far this team can realistically go and what is the bare expectations truly are.
In our Boston Legacy preview, Jackie Contreras of the Blazing Musket joins us to preview the matchup. Could the two sides combine for another seven-goal thriller?
Lastly, Matt Bagley of Sports Illustrated and Portland Supporter shares his thoughts on the historic 2026 Portland Fire season and how the team can take its next leap. Could Alex Sarama and Vanja Černivec make a big jump in their second season?
Can Iyana Martín and Carla Leite co-exist in the the backcourt?
And more WNBA talk in our lookahead to 2027.
23 Sept 2026
Time for the Thorns to go all in?! Morgan Weaver is back and Nina Nijstad opens her NWSL goal account
Welcome back to the Rose City Breakdown!
Podcast co-hosts Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win) and Melina Gaspar recap the Portland Thorns 4-1 road win at Orlando Pride where they conquered many downward trends including: holding leads, conceding late, and open play goals.
Head Coach Robert Vilahamn also addressed the trends, bravery, and getting accustomed to the expectations of PTFC. He has been consistent and open with the media throughout his first season and that continued here.
Morgan Weaver scored for the first time in 687 days (November 1, 2024), but how underrated is she as a leader? The duo discuss the team meeting she set and getting her confidence back.
Midfielder Nina Nijstad continues to blossom and finally registered her first NWSL goal. A special moment for the Netherlands international who has been open about the difficulty being so far away from home. The coaches have raved about her since her arrival in the Rose City and she continues to flourish in midfield. What makes her a seamless fit? We share our thoughts on her ascension and growth alongside Jessie Fleming.
USWNT superstar Sophia Wilson continues to come up big-time in attack and chipped with three goal contributions. Although she still hasn't found the goal in the run of play, Wilson has found other ways to be a playmaker.
After an early yellow card, Jayden Perry managed to stay in the match and with Carolyn Calzada in tandem, they defended Barbra Banda and the rest of the attack quite well.
Under interim head coach Yolanda Thomas, Orlando were particularly sharp towards the end of the first half and at the start of the second half, but the team seemed to run out of steam towards the end.
Nonetheless, it was a performance that PTFC desperately needed, ending a three-match winless streak and defeating many other recent road bumps on the way.
We also preview the Houston Dash and why the team cannot suffer another letdown similar to Chicago Stars.
With Portland back in the top four, is it time for President of Soccer Operations and General Manger Jeff Agoos to push all his chips in the middle and go all-in? If they want to host a home playoff match...
Full Episode
0:00 Intro
1:20 Match Recap
10:44 Morgan Weaver's leadership, confidence, and goal
14:34 Credit to Head Coach Robert Vilahamn
15:09 Nina Nijstad's impact and blossoming stardom
18:29 Does Jeff Agoos need to be active ahead of roster freeze?
24:14 Houston Dash match preview
27:27 Melina's Corner: film review
38:31 Thank You!
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4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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