Providence Park, October 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
Several hundred of the Portland Thorns' biggest fans eagerly await entrance to Providence Park for the team's championship celebration Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
The Portland Thorns celebrate their 2017 NWSL championship with fans at Providence Park Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler congratulates the Portland Thorns and their fans on winning the 2017 NWSL championship.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
Amandine Henry, who won't be returning to Portland in 2018, thanks Thorns fans for their support during the team's championship run.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
The Portland Thorns celebrate their 2017 NWSL championship with fans at Providence Park Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
The Portland Thorns celebrate their 2017 NWSL championship with fans at Providence Park Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
A Portland Thorns fan makes his way to the stage to address the team and its fans at a championship rally Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
The Portland Thorns celebrate their 2017 NWSL championship with fans at Providence Park Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
The Portland Thorns celebrate their 2017 NWSL championship with fans at Providence Park Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
Tobin Heath embraces Portland Thorns fan Connie Valeri, daughter of Portland Timbers star Diego Valeri, at the NWSL championship rally at Providence Park.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
The Portland Thorns celebrate their 2017 NWSL championship with fans at Providence Park Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
A noisy crowd rallied in Portland Sunday night to celebrate the Thorns winning the National Women’s Soccer League championship.
The Thorns secured a one-nil victory over the North Carolina Courage Saturday.
Fans at the home field at Providence Park wore red for the Thorns, green for the Timbers and one had a T-shirt reading, ‘Anything boys can do, girls can do better.’
Season ticket holder Courtney Woodside was first in line to get in with her daughter Abby and friend Mia Messinetti.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
Season ticket holder Courtney Woodside was first in line to get into the Sunday evening rally with her daughter and friend. “I am so excited that the Thorns have won their second championship in five years. The Thorns are just a wonderful part of our community and they’re such a model for younger girls playing soccer and women in sports.”
“I am so excited that the Thorns have won their second championship in five years," she said. "The Thorns are just a wonderful part of our community and they’re such a model for younger girls playing soccer and women in sports.”
Mayor Ted Wheeler told players his 11-year-old sleeps in her Thorns jersey and called the team “badass.”
Team owner Merritt Paulson told the crowd they're the most important fans in all professional sports. “I’m going to tell you why. You show the world how a women’s top professional team can and should be supported."
Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch made five saves in Saturday's match, helping the Portland defense secure their 12th shutout of the season.
Midfielder Lindsey Horan scored the match’s only goal. It was her second career playoff goal and she became the second Thorns player to be named the Most Valuable Player of the NWSL Championship.
The championship match against North Carolina was played Saturday in front of a relatively small crowd of 8,000 at the neutral venue of Orlando. Paulson has said he’d like to see the championship played on the home field of the higher seed team if it has the necessary infrastructure. The Thorns enjoyed an average attendance topping 17,000 this year.