Last weekend we had Wilson and Denver did not, so 1-nil, three points, the Return of Harry..
…and joy unbounded.
Our regular three punters were joined by a newcomer, and all four got the result (though guessing it would be a much higher-scoring contest) as well as correctly tagging Wilson as a scorer. Ken then swept up points for both the first yellow card (Perry) and the fun points with some silverware larceny.
So here’s where we stand after Matchday 21; the top of the table is even tighter.
| Player | Latest Round | Cumulative Score |
| PTFC Dave | 4 | 18 |
| Ken | 7 | 20 |
| Barcasiempre | 4 | 19 |
| Mi-So-Thorny | 4 | 4 |
How all this works:
Before the upcoming Thorns match add a comment to this post. As your first line, put your predicted result, for example 1-3 Thorns.
In the body of your comment, start with the goals and assists, like so:
Wilson (Fleming)
Reyes (Free kick)
Moultrie (Unassisted)
Rodman (PK)
Next, name the first yellow card recipient: Sophia Wilson
Then a red card. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Trinity Rodman for mimicking mooning the referee after getting an undeserved yellow.
Make your fun prediction,and give a “thumbs up” to anybody else’s prediction that tickles your fancy: “Ryan gets the start against her former club. She gets through 70 minutes without fouling her former teammates until she can’t take it anymore. She pushes over Perry, gives Muller a wedgie, gives Arnold a noogie, then flips off the Riveters and runs out of Providence Park, never to be seen again. The ref issues a red card, which she later contests, and loses.” (h/t to ABell4)
Scoring:
· Correct score: 5 points
· Correct result (draw/win/loss): 3 points
· Each clean sheet: 2 points
· Each goal-scorer: 1 point
· Each FK/PK/assist/lack of assist: 1 point
· Goal/assist bonus: 1 point
· Player with the first yellow card of the match: 1 point
· A player with a red card: 1 point
· Most liked/most outrageously accurate prediction: 2 points
Some ground rules and explanations/clarifications (the fine print):
Comments must be posted before kickoff, but you can edit or amend an earlier prediction right up to the starting whistle.
Keep your scoreline predictions realistic. No crazy scores just to pad out your odds of getting goals and assists.
The goal/assist bonus is an additional point if you predict the correct scorer and assistant on the same goal, for example, you say Castellanos scores from a Moultrie assist and that is exactly what happens.
Be clear whether you think a goal will be unassisted, assisted, or from a PK/FK. Unassisted = no assist, run of play; Assisted = player who got the assist; PK/FK = dead ball, not in run of play. FK includes olimpicos from corners. No entry means unassisted.
First yellow means just that: the player – the first player and only the first player – who receives a yellow. Not the first player on each team. If more than one player listed as “first yellow” all the punter’s predictions for that category will be voided.
Today the Thorns face perhaps their most difficult task of the season; going to New Jersey to play the league-leading – as in “seven points clear and looking increasingly like a lock for the Shield” leading – Gotham FC.
After a slow start (1-2-2 over the first five) Gotham has crushed it. One loss over the subsequent 16 matchdays, 13-4-3, 44pts, and though the Bats’ 26GF is only decent their 13GA is far and away the best defensive record in the league.
We have Sophia Wilson and they don’t. They have Ann-Katrin Berger and we don’t.
It’s the Irresistible Force versus the Immobile Object.
Previous Meeting: July 24, 2026, Providence Park, Portland, OR, 2-2 draw
Playoff Race Note: What’s makes this match even more fraught is that the Washington Spirit is sitting second above Portland only on goal difference; both clubs 11-4-6 but Washington with 30GF, 19GA. GD 11, Portland 35GF, 29GA, GD 6. Meanwhile, three clubs – Utah (4th), San Diego (6th), and The Damned Courage (5th) – are sitting right below us on 11-3-7, 36 points apiece.
Washington gets a nice fat target – Bay FC (14th of 16, 6-4-10) – on Sunday.
San Diego gets another points dispenser, Louisville (13th, 7-2-12) tonight.
Both The Damned and Utah play away tomorrow; Carolina at Kansas City (7th, 9-4-8), Utah at Orlando (11th, 8-2-11).
Maybe the blood moon last night was a portent.
This could be one hell of a weekend.
- The Thorns Prediction Game: MD22 – GOT v POR - August 28, 2026
- Thorns FC: The Thrill of Doing Business - August 27, 2026
- Thorns FC: Making Up Ground - August 25, 2026
ABell4 says Ann-Katrin Berger might be out with a head injury, and Gotham says Rose Lavelle is definitely out with a head injury. Best wishes to both of them in recovering.
Even without those two, Gotham will be a tall mountain to climb, especially in an away game. I’ve been thinking that Sonnett’s injury might hurt their defense, but in the four games since her injury (including ones against San Diego and Kansas City), Gotham have let in only one goal. This is actually *better* than their average goals-per-game up to that point, so missing Sonny doesn’t seem to be hurting them too badly yet.
Gotham 2-1 (hope I’m wrong!)
Wilson (Tordin)
Kerr (Shaw)
Shaw (Reiten)
First yellow: Perry
Red: Howell
A Saudi Arabian team dangles another huge paycheck, this time in front of Gotham GM Yael Averbuch West. She leaves for richer climes with the intent of hiring away all of Gotham’s biggest stars – Tierna Davidson, Sam Kerr, Rose Lavelle, Guro Reiten, Jaedyn Shaw, Emily Sonnett, etc. What Averbuch didn’t realize, however, is that many of these players are gay and aren’t particularly interested in going to a country that still has the death penalty for same-sex behavior. The plan collapses … and all of those players decide they’d rather play for the Thorns instead. They spill the beans to Jeff Agoos on how they’ve been sliding under the salary cap, and next year we are STACKED.