NWSL Championship

Portland Thorns FC midfielder and 2017 NWSL Championship MVP Lindsey Horan scored the game’s lone goal as the Thorns defeated the North Carolina Courage for their second NWSL Championship.

Matchup: North Carolina Courage vs Portland Thorns FC

Date: October 14, 2017

Location: Orlando City Stadium, Orlando, FL

The starting XI for the North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns FC enter the field

The Portland Thorns FC starting XI high five as they line up

The North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns FC line up for the playing of the national anthem

U.S. WNT teammates North Carolina Courage midfielder Sam Mewis (5) and Portland Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath (17) shake hands before the start of the game

The North Carolina Courage starting XI

The Portland Thorns FC starting XI

The North Carolina Courage huddle before the start of the 2017 NWSL Championship game

The Portland Thorns FC starting XI huddle before the start of the game

North Carolina Courage defender Jaelene Hinkle (15) sends the ball into the box

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Amandine Henry (28) battles North Carolina Courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan (8) for the ball

The North Carolina Courage huddle around injured teammate Taylor Smith

North Carolina Courage forward Lynn Williams (9)

North Carolina Courage midfielder Sam Mewis (5) takes a shot on goal

Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch (24) looks on as a chip shot on goal hits the top of the crossbar

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (7) sends the ball across

North Carolina Courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan (8)

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath (17) challenges North Carolina Courage forward Kristen Hamilton (23) for the ball

Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch (24) takes a goal kick

North Carolina Courage midfielder McCall Zerboni (7) dribbles the ball in the midfield

North Carolina Courage defender Jaelene Hinkle (15) takes on Portland Thorns forward Ashleigh Sykes (14)

The Rose City Riveters made the journey from Portland to support their team, the Portland Thorns FC.

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath (17) controls the ball while North Carolina Courage forward Kristen Hamilton (23) defends

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (7) slides to get the ball away from North Carolina Courage forward Ashley Hatch (12)

North Carolina Courage forward Kristen Hamilton (23) looks to settle a pass

Portland Thorns FC defender Meghan Klingenberg (25) controls the ball against North Carolina Courage forward Makenzy Doniak (3)

Portland Thorns FC defender Emily Sonnett (16) clears the ball out for Thorns

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (7) dribbles the ball in the midfield

North Carolina Courage defender Jaelene Hinkle (15) heads the ball over Portland Thorns FC forward Hayley Raso (21)

Portland Thorns FC defender Meghan Klingenberg (25) shields North Carolina Courage midfielder Sam Mewis (5) from her goalkeeper teammate goalkeeper Adrianna Franch (24)

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Amandine Henry (28) heads the ball for the Thorns

North Carolina Courage forward Lynn Williams (9)

North Carolina Courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan (8) controls the ball for the Courage in midfield

North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland (0) throws the ball to a teammate

Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair (12) and defender Meghan Klingenberg squeeze out North Carolina Courage forward Jessica McDonald (14) from the ball

An injured North Carolina Courage forward Kristen Hamilton (23) gets carried off the field by teammates at half time

Portland Thorns FC defender Emily Menges (4)

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (7) volleys the ball to score what would be the game’s only goal as the Thorns defeated the Courage 1 – 0 in the 2017 NWSL Championship game

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (7) reacts after scoring a goal

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (7) gets mobbed by teammates after scoring the game’s opening and what would be lone goal

The Portland Thorns FC celebrate Lindsey Horan’s goal

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (7) hugs teammate midfielder Amandine Henry (28), who will be not returning to the Thorns next season

Portland Thorns FC defender Emily Sonnett (16) takes a free kick

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir (11) and North Carolina Courage defender Abby Erceg (6) battle for the ball

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir (11) and North Carolina Courage midfielder McCall Zerboni (7) both go for the ball

North Carolina Courage midfielder Sam Mewis (5) and Portland Thorns FC players Christine Sinclair (12) and Lindsey Horan (7) battle for the ball in the air

North Carolina Courage midfielder Sam Mewis (5) and Portland Thorns FC defender Emily Sonnett (16) battle for a loose ball in the box

North Carolina Courage forward Ashley Hatch (12) looks to get past an oncoming slide tackle from a Portland Thorns FC defender

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir (11) dribbles the ball down the sideline

North Carolina Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland (0) pulls down a crossed ball

Portland Thorns FC defender Meghan Klingenberg (25) cuts the ball back as North Carolina Courage forward Makenzy Doniak (3) defends

North Carolina Courage forward Ashley Hatch (12) settles the ball

North Carolina Courage forward Makenzy Doniak (3) delivers a slide tackle on Portland Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath (17)

Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair (12) and North Carolina Courage midfielder Sam Mewis (5) battle for a ball in the air

North Carolina Courage forward Jessica McDonald (14) and Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch (24) eye a loose ball in the box

Portland Thorns FC defender Emily Sonnett (16) lunges to defend against a shot in the box

North Carolina Courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan (8) gets defended by two Portland Thorns FC players

Portland Thorns FC defender Meghan Klingenberg (25) and North Carolina Courage forward Ashley Hatch (12) battle for a ball in the air

North Carolina Courage forward Lynn Williams (9) and Portland Thorns FC forward Hayley Raso (21) collide at midfield

North Carolina Courage forward Lynn Williams (9) attempts to defend against a ball clear by Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch (24)

North Carolina Courage defender Jaelene Hinkle (15) shields the ball from Portland Thorns FC midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir (11)

Portland Thorns FC defender Emily Sonnett (16)

North Carolina Courage defender Abby Erceg (6)

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan (7)

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Amandine Henry (28) slide tackles the ball away

North Carolina Courage forward Jessica McDonald (14) challenges Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch (24) for a ball crossed into the box

North Carolina Courage defender Abby Erceg (6) sends in a long ball

North Carolina Courage forward Lynn Williams (9) spots the ball for a header

Portland Thorns FC coach Mark Parson is fired up after no yellow card is given when one of his players was fouled

Portland Thorns FC forward Nadia Nadim (9)

North Carolina Courage defender Abby Erceg (6) heads the ball away

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Amandine Henry (28) waves to fans as she is subbed out

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath (17) looks to shield North Carolina Courage forward Lynn Williams (9) off the ball

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir (11) reacts after the final whistle is blown. The Portland Thorns FC defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 to win the 2017 NWSL Championship.