Thorns and Dash Played to 1-1 Draw

The Portland Thorns and Houston Dash ended in a tie after goals from Marie Müller and Kat Rader.

Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Soccer

The Portland Thorns finished in a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash at Providence Park. The stalemate resulted from a late equalizer that prevented a loss for the home side.

Why it matters

The result impacts the season standing for both teams as they continue their respective campaigns. Each point earned is critical for final playoff positioning as the regular season reaches its conclusion.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw following goals in the 10th and 85th minutes of play. Portland holds a 12-7-7 record this season, while the Houston Dash currently stand at 9-9-8.

The players

Portland Thorns

The Portland Thorns are a professional soccer team based in Portland that competes in the NWSL.

Houston Dash

The Houston Dash are a professional soccer team that competes in the NWSL.

Marie Müller

Marie Müller is a soccer player who scored the equalizing goal for the Portland Thorns.

Kat Rader

Kat Rader is a professional soccer player who scored the opening goal for the Houston Dash.

Kate Faasse

Kate Faasse is a soccer player who provided the assist for the Houston Dash goal.

The details

Kat Rader opened the scoring early in the 10th minute after receiving an assist from Kate Faasse. Portland secured the draw in the 85th minute when Marie Müller entered the penalty box to strike a one-touch shot into the net.

Kat Rader scored for Houston in the 10th minute.
Marie Müller scored for Portland in the 85th minute.
The match occurred on September 26, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This draw significantly alters the points distribution for both clubs as they fight for favorable positioning in the league standings. The result continues a trend of tight competition between NWSL teams as they follow the 2026 NWSL regular season schedule.

The draw awards one point to each side, impacting their cumulative standings in the NWSL table. This outcome requires both teams to secure more points in upcoming fixtures to solidify their playoff prospects.

The takeaway

Soccer matches are often decided by late-game adjustments that shift momentum in the closing minutes. Teams that maintain intensity throughout the full 90 minutes are better positioned to force draws or snatch late victories.