Sean Meagher/AP
Ahead of the Red Stars’ opening match of the 2021 NWSL season against the Portland Thorns on Sunday night, coach Rory Dames said his team was always able to stay even-tempered regardless of results.
He credited that fact to the leadership within the team.
After their 5-0 loss to the Thorns, disappointment was the collective emotion felt amongst the Red Stars.
“In my seven years here, this is the worst loss we’ve taken as a team,” defender Arin Wright said.
What’s hard to understand for players and fans is that this team had two months of preseason training and an entire month of competition to get ready. Pair that with the depth on this roster, and there aren’t many excuses that explain the team’s inability to contain the Thorns’ attack.