It looks like the Portland Thorns have started their 2025 NWSL season on the wrong foot. As if their domestic struggles weren’t already enough to keep the NWSL side on pins and needles, injuries and key player absences have plagued their season from the start. The latest setback sees their star goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold, sidelined, further increasing their domestic woes.

The 31-year-old had left the Regional Training Center to reunite with the Australian national team. Apparently, the Matildas are facing South Korea in a friendly doubleheader fixture set for April 4 and April 7. Of course, Arnold was slated to start in either of the fixtures. However, during training, the veteran ended up sustaining an arm injury in yesterday afternoon’s training session.

Though so far it hasn’t been confirmed how grave her injury situation is, it certainly is a tense update for all the parties. For now, the Matildas are awaiting scan results, with even Portland Thorns also eager to hear. The NWSL shared they are in regular contact with the Australian national team’s physicians. If anything major turns up, they will offer an update.

Notably, Arnold has started all three NWSL games for the Thorns. Simultaneously, if she manages to remain fit for the ongoing international camp with Matildas, she can one or two caps to her current tally of 58. Either way, this is indeed a huge blow for all the parties, especially the Portland Thorns. Losing its star goalkeeper would be the last thing that the Oregon-based club would be hoping for obvious reasons.

For starters, of course, the performance-wise. Just in the recent match against the North Carolina Courage, Arnold saved a crucial penalty to avoid her side from losing the three points at home. It was almost as if she channeled her ‘brick wall’ form once again—the same brilliance the world saw during the 2023 World Cup, when she delivered a clutch performance in the Matildas’ nerve-wracking penalty shootout victory over France, cementing her status as a global sensation.

Another reason why Thorns must be concerned regarding Mackenzie is of course due to their ongoing struggles.

Dark clouds continue to surround Portland Thorns

If Mackenzie Arnold ends up sustaining an injury, then its certainly no bueno. She will be back at Portland to potentially end up joining her fellow teammates that are already in the recuperating room. Starting with Morgan Weaver who suffered a knock to her right knee in January 2025. Unfortunately, its the very same knee she underwent surgery on in May 2024.

Adding to the list of setbacks, defender Nicole Payne sustained an ACL injury to her right knee during the Coachella Valley Invitational clash against Angel City FC on February 16. Rounding out the unfortunate trio, midfielder Marie Müller also suffered an ACL injury to her right knee while representing the German Women’s National Team on February 19.

Unfortunately, all three have been placed on the season-ending injury list. The bitter cherry on top is the absence of star forward Sophia Wilson, who is rather out of action due to her pregnancy. No wonder these developments have witnessed the Thorns suffering a lot on the pitch.

Enduring a 3-1 defeat to KC Current in the opening fixture, the following two games have seen them endure a 1-1 and a stalemate against Angel City and NC Courage respectively. Currently sitting in 11th place with just a handful of points, this is far from the start they had envisioned.

Whether their struggles stem from the absence of key players or not, the reality is clear—they must find a way to restore balance soon. If not, they could find themselves in serious trouble.