PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC will play host to the Orlando Pride in their opening game of the 2017 NWSL season at Providence Park on Saturday, April 15, featuring in the first-ever Lifetime Game of the Week, it was announced today as the NWSL unveiled details for each club’s home-opening matches for its fifth season. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 noon (Pacific).

The NWSL announced a three-year partnership with A+E Networks on Feb. 2, 2017, with Lifetime as an official sponsor and broadcast partner. For the first time in NWSL history, a league game will be broadcast on television every weekend of the season. The NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime will provide fans throughout the country with a live viewing platform every Saturday.

The match against Orlando marks the third time Portland has opened at home in five seasons in NWSL, with Thorns FC previously playing host to the Boston Breakers (2015) and Orlando Pride (2016), marking the club’s third consecutive season opening the campaign at Providence Park. Since 2013, Portland is 4-0-0 in home openers, registering a 2-1 win against the Pride on April 17, 2016, and is unbeaten in season-opening matches (3-0-1).

Fans interested in purchasing Thorns FC Annual Memberships for the 2017 season are encouraged to call the ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or email ticketsales@timbers.com. Single-game ticket information will be released at a later date.

Single-game tickets for Thorns Spring Invitational presented by Tillamook March 26-April 1 at Providence Park are available at www.thornsfc.com. Tickets for the tournament are included in Thorns FC Annual Memberships.