“The Constitution does not permit the government to arrest thousands of individuals and then disregard their constitutional rights because it would be too challenging to honor those rights.“

Hold up everybody, the Timbers have hired a data analyst! #RCTID “…the club's new Data Analyst, Hrishikesh Dabir, joins from English side Blackburn Rovers, where he served as an assistant data scientist for two seasons.” www.patreon.com/posts/timber...

For the curious: these are the Thorns' offseason roster additions with 4 weeks to go before opening day, going back to when U.S. Soccer fully divested from the NWSL and the CBA was negotiated.

Good piece here calling the Thorns out for basically taking the winter off. Once Sophia Wilson took up her (player-held) option, they faded into the background this winter, which is extremely un-Portland. Where's the ambition these days?

Thank you @phuocerman.bsky.social for asking the tough questions. I expected disruption and transition when the sale happened, but I didn’t expect the dumpster fire to rage on

10 Unanswered Questions for the Portland Thorns ahead of the 2026 NWSL season #BAONPDX 🥀No Head Coach 🥀No movement for a 6 after Sam Coffey's departure 🥀Center Back remains pressing need Is ownership holding the club back? 10 Reality Check Takeaways👇 stumptown-footy.ghost.io/the-portland...

Intuitive but interesting analysis of why La Masia doesn’t produce strikers. (Tl;dr: It’s because they emphasize the skills and habits of exceptional midfielders.) www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

More previews: @beninquiring.bsky.social tells us about the Pids, @trevorwojcik.bsky.social makes us nostalgic for the radio alarm clock in San Jose, and @harrisoncrow.bsky.social says it might be interesting in Sandy this year www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2026/2/...

The highest and best use of soccer analytics is throwing computer vision and professional graders at identifying the dribbliest bois www.gradientsports.com/blog/discove...

Per Phil Neville, Juan Mosquera is out injured with a knock in preseason. #RCTID “It could be 2-3 weeks until we see him” Mosquera was missing the first game regardless to a suspension from GM3 last year.

More concern than praise after that one. Roster holes are still massive. Coming back from 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead is good, blowing that lead in the span of 3 minutes is bad. Structural problems are still apparent. #RCTID

This team is only going to go as far as Velde/DDC can take them, which matches my expectations. Still not seeing a sign of a serious floor. Concerning. #RCTID

Double zero Hunter Sulte is awesome. Looks like Mora is starting as the 10 and Eric Miller is partnering Kamal Miller at center back. #RCTID

NEW: A month out from the 2026 season, the NWSL landscape has been rocked by a pair of trades for rising USWNT midfielders. @ellabrockway.bsky.social and I on the Claire Hutton and Croix Bethune blockbusters. It’s a great day for Bay FC. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

How the boys go ‼️1️⃣1️⃣ Subs: Joseph, Muse, Fory, Jura, Ondo, Surman, Bassett, Fernandez-Kim, Izoita, Nuñez, Santos, VanVoorhis, Guerra

I'm gonna say it: they only care about their WNBA team now. Shameful. #BAONPDX

Possibly the dumbest decision by a place that has no shortage of self-inflicted wounds in recent years. If you’re an MLS fan, subscribe to Doyle’s newsletter. I promise you’ll get coverage you want. Why the league doesn’t want to be in that business anymore is incomprehensible.

The Portland Thorns not finding a way to get this sort of deal done especially after Sam Coffey’s departure makes no sense. This is the exact type of move they needed heading into the season. The club still doesn’t have a head coach, stud defensive midfielder or cb… A lot of work remains.

2026 Portland Thorns Media Day #BAONPDX - Soph Wilson ahead of schedule - now in team trainings. "Caiya Hanks 'exact type of player' wants to play with - Marie Müller tracking for opening day - Caiya Hanks & Morgan Weaver 'later in season' - Players' High praise for interim head coach Sarah Lowdon

“WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS,” stated one AI representative from MLSSOCCER.COM.BIZ. “WE WILL ASSIMILATE THE PARLAY. RESPECT THE PARLAY. ALL HAIL THE POLYMARKET.”

MLS Announces Plan To Replace Matt Doyle With AI Chatbot Of Simon Borg That Will Cover Polymarket Parlays www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2026...

We're celebrating the addition of @mattdoyle.bsky.social to the Kickback Soccer Media team today, and with the MLS season right around the corner there's no better time to share (again) our American soccer conversation starter pack:

This is an easy subscribe.

Telling graphic

High blocks, low blocks, everywhere you look...blocks. Using data from SkillCorner, I break down how each side likes to set up out of possession, and what it means for their playing style. @theathleticfc.bsky.social Piece here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Pretty rude to Josh Wolff

2026 MLS Kit Reviews Insults only Starting off with the “Where’s the rest of the Barbershop Quartet” kit

“EVERYONE KNOWS THAT DOYLE IS BIASED,” stated Reynolds into a mirror as he prepared for social media. “WHAT DOES THAT TOM BOGART EVEN KNOW!”

my hypothesis in soccer when just about everyone is at least pretty good it's impossible to control games consistently unless you're properly great

“It's not a talent or mentality thing. It's a tactical thing.” 🎯 #RCTID

Timbers talk starting minute ~23 #RCTID

100 years of history, designed into every detail 🪿 Introducing the Civic Stadium Kit!

Timbers officially have a full DP spot open after waiving Jonathan Rodriguez. Jona scored a team-high 16 goals in 2024. Full details: www.patreon.com/posts/portla...

the English Ted Lasso: Sean Dyche rocks up in the NHL, screws up the ice to frustrate higher-quality teams, and rocks the world with long puck hockey

Interesting article in general, but I kind of love that they used a stock photo of the Timbers Army for this. #RCTID www.timescolonist.com/local-news/c...

Even MLS's shortest average away trip is nearly double the Premier League's longest trip — and travel isn't close to even for all 30 MLS teams ✈️ But does travel distance actually matter? Maybe not as much as we think, writes @aclausen90.bsky.social. Read ⤵️

You could never question the want or desire. Župaric arrived in Portland in Nov. 2019 and went onto play 166 games, including every second of the 2021 run to MLS Cup Best of luck in the next stop! #RCTID

Probably the single best thing to read to understand the structural elements of our current situation

He looked bright in the first CVI game against DC. Bonus points for being a Beaver. #RCTID

Did some more exploration. Dark green is Portland, yellow is Columbus, light green is Atlanta, light blue is Colorado, white is WoSo, and red is AFC Bournemouth (???). #RCTID

Our 2026 MLS previews are here and they start at the bottom: @mattbarger.bsky.social tells us about DCU trying to be the Union, and @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc argues regression for Atlanta and the expansion of a Cheese empire in Montreal www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2026/2/...

This map is so cool. Here you can see Portland soccer Bluesky #RCTID

Drunken Seahawks Fans Climbing Space Needle

Patriots losing; América winning

The Sermon on the Mount, by Beryl Lewis, before 1965, 📸 by @ScottStrazzante

OK "god bless america" and then naming every country in the americas from south to north is absolute king shit

🤌