Fans Ejected from Portland Thorns Match Over Pro-Women Apparel

<p>A group of eight individuals was ejected from a Portland Thorns match at Providence Park after stadium security flagged their pro-women apparel. The incident occurred during the Thorns' game against the Washington Spirit.</p><p>Video footage shows Amy E. Sousa attempting to communicate with a venue staff member while the group remained in their assigned seats. The attendees were wearing gear from XX-XY Athletics, featuring slogans such as "Save Women's Sports," "Girls just wanna have fundamental rights," "Woman," and "It's common sense." </p><p>Venue staff provided the group with a card indicating an infraction of the Providence Park and NWSL Code of Conduct before escorting them out. The notice stated that venue staff would contact the group within 72 hours regarding potential additional penalties and warned that failure to provide personal information could result in a ban from future events at the stadium.</p><p>Sousa later stated that she was accused of being transphobic. Following the ejection, she took to social media to assert that her group did not cause any disturbance prior to security's intervention, stating, "We did nothing. We had not even shown our shirts. We were dressed like this when ejected."</p><p>The incident raises questions about the enforcement of speech rules at a publicly owned stadium. Fans are left to consider who is responsible for policing game-day attire and when safety measures may become excessive. This situation also highlights differences in how various Portland sports teams manage fan clothing.</p><p>Sousa had previously attended a WNBA game wearing her XX-XY Athletics shirt without issue, even appearing on the arena's jumbotron. She expressed disbelief regarding online warnings she received before the match, saying, "I didn't take it seriously. I was like, what are they going to do? Arrest us for watching soccer?"</p><p>The security response at Providence Park followed social media posts from local LGBT group organizer Hannah Perry, who had alerted municipal and state officials about the group. Perry communicated with Sousa via Facebook, indicating that she had contacted the Portland Police, the mayor, and Governor Tina Kotek.</p><p>Under the NWSL Fan Code of Conduct, spectators are prohibited from displaying signs, symbols, words, or imagery used for political campaigning or advocacy. However, the league and venue rules do not provide a clear standard for determining when slogan apparel becomes banned political expression, leaving enforcement largely to staff discretion.</p><p>Requests for comment sent to Providence Park management, the Portland Thorns, and NWSL headquarters were not immediately answered.</p>