The Portland Thorns drew widespread criticism on social media this weekend after the team’s official account posted a message thanking fans for their support following a game in which activists from the group XX-XY Athletics say they were physically and verbally confronted by other fans in attendance.
The incident took place Friday night during the NWSL team’s Fan Appreciation Night. According to accounts shared on social media, a group of women’s sports activists attended the match wearing XX-XY Athletics T-shirts and holding a sign reading “Save Women’s Sports.” Several of those present said the group was peaceful but was met with hostility from other fans, including being struck with a flag pole and verbally confronted. Stadium security physically restrained some of the activists and removed them from the venue, according to those who were there.
Reporter and activist Brandi Kruse, who said she was among those restrained and removed by security, described on social media platform X an incident involving a friend she identified as Julie, a 57-year-old lesbian. Kruse said Julie was shoved by a male Thorns fan and fell over two rows of seats while wearing an XX-XY Athletics shirt. Kruse said the man later apologized and told Julie he didn’t know why he had done it, saying he was “just following the crowd.” Kruse said Julie has filed a police report over the incident.
After the match, the Thorns’ social media team posted a message thanking fans, writing: “the absolute best fans in all the land, thank you for the best atmosphere, support and energy tonight and all season long! we couldn’t do it without you!”
Social Media Backlash
The post drew a flood of critical replies far outnumbering positive engagement, a pattern on social media sometimes referred to as being “ratioed.” Columnist Dustin Grage wrote, “Your fans are violent and you cheered them on.” Journalist Andy Ngo wrote, “You allowed thugs to assault women and then had your security force the victims out.” X user Charlotte Welcker wrote, “Your fans assaulted a woman and then your security threw her out. DISGUSTING.”
Other users pointed to what they described as inconsistent treatment of fans based on their attire, with one writing, “Unless you wear an athletic shirt with the wrong brand, in which case you’ll be ejected from the game in a hurry.” Another referenced the incident involving Julie, writing, “show the part where a male fan shoved a 57 year old lesbian down two rows of seats. disgusting fans.”
Additional replies criticized the team more broadly, with one user writing, “I will never attend a game. You assaulted women wearing t-shirts representing science,” and another writing, “Your fans are insecure, violent, and unreasonable.”
One commentator, OutKick reporter Jackson Thompson, noted on X that Friday’s game was designated Fan Appreciation Night, which prompted the team’s thank-you message regardless of the earlier incident.
The Portland Thorns have not issued a public statement addressing the reported confrontation or the backlash to the social media post as of this report.
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