The Portland Thorns won their second NWSL championship on Saturday, with a 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage, and had a celebration for the ages waiting for them upon their arrival back in Portland  on Sunday.

Horan broke the tie for the Thorns in the 50th minute when she finished a free kick from Emily Sonnett. Sonnett’s long free kick glanced off Courage defender Abby Dahlkemper’s head before landing at Horan’s feet. Horan put the ball in the net to give Portland the clutch 1-0 lead.

Even though the Courage outshot the thorns 16-4,  they could not break through the timbers back line well enough to finish the ball.

But the Thorns kept grinding and came together to play their best soccer in the final weeks of the year, they closed out the season with wins in 10 of their final 12 matches which led to the final game being a championship. They have won 2 championships in the past 5 years.