For the first time in three years, the Portland Thorns are sitting alone atop the National Women’s Soccer League standings. Six games into the 2026 season, the Thorns claimed the No. 1 spot with a commanding 2-0 home win over the San Diego Wave on Wednesday night at Providence Park. The Wave had previously held the top position, making this West Coast showdown a true battle for supremacy.

The victory was powered by goals from two players who made triumphant returns from extended absences last season. German defender Marie Müller, who had been sidelined with an ACL injury, opened the scoring in the 10th minute. She collected a pass from U.S. women's national team midfielder Olivia Moultrie near the upper-left corner of the penalty box and struck it first-time with her right instep, curling the ball around Wave goalkeeper Leah Freeman and into the far-post netting.

"It was a long process," Müller said after the match. "Rehab was over one year, so I'm just so happy to be back to support my team. That I scored today, even in the beginning, I think makes the game a little bit different. So yeah, just glad to give everything and support the team."

The second half saw Sophia Wilson—the U.S. women's national team forward who had been on maternity leave—score her second consecutive goal. Thorns captain and Canadian international Jessie Fleming forced a turnover with relentless defensive pressure in the attacking third, and Wilson pounced on the loose ball. After taking a few touches past the last San Diego defender, she slotted a ground-skimming shot into the far post with her left foot to double Portland's lead in the 64th minute.

Wilson had scored her first goal as a mom just days earlier—a dramatic game-winner in the 95th minute against Angel City FC on Sunday. After that match, she said that once she had one, "hopefully more will come."

That prediction proved spot-on Wednesday night. But the 25-year-old admitted in a postgame interview with CBS that she "kind of regretted saying that after I did because I was like, 'I hope I didn't jinx myself.'"

Ultimately, Wilson said, "it's just about building confidence for me and getting back to the level that I was at, and I think getting goals for me is that way of doing that."

For the Thorns, this victory marks a significant milestone in their climb back to the top of the NWSL table—and with momentum like this, they look ready to stay there.