NWSL Match Ejects Women’s Sports Advocates After Clash With Pro-trans Fans
WHO:
Fox News - A U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson said the department was aware of reports about the confrontation and would “review the matter thoroughly”; the department would act where facts and law warrant it.
Fox News - A DOJ official said the reported conduct appeared to raise viewpoint-discrimination and First Amendment questions rather than sex-discrimination questions.
Fox News - Portland Police Bureau Sergeant Kevin Allen said off-duty officers were working at the match and that police were called when people refused to leave and blocked an exit.
Fox News - XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey was identified as working with Amy Sousa and Brandi Kruse to support ballot measures concerning participation in sports based on biological sex.
Fox News - Kruse identified a 57-year-old lesbian named Julie as an attendee who was shoved down two rows of seats by a male Thorns fan; Kruse said Julie filed a police report.
Fox News - Around 20 “Save Women’s Sports” activists wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts attended the Portland Thorns match; organizers included women’s sports activist Amy Sousa and commentator Brandi Kruse.
Fox News - Other spectators described in the report as supporters of transgender inclusion allegedly verbally and physically confronted the activists. The Rose City Riveters were identified as the Thorns’ pro-trans supporters group.
Fox News - Participants also included OutKick reporter Matt Calkins and Ari Laureano, whom the article described as detransitioned.
TMZ - Podcast host Brandi Kruse said she was forcibly removed from a National Women’s Soccer League game because she wore a shirt with an XX-XY logo.
WHAT:
Fox News - Portland police reported two potential crimes: alleged harassment, case number 26-309064, and alleged vandalism, case number 26-309306. Police said there were no reported or visible injuries, no immediate arrests or citations, and both incidents were under investigation.
Fox News - Police said officers separated two groups with opposing viewpoints outside the stadium temporarily and were wearing and activating body-worn cameras under department policy.
Fox News - The City of Portland owns Providence Park; Peregrine Sports, LLC operates it, and RAJ Sports separately owns the Thorns. The city’s Spectator Venues Program oversees the city’s interests in the stadium and its relationship with the operator.
Fox News - The article reported that federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 242, allows criminal prosecution when someone acting under color of law willfully deprives a person of a federally protected right. The DOJ had not identified this statute as the basis for its review or announced charges.
Fox News - Kruse said another attendee was pushed over her seat and “tumbled down”; the article reported that the man accused of pouring beer on someone was the only alleged assailant removed.
Fox News - Security director Jim McCausland said he did not have time to comment when contacted by OutKick. The Thorns’ communications director did not respond to OutKick’s inquiry about why XX-XY attendees were escorted out while alleged assailants were not.
Fox News - The Thorns posted, “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!” The post drew critical replies, including columnist Dustin Grage’s “Your fans are violent and you cheered them on” and journalist Andy Ngo’s “You allowed thugs to assault women and then had your security force the victims out.”
Fox News - The activists revealed their shirts and unfurled a large banner reading “Save Women’s Sports.” Security escorted the roughly 20 demonstrators out after alleged verbal abuse and physical aggression, including flagpoles striking group members.
Fox News - Sousa said she and other attendees filed police reports. She said, “We were attacked by fans. We were hit with flags. We had drinks and thrown at us,” and alleged that a woman was punched and an attendee using a walker was pushed out.
Fox News - Kruse said a security guard restrained her right arm and escorted her out. She said two guards took her out after she refused to leave voluntarily.
Fox News - Calkins said he was called a Nazi, had his phone knocked from his hand, and had beer poured on his neck. A security guard briefly removed his credential.
Fox News - Laureano said a flagpole struck him in the face after he revealed his shirt. He said flags were used to conceal strikes against women in the group.
Fox News - Roughly half a dozen XX-XY supporters left before the banner was displayed, citing safety concerns after seeing “Protect Trans Kids” shirts featuring images of knives.
WHERE:
Fox News - The match was at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.
WHEN:
Fox News - Washington and Colorado have measures on their Nov. 3 ballots concerning eligibility for school sports; Washington’s measure applies to K-12 athletics, while Colorado’s would extend to college sports.
Fox News - The match was against the North Carolina Courage, and the club designated it “Fan Appreciation” night.
Fox News - The group kept its shirts covered through the first half and revealed them at the start of the second half.
WHY:
Fox News - Police said they intervened outside to promote public safety.
Fox News - The demonstrators said they were supporting female-only sports; Sousa said they wanted “to protect girls sports.”
HOW:
Fox News - The group planned to reveal its banner and shirts at halftime, hoping soccer’s lack of official breaks in play would help them avoid ejection.
Fox News - The NWSL has 16 teams, including the Thorns, and the article said the league has no policy automatically excluding a male-born player.
(UPDATED October 24, 2026 17:59 UTC)
A confrontation at Portland’s Providence Park during a Portland Thorns match led to police investigations and a Justice Department review. Around 20 “Save Women’s Sports” activists, wearing XX-XY shirts, said they were supporting female-only sports. After revealing a banner at halftime, they alleged opposing fans shouted at and assaulted them, including striking people with flagpoles and throwing drinks. Organizers Amy Sousa and Brandi Kruse said attendees filed police reports; Kruse said security restrained her and escorted her out. Police reported potential harassment and vandalism cases, with no reported injuries, arrests or citations, and said both remain under investigation. Officers temporarily separated the opposing groups outside the stadium. A Justice Department spokesperson said the department would review the matter thoroughly, while a DOJ official said it raised possible viewpoint-discrimination and First Amendment concerns. The city owns the stadium, which Peregrine Sports operates; the Thorns have not publicly explained the reported removals.
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(UPDATED October 24, 2026 17:05 UTC)
A group of about 20 women’s sports activists was escorted out of a Portland Thorns match after revealing shirts and a banner supporting female-only sports, and participants say spectators confronted them. The demonstration took place at Providence Park against the North Carolina Courage. Organizers Amy Sousa and Brandi Kruse said fans struck group members with flagpoles and threw drinks; Sousa said attendees filed police reports. Kruse said security restrained her arm and removed her after she refused to leave voluntarily. Other participants reported being shoved, struck in the face, called a Nazi, or having beer poured on them. The Thorns’ security director declined to comment, and the club did not respond to a question about why activists were removed while alleged assailants remained. The club later praised its fans online, drawing criticism. The protest was tied to ballot measures in Washington and Colorado concerning eligibility for school sports.
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(UPDATED October 24, 2026 16:03 UTC)
About 20 activists seeking female-only sports were escorted from a Portland Thorns match after unveiling “Save Women’s Sports” shirts and a banner. The group revealed them at the start of the second half, hoping to avoid ejection, and said it wanted to protect girls’ sports. The match against the North Carolina Courage was held at Providence Park on Fan Appreciation night. Organizers included activist Amy Sousa and commentator Brandi Kruse, who said security restrained her arm and removed her after she refused to leave voluntarily. Sousa said attendees filed police reports, alleging they were hit with flags and had drinks thrown at them. Reporter Matt Calkins said his phone was knocked away and beer poured on him, while Ari Laureano said a flagpole struck him in the face. Several supporters left early, citing safety concerns. The NWSL has no policy automatically excluding male-born players.