For the third year in a row, the Portland Thorns are on the hunt for a new head coach.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Thorns announced that they have agreed to part ways with coach Rob Gale.
“We are grateful to Rob for his dedication to the Thorns and the positive influence he has had on our players and staff,” said Thorns General Manager Jeff Agoos in a news release. “We thank Rob for his contributions and wish him the best in his next endeavor.”
The Thorns did not give a reason for Gale’s departure.
The club announced that Sarah Lowdon will serve as coach in the interim. Lowdon has previously coached with the Houston Dash and U.S. Youth National Teams.
Gale first joined the Thorns as an assistant coach in 2023. He was elevated to the head coaching position in 2024 when the club reassigned Mike Norris after a tough beginning to the season.
With Gale serving as the interim coach, the Thorns won eight of 12 games to close out the 2024 season. Portland went 11-8-7 in the 2025 season and the season ended in NWSL the semifinals in a 2-0 loss to the Washington Spirit.
During the three years Gale was involved with the Thorns, the club was 28-21-10. Portland made the playoffs in 2024 and 2025.
Adam Day, the Thorns first assistant coach since April, is also departing.
A new head coach will be just another in a long list of changes the Portland Thorns have gone through in the past couple of years.
In early 2024, RAJ Sports purchased the Thorns from Merritt Paulson following a number of off-field controversies. Paulson also owns the Portland Timbers.
RAJ Sports also owns the Portland Fire, the city’s new WNBA franchise, and the two teams are currently working on opening a joint training facility in Hillsboro.
Since 2020, the Thorns have had four head coaches. Mark Parsons coached the team from 2026 to 2021, winning the NWSL Championship in 2017. Rhian Wilkinson coached the Thorns from 2021-22, winning the title in 2022.
