(Portland, OR) -- The Portland Thorns are showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Players for the Thorns as well as the North Carolina Courage knelt during the National Anthem Saturday before playing what was the first professional team sporting event in the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic. All the players also wore Black Lives Matter shirts before kickoff and wore armbands during the game. The NWSL Challenge Cup marked the return of professional team sports in this country since the start of the pandemic in March.