Hosts Tom Kolker, Ross Smith and Richard Farley talk with Timbers defender Jorge Villafaña and assistant coach Miles Joseph about the team's recent play and how they're preparing to face Real Salt Lake this Saturday.

One year ago, Dennie Wendt’s life in soccer drastically changed.

A child of the NASL Timbers and a graduate of the University of Portland, Wendt had been around the game from his formative years, eventually progressing into a career within the game’s marketing side and as a freelance journalist. Last year, though, Wendt took on two new ventures: assuming the editorship of Howler quarterly, and opening Possession, a store on Southwest Morrison dedicated to soccer culture.

On this edition of Breaking Lines, we talk to Wendt about that culture, his growth within it, the importance and perception of Portland to the rest of the soccer world, as well as the future of Howler.

Tom Kolker, Ross Smith and Richard Farley break down the Timbers loss to Atlanta United over the weekend. How can the Timbers take that next step to compete with the likes of LAFC and Atlanta in the playoffs? A look ahead to this week's rivalry match-up against Seattle with Sounders PxP man Matt Johnson. Also, interviews with Timbers goalkeeper Steve Clark and assistant coach Carlos Llamosa

The North American women’s soccer world is enjoying the fruits of four years’ labor, with attendance records for both the NWSL and individual clubs highlighting a strong post-World Cup boost. How the world capitalized on this surge, though, may define what’s possible over the next four years of women’s soccer.

This week on Breaking Lines, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins us to talk about the future of the NWSL, not only in terms of how it can grow but what needs to happen in the short-term to address needs the league carries over from the last cycle. What’s a reasonable expectation for league size, come four years from now? Which teams will still be with us, and which teams will go? And how will the relationship between U.S. Soccer and its most important league evolve over the next four seasons?

Tyler Lussi earned an indelible place in Portland Thorns FC history with her game-winning goal earlier this year against the Orlando Pride, but the luster of her soccer career started long before that spotlight-stealing scene on July 14. Holding every meaningful attacking record in Princeton University’s record books, Lussi comes from a long line of athletic exceptionalism, one she’s fostering not only with her time in Portland but her pursuits off the field.

On this episode of Breaking Lines, we catch up with the third-year forward to talk about the her family’s history in sports, the path that took her to Portland, the business she's started with her brother, and the four furballs she has waiting for her back home.

Hosts Tom Kolker, Ross Smith and Richard Farley break down the Timbers' 4-0 win over the LA Galaxy on Saturday, talk a little USWNT, and a look ahead to this weekend's match-up against Minnesota United. Interviews include video/data analyst Shannon Murray, midfielder Cristhian Paredes and Minnesota play-by-play man Callum Williams.