On March 19, the reincarnated Portland Timbers made their MLS debut following three different Timbers clubs in the lower American Soccer Pyramid levels. The first game was a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids.

Their home debut came four weeks later at renovated Jen-Weld field, the converted baseball stadium that hosted Women's World Cup matches in 1999 and 2003. In this game, the Timbers got the better of the Chicago Fire, 4-2 helped by two goals from Jorge Perlaza.

Though the club would proceed to win six of their first ten matches, they would endure rough stretches and injuries to key players that kept them four points out of a playoff spot with an 11-14-9 record.