Portland Thorns

Portland Thorns striker Sophia Smith was named the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) Most Valuable Player on Thursday, becoming the youngest to earn the regular-season honor days before their championship match against Kansas City.

The 22-year-old scored a club record 14 goals in 18 appearances, the second highest tally this season behind San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan (16), and three assists to help the Thorns to a second consecutive postseason appearance.

The Portland Thorns clinched a spot in next Saturday's NWSL Championship by eliminating the San Diego Wave 2-1 in today's semifinal at Providence Park with sensational goals from Rocky Rodríguez and Crystal Dunn overcoming Taylor Kornieck's opener.  

The expansion Wave took the lead in the eighth-minute when Golden Boot winner Alex Morgan turned provider with Kornieck finishing from close range.  

Merritt Paulson, the CEO of the Portland Thorns and their Major League Soccer counterparts, the Timbers, said he was removing himself effective immediately, following a report that detailed abuse in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Statement From Merritt Paulson

England and the United States will come together to show their support for the victims of the abuse scandal that has rocked the U.S. National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) when the countries meet in a friendly on Friday, Lionesses forward Beth Mead said.

An independent investigation this week showed abuse and misconduct "had become systemic" in the American top-flight and that the league, teams and governing body U.S. Soccer failed to adequately protect players.

The NWSL playoff picture became a little clearer Wednesday after four results brought every team to 20 matches played in the 22-game regular season. However, there's still everything to play for with the distance between first-place and sixth-place (the final playoff position) just five points.

Alex Morgan's San Diego Wave had been leading the NWSL Shield race for a majority of the season, but the Portland Thorns took pole position last night, and clinched a spot in the playoffs, after a 3-0 hammering of already eliminated Racing Louisville.

Sophia Smith called out NWSL’s continuously awful officiating on Tuesday after the referees missed a clear foul on her in the Portland Thorns’ game vs. Kansas City Current game from Sunday. In the second half of Sunday’s game Smith was taken down in the box with a dangerous tackle from behind.

No foul was called, and one Twitter user posted the highlight asking how nothing was given from the referee. Smith responded, too.

Alex Morgan is once again calling out the nonsensical boys club that exists in the NWSL. Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson is once again being called out for failing to do the right thing.

After becoming the youngest goal scorer in NWSL history last month, 16-year-old Portland Thorns prodigy Olivia Moultrie got her second of the season Saturday night and it'll certainly be up for Goal of the Week honors.

The Thorns welcomed Gotham FC to Providence Park with Portland near the top of the table and NJ/NY beneath the playoff line, and it only took the home side five minutes to open the scoring through Taylor Porter after Gotham failed to clear a corner kick.

The United States women’s national team defeated Colombia 3-0 on Saturday in Commerce City, Colorado, during the first of two friendlies. The game was frustrating at times for the USWNT as the team failed to score two penalties and missed a plethora of chances but ultimately got the job done. 

In the end it was two perfect Rose Lavelle assists to Sophia Smith that unlocked the game for the USWNT. There’s a chance that Lavelle has laser vision because these two assists were about as good as it gets.

Jordyn Huitema joined OL Reign on Saturday, joining USWNT stars Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle.

to Seattle, @JordynHuitema! #BoldTogether pic.twitter.com/5smnCxTm88

— OL Reign (@OLReign) June 18, 2022