Posted on Oct 30, 2022
The Thorns overcome off-field challenges to win National Women's Soccer League title
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Sophia Smith and the Portland Thorns overcame challenges off the field this season with a championship on it.
Smith, the season's Most Valuable Player, scored early and the Thorns won their third National Women's Soccer League title Saturday night with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current.
The Thorns also won NWSL championships in 2013, the league's inaugural season, and again in 2017. The three titles are the most for any team in the league.
A recent report that revealed misconduct across the league impacted the Thorns directly, but the players said it brought them together.
"We've put in so much work this whole season. We've gone through a lot of stuff that isn't in the job description," Smith said. "So it just felt really rewarding. I felt so proud of our team because we've just gone through so much — and to be able to bring this back to our fans who have stuck with us through everything this year, it means so much to us."
The Current had a costly turnover before Smith went down the field, maneuvered around goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and deftly scored in the fourth minute.
Sophia Smith and the Portland Thorns overcame challenges off the field this season with a championship on it.
Smith, the season's Most Valuable Player, scored early and the Thorns won their third National Women's Soccer League title Saturday night with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current.
The Thorns also won NWSL championships in 2013, the league's inaugural season, and again in 2017. The three titles are the most for any team in the league.
A recent report that revealed misconduct across the league impacted the Thorns directly, but the players said it brought them together.
"We've put in so much work this whole season. We've gone through a lot of stuff that isn't in the job description," Smith said. "So it just felt really rewarding. I felt so proud of our team because we've just gone through so much — and to be able to bring this back to our fans who have stuck with us through everything this year, it means so much to us."
The Current had a costly turnover before Smith went down the field, maneuvered around goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and deftly scored in the fourth minute.
The Thorns overcome off-field challenges to win National Women's Soccer League title
Posted from npr.org
Soccer
Portland
Kansas City
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Some fans at Audi Field held a sign that read: "Support The Players."
"We are a very close team off the field and we knew that these things would potentially derail us, so a lot of conversations were to stay process-based," Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby said. "We know that some days are going to be hard for some people, so when we can just come together and bear that burden with them, we're able to balance it out."
The Thorns advanced to the championship game with a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Wave last Sunday. Crystal Dunn scored in stoppage time for the win.
The Current earned their berth with a 2-0 victory over the top-seeded OL Reign, surprising the winners of this season's Supporters Shield.
The Current began play in 2021 as an expansion team, with many of its players coming over from the defunct Utah Royals. Last season they finished in last place in the league.
The Washington Spirit won last year's NWSL championship."
..."Some fans at Audi Field held a sign that read: "Support The Players."
"We are a very close team off the field and we knew that these things would potentially derail us, so a lot of conversations were to stay process-based," Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby said. "We know that some days are going to be hard for some people, so when we can just come together and bear that burden with them, we're able to balance it out."
The Thorns advanced to the championship game with a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Wave last Sunday. Crystal Dunn scored in stoppage time for the win.
The Current earned their berth with a 2-0 victory over the top-seeded OL Reign, surprising the winners of this season's Supporters Shield.
The Current began play in 2021 as an expansion team, with many of its players coming over from the defunct Utah Royals. Last season they finished in last place in the league.
The Washington Spirit won last year's NWSL championship."
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