October 30, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
WASHINGTON D.C. – Portland Thorns FC made history on Saturday night by capturing the 2022 NWSL Championship with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current at Audi Field, earning their league-best third title. Sophia Smith opened the scoring for Portland in the fourth minute of the match to help Portland to tonight’s victory and secured the Championship match MVP award.
Thorns Make History
With tonight’s victory, Portland captured its third league title – the most by any club in NWSL history (2013, 2017, 2022). Thorns FC also became the first team in league history to qualify for four NWSL Championship games (2013, 2017, 2018, 2022) and has advanced to the final more than any team in league history. Tonight’s match marked Portland’s first appearance in the NWSL Championship game since 2018 and their first win in the final since 2017. Notably, Thorns FC have won all three of their titles on the road. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson became the second female head coach to win a final in the league, the other being Cindy Parlow Cone (Portland in 2013). Additionally, Karina LeBlanc is the first to win a NWSL title as both general manager and player (starting keeper for Portland in 2013).
Sophia Smith: The MVP
Smith gave Portland the lead with a goal in just four minutes into the game. The goal was her 15th in the season and first in the postseason. The 22-year-old forward become the youngest player to score a goal in an NWSL Championship. The goal was also the second quickest in an NWSL Championship. This week, Smith was named the 2022 NWSL Most Valuable Player and earned a spot in the 2022 NWSL Best XI. She became the second Thorns FC player to be named MVP after Lindsey Horan in 2018. Additionally, Smith became the first player in the league to win the NWSL MVP award and score in a NWSL Championship in the same season. Smith also earned the 2022 Championship MVP award tonight, becoming the first player to earn both league and championship MVP in the same season.
Thorns FC Numbers
Bella Bixby, Natalia Kuikka, Kelli Hubly, Sam Coffey, Rocky Rodríguez, Hina Sugita, Olivia Moultrie, Morgan Weaver, Sophia Smith, Yazmeen Ryan and Janine Beckie made their NWSL Championship debut tonight. S. Smith became the youngest player to score in a NWSL Championship match at 22 years old. Christine Sinclair became the NWSL’s all-time leader in playoff minutes with 1,022 minutes as well as…
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