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Published By: Sports Desk
Last Updated: March 28, 2024, 12:30 AM IST
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Sophia Smith had options but in the end she felt like she didn’t “make it” in Portland.
PORTLAND, Ore.: Sophia Smith had options but in the end she felt like she wasn’t “made” in Portland.
The Thorns announced Wednesday that they have signed Smith to a contract extension through 2025, with a player option for 2026. Portland says the deal gives the 23-year-old forward the highest annual salary in the Women’s National Soccer League but he would not disclose terms.
“I’ve felt so welcome and loved and believed so much and I felt like I wasn’t done here. And there are things I still want to do with this team and this club and trophies I want to win,” he said. “And just with new ownership coming in, I’ve already felt this club is going in the right direction.”
The Thorns were sold in January to the Bhathal family, who are also part of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings ownership group.
Smith is entering her fifth season with the Thorns. She was the NWSL most valuable player and the US Soccer player of the year in 2022. She was also the MVP of the NWSL championship game that year. She was set to become a free agent after this season and had some interest from European clubs.
“It’s a new era for us and the Bhathal family have been very clear about the vision they have for this club. And we all agree with that vision. And one of the key ingredients was getting Sophia Smith here,” said general manager Karina LeBlanc. “For her, this is where she always wanted to be. For her to sign this contract, I think we’re eight months ahead of when she could have made it play out. She’s like, ‘I wanted to get the season going and I wanted this done.'”
Smith was the top pick in the 2020 NWSL draft after helping Stanford to a win over North Carolina in the 2019 NCAA College Cup championship. She scored three goals in the Cardinal’s semifinal win over UCLA and was named the College Cup most valuable player.
She has scored 40 goals across all competitions with the Thorns, and her 11 goals last season – in 17 games – earned her the league’s Golden Boot award.
A regular on the US national team, Smith played in the Women’s World Cup last summer. She has scored 16 goals in 44 appearances since her US debut in 2020.
Smith said she wants to take more of a leadership role on the Thorns.
“I don’t believe anyone is perfect or any player has ever reached their full potential. So I think for me, I want to grow into more of a leadership role on this team. I want to be a player who brings everyone around me into games,” he said. “I think that’s a big thing for me, is to be less individual and bring my teammates into games, whatever that is, and make this team something really special and contribute to that in any way I can.”
Smith credited the new ownership for making it more comfortable. The team had been put up for sale at the end of 2022 after a misconduct scandal involving a former Thorns coach rocked the league.
“I’ve just been waiting for some stability and some reassurance that this club is going in the right direction and the Bhathal family coming in is doing just that, if not more,” he said. “Their vision for this club is so exciting. You can tell how passionate they are about making this what it should be, and continuing to push the standard in women’s soccer globally, and making the Portland Thorns a center for that and in any way they can. “
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)
