In a landmark move for women's football, star forward Sophia Wilson has decided to return to the Portland Thorns, activating her player option for the 2026 season. This decision comes after she took the entire 2025 NWSL season off for maternity leave, following the birth of her daughter, Gianna, in early September.
A Record-Breaking Commitment
The financial details of this commitment have set a new benchmark for the league. As reported by Sportico, the 2026 option is valued at a staggering $1 million, making it the largest yearly compensation package in the history of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). While the Thorns had previously announced the deal would make her the league's highest-paid player annually, the exact record-breaking figure was not disclosed by the club or Wilson's management until now.
"Portland Is Where I've Grown Up": Wilson's Emotional Return
For Wilson, this return is deeply personal. The 25-year-old from Windsor, Colorado, was the first overall pick by the Thorns in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has spent her entire professional career in the Rose City. Expressing her joy, Wilson stated, "Bringing this new version of myself back to Portland is so special to me because Portland is where I started my professional career and it’s where I’ve really grown up in a lot of ways."
She further emphasized her connection to the city and its fans, saying, "I’m excited for the city. I love living there. I love the people there. I’m excited to get back with everyone and play in Providence Park, to play in front of the Riveters. There’s no place like it."
A Winning Legacy and Future Ambitions
Wilson's resume with the Thorns is nothing short of spectacular, justifying the historic investment. In 97 appearances across all competitions, she has netted 50 goals. Her trophy cabinet with the club includes:
- The 2022 NWSL Championship
- The 2021 NWSL Shield
- The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup
- The 2021 Women's International Champions Cup
- The 2020 NWSL Community Shield
Her individual accolades are equally impressive. The pinnacle came in 2022 when she achieved a unique double, winning both the NWSL MVP and the NWSL Championship MVP in a single season, becoming the youngest player (22) to do so. She has been named to the NWSL Best XI First Team from 2022 to 2024 and, with 11 goals in 2023, became the first Thorn to win the NWSL Golden Boot.
Thorns president and GM of soccer operations, Jeff Agoos, highlighted her invaluable role. "We are excited to have a world-class player like Sophia continue to call Portland her home and commit to our goals of winning an NWSL Championship in 2026," Agoos said. He praised her as an "exceptional global star that can change the game in an instant" and a key component to strengthening the team's attack.
This return marks a powerful comeback for an athlete at the peak of her powers—an Olympic gold medalist with the USWNT in 2024, a league MVP, and now a mother—ready to write the next chapter of her legacy in Portland.
