The Portland Thorns have defeated the Kansas City Current 2-0 to win the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League.
NWSL MVP Sophia Smith put the Thorns up 1-0 in the fourth minute, pouncing on a defensive miscue to finish off a breakaway opportunity.
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.
NWSL MVP Sophia Smith put the Thorns up 1-0 in the fourth minute, pouncing on a defensive miscue to finish off a breakaway opportunity.
The Thorns remained in control for much of the match and finally doubled their lead in the 56th minute, with Yazmeen Ryan’s low cross deflecting off Current defender Addisyn Merrick into the net for an own goal.
Portland’s players and coaches weren’t the only ones to have to deal with the trauma of the abuse scandal that rocked the entire league, but the Thorns still had plenty with which to cope.
An investigation led by former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates was launched last year after two former players came forward with allegations of harassment and sexual coercion dating back a decade against former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley.
Not only were the allegations made against Riley featured prominently in the Yates Report, but Portland executives, including owner Merritt Paulson, came in for heavy criticism as well.
Riley, who was fired, denied the allegations. He was one of five coaches in the league who were dismissed or stepped down last year amid claims of misconduct.
The organization’s president of soccer, Gavin Wilkinson, and president of business, Mike Golub, were also fired.
