The Portland Thorns announced Wednesday, March 27 that star forward Sophia Smith will be hanging around the Rose City for at least one more season.
The club and Smith agreed to a contract extension that keeps the former NWSL MVP in town through 2025, and includes a player option for 2026.
Smith's last contract came in 2022 and was a three-year deal set to end following the 2024 season. Now, Smith will get another year in Portland and a chance to reevaluate before the 2026 season.
“I’m excited to call Portland home and extend my time with the Thorns,” Smith said in a press release. “The support from the fans, city and club have been tremendous and I’m looking forward to being a part of its next chapter. I’m grateful for the support from Karina and the Bhathal family to me and my teammates, as we move forward and work hard to lift more trophies for the Thorns.”
The contract details for the 23-year-old were not disclosed, but Thorns general manager Karina LeBlanc told The Athletic that Smith's new deal makes her the highest paid player annually in the NWSL.
“Soph is a special player who has accomplished so much in a Thorns kit and made our city and club proud. We’re thrilled that she’s reaffirmed Portland to be her home and trusts the organization as it moves forward,” LeBlanc said in a press release. “The Bhathal family have been incredibly supportive from the beginning and with signings like this, they are demonstrating their commitment to build a championship winning club.”
Lisa Bhathal Merage is the newly minted owner/governor of the Thorns, and the signing of Smith marks the biggest move of her and her family's early tenure.
Smith, from Windsor, Colorado, was taken by the Thorns in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and has scored 40 goals in a Thorns uniform, the second most in club history.
Smith was named the NWSL MVP in 2022, the same season the Thorns won their latest NWSL Championship, and last year won the NWSL Golden Boot for the most goals in the league, a first for a Portland player.
Needless to say, the Thorns attack centers on what Smith is able to do with the ball, and Portland has her staying around with renewed belief from the Bhathal ownership.
“It was incredibly important for us to make a statement as we enter the next era of Thorns soccer – to the city, to our fans, and for our future,” Bhathal Merage said in a press release. “ Soph is a generational talent and we’re excited for the future we’ll build together.”
Smith, who scored two goals in the Thorns' season opener at Kansas City, and Portland are back in action again at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 30 when it hosts Racing Louisville at Providence Park.
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