MVP Sophia Smith leads Portland Thorns to NWSL trophy

The Portland Thorns have won the 2022 NWSL Championship. 

The team triumphed 2-0 over the Kansas City Current on Saturday at Audi Field to become the first team in the league’s 10-year history to win three titles. 

MVP winner Sophia Smith opened up the scoring in the fourth minute, shrugging off Current defender ​​Elizabeth Ball outside the box to go one vs. one with goalkeeper Adrianna Franch before finding the back of the net. 

The forward celebrated the goal with a shrug, explaining its significance after the match.

“There’s been a lot of people who don’t think I deserved to win MVP, so that [celebration] was a little bit of, ‘That’s that.’”

Thorns head coach Rhian Wilkinson hailed the player for the goal, calling it a “gift” to have her on the squad. 

“She can stop pushing now and she will still be a very good player, one of the best players this country has ever produced. And my job is to keep pushing her, and to make sure she is the best player this country has ever produced, because she has that in her right now…It is a gift to have her on your team.”

After halftime, the Thorns continued to dominate over the Current. The team then extended their lead as the opponents allowed an own goal in the 56th minute, sealing the shutout and record-breaking victory. 

Celebrations erupted following the final whistle. Captain Christine Sinclair received the championship trophy from commissioner Jessica Berman on stage, holding the silverware once again nine years after winning her first NWSL title with Portland in the league’s inaugural season. 

The Thorns now hold the all-time record for most NWSL championships, after winning the title in 2013 and 2017.