Christine Sinclair has seen the arc of the National Women’s Soccer League from its first day.
The Canadian striker has played with the Portland Thorns since the league’s first season in 2013. The Thorns won the title that year.
She’s still with the Thorns as the team readies for Saturday’s NWSL championship game in Washington D.C. against the Kansas City Current.
Sinclair, who won a gold medal with Canada at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, has been an eyewitness to the growth of the league and, indeed, women’s soccer overall. Audi Field is nearly sold out for the game, which will be broadcast in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
“I was fortunate to play in the first championship game, and I think outside of the people in Portland no one knew that the game was happening. So it’s what this league, it’s what the players deserve,” said Sinclair, soccer’s all-time leading scorer among men and women. “Women’s sports in general, all they need is a chance. People will watch, people will come if given the opportunity to do so. For this game to be on primetime on a major network, it’s just going to continue to grow the game to continue to inspire those youngsters watching.”
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 Yates report detailed how the Thorns mishandled complaints about Riley when he coached the team in 2014-15. In the wake of the report, the Thorns fired two team executives. But some fans have called on owner Merritt Paulson to sell both the Thorns and the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.
“Obviously, this year has been an interesting one for us. But with the staff’s help, we’ve been able to come together as a team, come together as a unit, and just focus on playing the games. There’s only so much we can control and that’s what we do on the soccer field. That has been the focus,” Sinclair said.
The Thorns have won two NWSL championships, in 2013 and 2017.
The Current began play in 2021 as an expansion team, with many of its players coming over from the defunct Utah Royals. Last season they finished in last place in the league.
