Sophia Smith will remain with the Portland Thorns for a few more years.
The star forward and the Thorns agreed to a multi-year contract extension, the club announced Wednesday. The extension, which takes effect immediately, will keep Smith in a Thorns’ uniform through the 2025 season, with a player option for the 2026 season.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but The Athletic’s Meg Linehan reported Smith’s base salary will make her the highest-paid player in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) on an annual basis.
“I’m excited to call Portland home and extend my time with the Thorns,” Smith said in a statement. “The support from the fans, city and club have been tremendous and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”
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Smith, 23, has been a prolific goal scorer for the Thorns since she arrived in 2020 after the Thorns used the No. 1 overall pick to select her in the college draft.
She has scored 40 goals across all competitions, placing her second on the club’s all-time scoring list. She scored 11 regular season goals during the 2023 NWSL season, becoming the first Thorns’ player to capture the league’s Golden Boot award.
Smith scored a club single-season record 15 goals in 2022, and she became the youngest player in league history to win the MVP award. She scored the game-winning goal in the NWSL Championship match, becoming the youngest player to win the MVP award for the title game, powering the Thorns to their third NWSL Championship.
“Soph is a special player who has accomplished so much in a Thorns kit,” Thorns general manager Karina Leblanc said in a statement. “We’re thrilled that she’s reaffirmed Portland to be her home and trusts the organization as it moves forward.”