The Thorns overcome off-field challenges to win National Women's Soccer League title

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/30/ [login to see] /portland-thorns-national-womens-soccer-league
Sophia Smith and the Portland Thorns overcame challenges off the field this season with a championship on it.

Smith, the season's Most Valuable Player, scored early and the Thorns won their third National Women's Soccer League title Saturday night with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current.

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.

A recent report that revealed misconduct across the league impacted the Thorns directly, but the players said it brought them together.

"We've put in so much work this whole season. We've gone through a lot of stuff that isn't in the job description," Smith said. "So it just felt really rewarding. I felt so proud of our team because we've just gone through so much — and to be able to bring this back to our fans who have stuck with us through everything this year, it means so much to us."

The Current had a costly turnover before Smith went down the field, maneuvered around goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and deftly scored in the fourth minute.