NWSL free-agent tracker: Portland Thorns bring back Canadian legend Christine Sinclair for one more season

Written by on January 23, 2024

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Christine Sinclair has officially booked her stay at the Portland Thorns, signing a one-year deal on Monday that will cover the final season of her illustrious career.

The three-time NWSL champion announced her intention to finish out her career with the Thorns in October, shortly before her final game with Canada. Sinclair has spent the entirety of her NWSL career in the Rose City, and has a long-time affiliation with the city after attending the University of Portland, not far from her hometown in the suburbs of Vancouver.

On top of her accolades with Canada, which include an Olympic gold medal and her status as international soccer’s leading goalscorer, Sinclair is one of the NWSL’s most active players. She currently ranks within the league’s top 10 for minutes played and appearances, and is second in the NWSL’s all-time goalscoring charts with 60 goals.

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The league’s second-ever free agency period has been a busy one, most notably through NJ/NY Gotham FC, who signed USWNT quartet Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson, Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett. A few eye-popping names remain available, including Becky Sauerbrunn after her contract with the Portland Thorns expired.

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Here’s an updating list of players who are on the move — and where they end up — as the NWSL’s second free agency period gets underway.

Position Player Signed with Old team
MID Angelina Orlando Pride (three-year deal) Seattle Reign
MID Taylor Aylmer TBD Racing Louisville FC
GK Nicole Barnhart Washington Spirit (one-year deal) Washington Spirit
GK Michelle Betos TBD NJ/NY Gotham FC
DEF Camryn Biegalski Chicago Red Stars (one-year deal) Washington Spirit
GK Emily Boyd TBD Chicago Red Stars
DEF Amber Brooks TBD Washington Spirit
FWD Simone Charley TBD Angel City FC
DEF Allysha Chapman Houston Dash (option exercised) Houston Dash
MID Emily Curran TBD Houston Dash
DEF Tierna Davidson NJ/NY Gotham FC (three-year deal) Chicago Red Stars
GK Ella Dederick TBD Houston Dash
FWD Makenzy Doniak San Diego Wave FC (two-year deal) San Diego Wave FC
FWD Imani Dorsey Utah Royals (two-year deal) NJ/NY Gotham FC
FWD Crystal Dunn NJ/NY Gotham FC (three-year deal) Portland Thorns FC
DEF Caprice Dydasco Bay FC (two-year deal) Houston Dash
MID Elizabeth Eddy Angel City FC (two-year deal) Angel City FC
FWD Emina Ekic Melbourne City Racing Louisville FC
MID Sinead Farrelly NJ/NY Gotham FC (option exercised) NJ/NY Gotham FC
MID Bayley Feist TBD Washington Spirit
DEF Sabrina Flores TBD NJ/NY Gotham FC
DEF Emily Fox Arsenal North Carolina Courage
MID Makamae Gomera-Stevens TBD Houston Dash
DEF Sarah Gorden Angel City FC (three-year deal) Angel City FC
FWD Paulina Gramaglia Houston Dash (option exercised) Houston Dash
FWD Shea Groom Chicago Red Stars (two-year deal) Houston Dash
DEF Madison Hammond Angel City FC (two-year deal) Angel City FC
MID Tori Huster Announced retirement Washington Spirit
GK Brittany Isenhour TBD Angel City FC
GK Devon Kerr TBD Houston Dash
FWD Tziarra King Seattle Reign (one-year deal) Seattle Reign
DEF Meghan Klingenberg Portland Thorns FC (one-year deal) Portland Thorns FC
DEF Ali Krieger Announced retirement NJ/NY Gotham FC
DEF Casey Krueger Washington Spirit (three-year deal) Chicago Red Stars
DEF Natalia Kuikka Chicago Red Stars (three-year deal) Portland Thorns FC
MID Rose Lavelle NJ/NY Gotham FC (three-year deal) Seattle Reign
MID Jordyn Listro TBD Orlando Pride
MID Allie Long TBD NJ/NY Gotham FC
FWD Cheyna Matthews Announced retirement Chicago Red Stars
DEF Merritt Mathias Angel City FC (one-year deal) Angel City FC
MID Savannah McCaskill San Diego Wave (three-year deal) Angel City FC
FWD Jessica McDonald TBD Racing Louisville FC
DEF Tegan McGrady TBD Portland Thorns FC
DEF Addisyn Merrick Utah Royals (two-year deal) Kansas City Current
MID Sam Mewis Announced retirement Kansas City Current
GK Cassie Miller TBD Kansas City Current
FWD Nadia Nadim TBD Racing Louisville FC
FWD Yuki Nagasato Houston Dash (two-year deal) Chicago Red Stars
DEF Kiki Pickett Bay FC (two-year deal) North Carolina Courage
DEF Madison Pogarch Utah Royals (two-year deal) San Diego Wave FC
MID Taylor Porter TBD Portland Thorns FC
FWD Megan Rapinoe Announced retirement Seattle Reign
FWD Brittany Ratcliffe Washington Spirit (three-year deal) North Carolina Courage
DEF Cari Roccaro Chicago Red Stars (two-year deal) Chicago Red Stars
DEF Maria Sanchez Houston Dash (three-year deal) Houston Dash
DEF Becky Sauerbrunn TBD Portland Thorns FC
MID Desiree Scott TBD Kansas City Current
DEF Kayla Sharples Bay FC (two-year deal) Chicago Red Stars
FWD Marissa Sheva TBD Washington Spirit
MID Mana Shim TBD NJ/NY Gotham FC
DEF Cheyenne Shorts TBD San Diego Wave FC
FWD Christine Sinclair Portland Thorns FC (one-year deal) Portland Thorns FC
DEF Emily Sonnett NJ/NY Gotham FC (three-year deal) Seattle Reign
DEF Bianca St-Georges North Carolina Courage (two-year deal) Chicago Red Stars
MID Nikki Stanton Seattle Reign (one-year deal) Seattle Reign
MID Ella Stevens NJ/NY Gotham FC (two-year deal) Chicago Red Stars
DEF Kylie Strom Orlando Pride (three-year deal) Orlando Pride
FWD Mallory Swanson Chicago Red Stars (four-year deal) Chicago Red Stars
MID Emily Van Egmond San Diego Wave FC (two-year deal) San Diego Wave FC
FWD Michele Vasconcelos Utah Royals (two-year deal) Portland Thorns FC
MID Marisa Viggiano Racing Louisville (two-year deal) Houston Dash
MID Dani Weatherholt North Carolina Courage (two-year deal) Angel City FC
FWD Mallory Weber TBD Kansas City Current
DEF Christen Westphal San Diego Wave FC (two-year deal) San Diego Wave FC
MID McCall Zerboni TBD NJ/NY Gotham FC





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