My first real memories of watching soccer every week were at Merlo for Pilots games in 2001, and then in 2002 when they won their first national championship. The second national title UP team in Sinc's Senior year in 2005 --with both Rapinoe sisters, Stephanie Lopez (now Cox), Angie Woznuk (now Kerr), and Lindsey Huie-- remains one of my favorite teams to watch of all time. It's not often you get to see that collection of pro-level talent at a venue like Merlo, and those NCAA tournament nights and the rivalry with the early oughts Santa Clara teams are some of my favorite soccer-viewing memories as a kid.
For those who didn't watch Pilots-era Sinc, it's hard to describe how dominant she was. It's a shame she was already 30 by the time the NWSL came around, because young Sinc wasn't only big and smart, she was *fast* fast. I think she sometimes gets typecast as this Abby Wambach-type Striker, but that wasn't her game at all: She was a great hold up player and was smart enough to drop in the hole and create as she did for much of her time in the NWSL, but her combination of size and speed in behind was a much bigger part of her game than many (often including myself, after watching the last five years or so of her career) tend to remember. Just an elite, best-of-the-best, all around center forward, who also happens to be one of the greatest teammates of all time.
Bummed I'll be out of town for her final home game, but I'm sure it'll be a lovely night.
Good point about her age when NWSL started. Amazing to think how many goals she would have scored if she could have mover from Merlo/Pilots to Providence/Thorns.
The end of an era. The best player I've ever seen. I watched her first game at UP and I am heartbroken that I am out of the country on November 1. Retire her number and put her name up on the honor board.
I moved to North Portland in 1999, and was immediately joined Clive’s Army. It’s hard to describe how good those early Oughts Pilots and Sinclair were. I lost track of her after 2005 until her allocation here before 2013. Her 2013 cemented my perception of her as a great player.
Weird memory; final regular season game, Starfire, Parlow Cone seemed content with the road point since the team had clinched…and Sinc was “fuck THAT”, seized the match by the throat to score the matchwinner.
Heath gets all the press for “stand there and look pretty” but that was Sinc’s star. She drove that squad like a team of horses. I’ll never forget that.
I wish she’d done this after the ‘22 star. But once she hangs ‘em up, it’s all good. I hope that my matchday routine in 2025 includes offering up a libation to the Soccer Gods at the statue of their Avatar.
I'm sorry it feels like a relief rather than a celebration sometimes. Still, Thorns only have a few games left and don't appear to be going anywhere this season. I'm happy to have the last home games as a farewell tour and celebration for one of the best soccer players any of us has ever seen.
2002 College Cup Final. UP vs Santa Clara. Into 2nd OT and Pilots keeper gets injured. Sinc scores to win the first National Championship for UP and Clive Charles. At least that’s how I remember it. So many great moments. 39 goals in one college season. The London Olympics hat trick. We’re so lucky to be able to have watched her all these years. I’m old enough to remember watching Jim Brown play football, and Sinc always reminds me of him in that there is never a moment wasted.
Technically I think the ground is owned by the MAC Club but leased to City of Portland, which is the titleholder for Civic Stadium...which Peregrine Sports leases from the City. RAJ is a subtenant of Peregrine.
That said, Merritt and Sinc go waaayyyyy back. She's be a staunch Merritt supporter. I doubt he'll make it difficult to put her banner up...
I am also sorry that it feels like a relief. My first introduction to Sinclair was in the old WPS with FC Gold Pride here in the SF Bay Area. As the only scoring threat during the first season, the opposition could focus on her. In the second season (the team's last) when Marta joined, Sinclair was freed up to become the second threat.
When the NWSL started with no Bay Area team, I became a Portland Thorns fan, primarily because I had lived in Oregon for a while and liked Portland quite a lot.
In any event, I had hoped 4 or so years ago that Sinclair would retire at that time as I saw her pace become slower and slower (she never was particularly fast), and her goal scoring drop precipitously. And when she announced her retirement from the Canadian National Team, I thought she'd finish the job by retiring from the Thorns at the same time.
In any event, put her number on a banner somewhere. And all the best to her doing what ever she decides to do in the future.
name the new training center and any future thorns stadium after her. NWSL should consider naming cup after for all she has done for womens soccer the world around.
Mia Hamm did not play in the NWSL. ("Old Girl" by then.) But seeing that it's her silhouette in the NWSL logo, if the championship trophy is named after anyone, it would be her.
I realized. But as much as I love ia Hamm, Sinc is still the goat and to me was key in NWSL success. I do appreciate Hamm as a pioneer and she was very good just not sinc good.
You might be a fair bit younger than I am. Mia Hamm ruled women's soccer world wide in her day. She was the first to appear in nationwide TV ads, and insisted that several of her World Cup-winning teammates appeared with her on the screen. She held the most goals scored in the world for quite a long time, retiring from the game before Wambach became a household name. Was a force behind the first professional women's soccer in the United States, if not the world. Sinclair might have had no professional league to play in were it not for Mia Ham. And for that matter, Sinclair would have had fewer international games to play in to finally surpass Hamm's and Wambachs records. Perhaps watch some USWNT film from the 1990s.
Unlike Canada, USWNT of Hamm's era didn't depend on only one player to score goals. I'm not the only one that has said that, had Sinclair been American, she would have been out of the USWNT a decade before leaving Canada's.
Fun stories emerging from the early years, and here's some fun lore from Steph Yang, former-Thorns-fan-turned-media-person re: some souvenirs from the 2013 Championship...
Y'all there is some crazy whistleblower stuff going on in the Thorns reddit page about the org. I'm not gonna post the stuff here, so we can keep the discussion focused on positive Sinc things here, but please go read the comments I made in the "The GOAT hangs up her boots" thread (The newest Podcast thread.)
Well, I commented at more length on the other thread, but I'll join y'all on the "fire everyone train," assuming this is all true. At this point, it seems like we gotta hope the Bhathals aren't totally out of the loop cause otherwise the offseason is gonna be a blood bath.
Not sure what to make of the Soph comments. I hope it's being overblown and not as toxic as it sounds. She's still liking some Thorns IG posts. I'd hate to lose her as a Thorn but this club really needs some attention and some tough decisions being made.
“Only speaking through her agent” is a pretty “I’m over alla this” type of thing to do imo. I haven’t seen her in any of the pics from the extended stay in socal. Lots of players have been posting pics and I haven’t seen one with her in it….which was curious to me considering it’s a 3 game away trip.
My first real memories of watching soccer every week were at Merlo for Pilots games in 2001, and then in 2002 when they won their first national championship. The second national title UP team in Sinc's Senior year in 2005 --with both Rapinoe sisters, Stephanie Lopez (now Cox), Angie Woznuk (now Kerr), and Lindsey Huie-- remains one of my favorite teams to watch of all time. It's not often you get to see that collection of pro-level talent at a venue like Merlo, and those NCAA tournament nights and the rivalry with the early oughts Santa Clara teams are some of my favorite soccer-viewing memories as a kid.
For those who didn't watch Pilots-era Sinc, it's hard to describe how dominant she was. It's a shame she was already 30 by the time the NWSL came around, because young Sinc wasn't only big and smart, she was *fast* fast. I think she sometimes gets typecast as this Abby Wambach-type Striker, but that wasn't her game at all: She was a great hold up player and was smart enough to drop in the hole and create as she did for much of her time in the NWSL, but her combination of size and speed in behind was a much bigger part of her game than many (often including myself, after watching the last five years or so of her career) tend to remember. Just an elite, best-of-the-best, all around center forward, who also happens to be one of the greatest teammates of all time.
Bummed I'll be out of town for her final home game, but I'm sure it'll be a lovely night.
https://x.com/ThornsFC/status/1839702847845183747
Good point about her age when NWSL started. Amazing to think how many goals she would have scored if she could have mover from Merlo/Pilots to Providence/Thorns.
The fact that Sinc is still 5th (?) all time for goals scored in this league is insane when you remember she started playing in it at 30 years old.
Third. She's third in goals scored in NWSL, and it doesn't look like anyone will catch her soon. Such a player.
Really cool that the Thorns have made their Twitter logo "Thank You Sinc."
The end of an era. The best player I've ever seen. I watched her first game at UP and I am heartbroken that I am out of the country on November 1. Retire her number and put her name up on the honor board.
I really hope we retire her number.
Can you imagine being the rookie saying "I totally want to play number 12"?
Not too worried.
Build the statue.
I moved to North Portland in 1999, and was immediately joined Clive’s Army. It’s hard to describe how good those early Oughts Pilots and Sinclair were. I lost track of her after 2005 until her allocation here before 2013. Her 2013 cemented my perception of her as a great player.
Weird memory; final regular season game, Starfire, Parlow Cone seemed content with the road point since the team had clinched…and Sinc was “fuck THAT”, seized the match by the throat to score the matchwinner.
Heath gets all the press for “stand there and look pretty” but that was Sinc’s star. She drove that squad like a team of horses. I’ll never forget that.
I wish she’d done this after the ‘22 star. But once she hangs ‘em up, it’s all good. I hope that my matchday routine in 2025 includes offering up a libation to the Soccer Gods at the statue of their Avatar.
I'm sorry it feels like a relief rather than a celebration sometimes. Still, Thorns only have a few games left and don't appear to be going anywhere this season. I'm happy to have the last home games as a farewell tour and celebration for one of the best soccer players any of us has ever seen.
Odds she works "fuck Seattle" into her farewell address?
Thinking pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Pinoe worked some Portland shittalk into her number retirement ceremony so I hope so! The legend must live on...
Been an honour watching Sinc for these many years. Uncanny blend of smarts, skill, strategy and strength set her apart and made her the GOAT.
Imagine folks who saw her with the Pilots feel even more emotional about this day.
Happen to have some pics of her playing vs. Marta at Providence. Talk about too much talent in one small space.
Go let her know how you feel in person.
2002 College Cup Final. UP vs Santa Clara. Into 2nd OT and Pilots keeper gets injured. Sinc scores to win the first National Championship for UP and Clive Charles. At least that’s how I remember it. So many great moments. 39 goals in one college season. The London Olympics hat trick. We’re so lucky to be able to have watched her all these years. I’m old enough to remember watching Jim Brown play football, and Sinc always reminds me of him in that there is never a moment wasted.
Build the Statue. Right in front of PP. A Portland Legend.
I hope that the ownership situation does not complicate the matter of starting a Thorns "Ring of Honor" in the Park. Probably shouldn't be an issue...
The timbers don't own the park. Isn't it owned by the City? Either way, she is tight with merit, so I don't see anyone getting in her way.
The City has ZERO say on what goes up in the Ring of Honor.
Technically I think the ground is owned by the MAC Club but leased to City of Portland, which is the titleholder for Civic Stadium...which Peregrine Sports leases from the City. RAJ is a subtenant of Peregrine.
That said, Merritt and Sinc go waaayyyyy back. She's be a staunch Merritt supporter. I doubt he'll make it difficult to put her banner up...
It likely complicates the issue quite a lot. I can't think of any rings of honor in other sports stadiums that are not owned by the team owner.
Nah... It's just a sign. The Thorns sale and related sublease of Providence Park definitely includes clauses about putting Thorns signage up.
What a player. What a person. Retire the number. Build the statue.
I am also sorry that it feels like a relief. My first introduction to Sinclair was in the old WPS with FC Gold Pride here in the SF Bay Area. As the only scoring threat during the first season, the opposition could focus on her. In the second season (the team's last) when Marta joined, Sinclair was freed up to become the second threat.
When the NWSL started with no Bay Area team, I became a Portland Thorns fan, primarily because I had lived in Oregon for a while and liked Portland quite a lot.
In any event, I had hoped 4 or so years ago that Sinclair would retire at that time as I saw her pace become slower and slower (she never was particularly fast), and her goal scoring drop precipitously. And when she announced her retirement from the Canadian National Team, I thought she'd finish the job by retiring from the Thorns at the same time.
In any event, put her number on a banner somewhere. And all the best to her doing what ever she decides to do in the future.
name the new training center and any future thorns stadium after her. NWSL should consider naming cup after for all she has done for womens soccer the world around.
Uuuhhh, nope. If you want to name a cup after anyone it would be Mia Hamm.
Personally, I prefer cups named for what they are. "Champion". "Grand Prix."
wow didn't realize she played in the NWSL or certainly.
Mia Hamm did not play in the NWSL. ("Old Girl" by then.) But seeing that it's her silhouette in the NWSL logo, if the championship trophy is named after anyone, it would be her.
I realized. But as much as I love ia Hamm, Sinc is still the goat and to me was key in NWSL success. I do appreciate Hamm as a pioneer and she was very good just not sinc good.
You might be a fair bit younger than I am. Mia Hamm ruled women's soccer world wide in her day. She was the first to appear in nationwide TV ads, and insisted that several of her World Cup-winning teammates appeared with her on the screen. She held the most goals scored in the world for quite a long time, retiring from the game before Wambach became a household name. Was a force behind the first professional women's soccer in the United States, if not the world. Sinclair might have had no professional league to play in were it not for Mia Ham. And for that matter, Sinclair would have had fewer international games to play in to finally surpass Hamm's and Wambachs records. Perhaps watch some USWNT film from the 1990s.
Unlike Canada, USWNT of Hamm's era didn't depend on only one player to score goals. I'm not the only one that has said that, had Sinclair been American, she would have been out of the USWNT a decade before leaving Canada's.
It's not Hamm's silhouette in the logo (the WPS logo was hers) but it's another non-famous player in the NWSL logo. https://equalizersoccer.com/2020/07/25/nwsl-beginnings-league-logo-untold-story-silhouette/
I've watched her since her freshman year at UP. Amazing person. I hope she coaches.
Fun stories emerging from the early years, and here's some fun lore from Steph Yang, former-Thorns-fan-turned-media-person re: some souvenirs from the 2013 Championship...
https://x.com/thrace/status/1839702544781553877
2002 College Cup final. 2 OTs. Sinc scores winning goal after #1 Pilot keeper is injured. First National Championship for UP and Clive
Y'all there is some crazy whistleblower stuff going on in the Thorns reddit page about the org. I'm not gonna post the stuff here, so we can keep the discussion focused on positive Sinc things here, but please go read the comments I made in the "The GOAT hangs up her boots" thread (The newest Podcast thread.)
Well, I commented at more length on the other thread, but I'll join y'all on the "fire everyone train," assuming this is all true. At this point, it seems like we gotta hope the Bhathals aren't totally out of the loop cause otherwise the offseason is gonna be a blood bath.
Not seeing that thread. Did it get whacked?
Comments are on the 'i must have missed the announcement' reddit thread.
Yeah, I just copied and pasted what they said and posted them here on STF (in the podcast thread) in case folks can't see reddit....
Not sure what to make of the Soph comments. I hope it's being overblown and not as toxic as it sounds. She's still liking some Thorns IG posts. I'd hate to lose her as a Thorn but this club really needs some attention and some tough decisions being made.
I suppose the question is whether she's "I'm done with this season" pissed or whether she's "I'm demanding a trade" pissed.
“Only speaking through her agent” is a pretty “I’m over alla this” type of thing to do imo. I haven’t seen her in any of the pics from the extended stay in socal. Lots of players have been posting pics and I haven’t seen one with her in it….which was curious to me considering it’s a 3 game away trip.
It's on the newest podcast thread. I'm the only one who has posted so far. I still see it bc I just edited it...