Olivia Moultrie signs three year extension + latest Thorns signing & news
Olivia Moultrie signs three year extension + latest Thorns signing & news
Karina LeBlanc continues to add and solidify the future of the Portland Thorns roster.
Portland Thorns FC have extended the reigning U.S. Young Female Player of the Year Olivia Moultrie through the 2026 season.
Jessie Fleming, Hina Sugita, and Olivia Moultrie are now all on three year contracts with Sam Coffey expected to be next up to all match up their timelines. Karina LeBlanc in one offseason has added one of the biggest names in the world and brought back all the team’s top midfielders in one offseason.
Once RAJ Sports and the Bhathals took over, LeBlanc has made a ton of moves for the 2024 season and beyond.
In 2023, Moultrie tallied a career-high 1,205 minutes across 22 matches (12 starts). Offensively, the star contributed two goals and three assists for the Thorns.
Reaction to her Extension
Olivia Moultrie
“I chose to stay and play in Portland because I feel like this club has every piece needed to achieve excellence -- the roster, the staff, the ownership and of course the incredible supporters that create an unrivaled environment for every game. I absolutely cannot wait to continue to build towards achieving greatness with this club, and of course winning championships!”
Karina LeBlanc
“From the beginning of her journey Olivia’s drive and determination to achieve at the highest levels has been apparent, she is one who has always sought to be the best, no matter the obstacles that she may face, and she has always desired to do so as a member of the Portland Thorns. We are excited to have her with us for this next stage of her career and cannot wait to watch her reach new heights as a member of the Thorns.”
Mike Norris
“We are really happy and proud to have Olivia commit her future with us at the Thorns. She is a pioneer for what we have seen in recent years, and we are excited to see her commitment to her continued development,” Head Coach Mike Norris said. “She has a tremendous attitude for growth and winning, and we look forward to seeing her grow into the world class player we all believe she can be.”
What’s Next?
Olivia Moultrie is one of the team’s hardest working players. Her incredible work ethic makes her ceiling as a player continuing to rise. She is consistently staying after training to put in even more work and perfecting all the small details of her game. In three years, she has turned into one of the most promising young midfielders in the world.
Her ascension into greatness hit new heights in 2023. Moultrie helped lead the United States at the 2023 U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as a result saw her earn a call-up to the Senior National Team in October. Moultrie made her debut against China PR on December 2 in the team’s 3-0 victory. Later this month, Moultrie will compete with the USWNT at the first-ever CONCACAF W Gold Cup.
In 2024, Moultrie will be starting in what arguably could be the best midfield in NWSL and one of the best in football. Expect her to take another leap forward in her first year as a full time starter. Being surrounded by Fleming, Sugita, and Coffey will help her game hit another level this season and beyond.
You can listen to Phuoc, Sam and Wilder chat about her extension and trajectory for the future in the second episode of Stumptown Radio:
Thorns sign German international Marie Müller
Once new ownership took over, general manager Karina LeBlanc has made some massive moves to shore up the roster. However, it also highlights the Portland Thorns’ coaching staff and their scouting capabilities: Mike Norris, Sarah Lowdon, Rob Gale, and Vytas. They are their hard work and ability to identify talent will continue to shine under new governors, Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal.
As Mike Norris stated in last week’s first preseason media availability, there were three more signings imminent. We knew one would be Jessie Fleming. These last two were expected to be additions to the backline.
And one of those was made a few weeks ago.
Portland Thorns FC acquired German defender Marie Müller from SC Freiburg, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate. Müller signed with the club through the 2025 season, with a mutual option for the 2026 season. Additionally, Müller will occupy an international spot.
Karina LeBlanc and Mike Norris on the addition of Marie Müller
“We are thrilled to be able to welcome Marie to Portland. She is a well-experienced player who has appeared in more than 100 matches in a notoriously competitive league. She is enthusiastic to play in front of our incredible fans and be a part of this team and this community.”
“Marie is a very exciting young player that we are very pleased to add to our roster. She is a versatile and tenacious wide player with an attacking mindset. She has all the physical capabilities to excel in our team and to match the demands of this league.”
What to Expect
At the international level, Müller has competed at various stages throughout the Germany Youth National Team System, including at the U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the UEFA U-19 Women’s Championship. Müller was part of the 2016 UEFA U-17 Women’s Championship team.
Although she prefers to be in midfield, SC Freiburg moved her to left back with immense success. Similar to Reyna Reyes who comes with midfield experience, Marie Müller will have the chance to excel in this system that puts a lot of the attacking responsibilities on the fullbacks. Müller is naturally right footed as is Reyes. Mike Norris will likely place Marie Muller at left back while Reyes who has seen starts at both spots, on the right.
Mike Norris has made it clear with this recent addition that he wants his fullbacks to have skills that allow them to dribble, attack, elude pressure, and more. For better or worse, the Portland Thorns play their fullbacks so high up they look like two more midfielders.
Marie Müller has all the attributes of a midfielder at fullback as does Reyna Reyes. They are both incredible in the air and in possession. Expect the team to have more spells of the ball this year and score more off set pieces. Müller’s upside and versatility makes this a good pickup.
Grade: B+
Thorns at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup
Joining Sophia Smith, Sam Coffey, and Olivia Moultrie on the USWNT for the CONCACAF W Gold Cup will be Becky Sauerbrunn.
Jessie Fleming (Canada) and Reyna Reyes (Mexico) will also be playing for their countries, respectively.
Not even sure how I stumbled across this while on Instagram, but there’s a U19 Brazilian player that was in Portland as of a week ago who I think may be a new player addition….
Her name is Lara Dantas and she’s the captain of the Brazilian U19s. She’s been playing at IMG Academy, from what I can gather, and is a midfielder. She’s a Nike athlete.
She’s followed by (and follows) Sam, Janine, Hubly, Moultrie, Sinc, Kling, Sophia, Isabella Obaze, and Katie Duong. She has a recent post of her time in Portland, including a picture with Sinc. She also follows the Thorns. 👀
She also follows that gal Mallie Mckenzie, the NRI from UGA who was announced elsewhere about being invited to the Thorns preseason camp (she wasn’t picked up in the draft, but is a RB, if I remember correctly)…but was never on the club released preseason roster. This makes me think we do have more players there than they’re letting on, and that she (and this Lara Dantas) are practicing with the team….Mallie also follows a bunch of Thorns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hOy_7TB1M
Fleming interview:
"I'm especially excited for the midfield. Getting to play with Hina, Liv, and Sam Coffey was definitely a big draw for me."
Also talks about how she sees herself as "halfway between a 10 and a 6," (sounds like an 8 to me, Jessie!), but also how she likes picking the ball up deep. I still think there's a decent chance we see formations where she's the deepest-lying midfielder in the lineup....not a pure 6 necessarily, but as a real deep-lying playmaker type.