The Portland Thorns announced Thursday that striker Sophia Wilson has been removed from the maternity leave list ahead of the 2026 NWSL season and is now available for selection.
Wilson spent last season on leave after giving birth to her daughter Gianna in September of 2025. She had said in January that she hoped to be ready for the NWSL regular season, which the Thorns begin on March 13 against the Washington Spirit.
Before that, the Thorns will play Liga MX Femenil side Monterrey in a friendly on Friday, March 6, in which Wilson could make her first appearance since playing for the United States on Oct. 27, 2024.
Formerly Sophia Smith, she is married to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson.
During an appearance in January, Wilson said she hoped to take part in the SheBelieves Cup with the USWNT, but she was not ready to return to the national team in time for the tournament, which is currently underway in the U.S.
The 25-year-old forward was on the national team that won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Fans dubbed the front line of Wilson, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson “Triple Espresso.”
Also on the 2023 Women’s World Cup squad, Wilson has played in 58 games with the national team, scoring 24 goals. She was named U.S. Soccer women’s Player of the Year in 2022 and Young Player of the Year in 2017.
“I spent a year off and learned a lot about myself and who I am when I am not playing,” Wilson said in January. “I think that was good for me but I’m excited to be back because I am a soccer player and it’s what I love to do, so I have a fresh new energy coming in this year.”
In five seasons with the Thorns, Wilson has scored 44 goals across all competitions. She was named the NWSL’s MVP in 2022 after helping Portland win the championship. She won the Golden Boot in 2023, when she led the league with 11 goals.
A Colorado native, Wilson was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NWSL draft out of Stanford, where she helped the Cardinal win the 2019 College Cup title.
Wilson exercised the player option of her contract to spend an additional club season in Portland in December.
The United States beat Argentina in its opener at the SheBelieves Cup and then saw off Canada on Wednesday to take top spot in the competition. The USWNT plays its last game of the tournament on Saturday against Colombia.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
