In one moment on Sunday, Sophia Wilson scored in stoppage time and the Portland Thorns went on to defeat Angel City 2-1 in Los Angeles.
It was Wilson’s first goal since her return this season after taking maternity leave last year for the birth of her daughter.
Wilson scored her last goal for her club back on Nov. 1, 2024. That’s a span of 541 days.
Blowing kisses
Surrounded by her teammates in celebration, Wilson wiped away tears of joy.
Then she blew kisses into the stands and made a heart with her hands, likely in a sign of love to baby Gigi. (Wilson has said that because she’s still breast feeding, Gigi goes everywhere mom goes)
Watching online was Trinity Rodman who proclaimed: “Guys! She’s crying! Guys, my heart! That was a really good goal, too.”
Afterward, Wilson was interviewed on the broadcast.
”I mean, it was definitely a long time coming. I tried not to put too much pressure on myself coming back and playing at this level. But I really needed a goal, if I’m being completely honest. And I think once I get one, hopefully more will come. But I’m really proud of our team, most of all, just for grinding out the win.”
And then, heartbreak
Just a few hours later, the game revealed how cruel it can be. Just days after she announced plans to retire at the end of the season, Jess Fishlock was stretchered off the field in Seattle with an aircast on her left leg during a match against the Utah Royals.
Fishlock was hit by a teammate’s shot, fell to the ground and raised her arm to call on training staff.
There was no word on her condition early Monday.
Last of the originals
Fishlock is last of ‘The Originals,’ players who have played with a single club since the start of the league. Others, including Megan Rapinoe, Christine Sinclair, and Lu Barnes have all retired in the past several years.
Fishlock was the 2021 League MVP and a seven-time Best XI selection. She ranks second on the club with 49 goals and first with 30 career assists.
In a news conference last week, Fishlock said she put off her retirement because of the joy and excitement she has with the current team.
“I wasn’t ready to leave the group that we have and the journey that we’re on,” Fishlock said. “I wanted to give that another year, and I think that it just really a credit to the group that we have and obviously what Laura [Harvey] is doing. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to that yet.”
At 39, Fishlock knew that there would inevitably be questions about her future. She had signed a one-year contract with the Reign through 2026.
“I think I knew pretty early on that this was going to be my last, announcing it just kind of makes sense to me because I don’t really want to go the rest of the season kind of evading all your questions,” she said.
It makes what happened Sunday at Lumen all the more heartbreaking.
”She is a big part of the group, obviously, for who she is and what she’s done and the leadership role she plays within our group,” Harvey said. “It’s hard to say right now how the group’s really responding because there’s just so much unknown, to be honest.”
Links:
ESPN’s Power Rankings after the weekend.
This was cool: Gotham and Mamdani push affordable $5 tickets.
KC Current team valuation rises.
A look at the controversial plans for an NWSL facility in a Columbus park.
The Legacy is still searching for a first win.
The awesome folks at the IX with their NWSL recap of the weekend’s action.
Wave give Kristen McNabb a contract extension through 2027
What to know about the league’s 18th team in Columbus.
The annual Forbes list of most valuable NWSL teams was released.
I wrote about the Houston Dash last week. And then they lost. I’m a curse.
Arthur Blank breaks ground on Atlanta NWSL training facility.
Jeff Rueter of the Guardian opines on a potential NWSL calendar shift.
This broke my heart, Missy Bo Kearns recounts her miscarriage.
Women’s sport should not shy away from criticism.
Chelsea makes Bunny Shaw an offer. I mean, who wouldn’t?
Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women’s Sports Daily
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women’s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women’s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!
“Becoming Caitlin Clark” is out now!
Howard Megdal’s newest book is here! “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar” captures both the historic nature of Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.
Order ‘Rare Gems’ and save 30%
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The IX Basketball and The IX Sports, wrote this deeply reported book. “Rare Gems” follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.
If you enjoy Megdal’s coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX Sports, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout to save 30%!
Your business can reach over 3 million women’s sports fans every single month!
Here at The IX Basketball and The IX Sports, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women’s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at BAlarie@theixsports.com to discuss ways to work together.
Mondays: Soccer
By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer
Tuesdays: Tennis
By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer
Wednesdays: Basketball
By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The IX Sports
Thursdays: Golf
By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX Sports
Fridays: Hockey
By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden
Saturdays: Gymnastics
By: Jessica Taylor Price, @jesstaylorprice, Freelance Writer