The Portland Thorns announced on Thursday that striker Sophia Wilson has been activated from the maternity leave list as she prepares for the 2026 NWSL season, making her available for selection.
Wilson took last season off following the birth of her daughter, Gianna, in September 2025. In January, she expressed optimism about being ready for the NWSL regular season, which the Thorns will kick off on March 13 against the Washington Spirit.
Prior to the regular season, the Thorns will compete in a friendly against Liga MX Femenil’s Monterrey on March 6, where Wilson may make her first appearance since representing the United States on October 27, 2024.
Now known as Sophia Wilson, she is married to Michael Wilson, a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.
During a January interview, Wilson hoped to participate in the SheBelieves Cup with the USWNT but was unable to return to the national team in time for the ongoing tournament.
The 25-year-old forward was part of the national team that secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Fans fondly referred to the striking trio of Wilson, Trinity Rodman, and Mallory Swanson as the “Triple Espresso.”
Wilson was also part of the 2023 Women’s World Cup squad and has played 58 matches for the national team, scoring 24 goals. She was named U.S. Soccer’s women’s Player of the Year in 2022 and received the Young Player of the Year award in 2017.
“I took a year off and learned a lot about myself during that time,” Wilson reflected in January. “It was beneficial, but I’m thrilled to return because soccer is my passion, and I feel reinvigorated this year.”
In her five seasons with the Thorns, Wilson has netted 44 goals across all competitions. She earned the NWSL MVP title in 2022, contributing to Portland’s championship victory, and won the Golden Boot in 2023 with a league-leading 11 goals.
A native of Colorado, Wilson was the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft after a successful collegiate career at Stanford, where she helped the Cardinal clinch the 2019 College Cup title.
In December, Wilson opted to exercise her player option to spend another season with the Thorns.
The United States opened the SheBelieves Cup with a victory over Argentina and followed up with a win against Canada to secure the top spot in the competition. The USWNT will conclude the tournament with a match against Colombia on Saturday.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.