Latest news with #PortlandThorns
Fox News
15-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Portland WNBA franchise returns with revived name and will begin play in 2026
Sometimes, moving forward means going back in time, and that's exactly what the WNBA's Portland expansion franchise did this week. The WNBA announced Tuesday that the expansion franchise will be named the Portland Fire, reprising the name from the previous WNBA franchise that played in Portland from 2000 to 2002. "Our feeling is that the Fire never died," interim Fire president Clare Hamill said. "Fans have been waiting for us to come back, and we're back with the Portland Fire." In addition to the name, the team has a new "Rose on Fire" logo and a color palette of red, brown, blue and pink. "As a city that has long championed women's sports, Portland is ready to reclaim its place in the WNBA and reignite its connection to the game on the world stage," Hamill said in a statement. "We are thrilled to complete the journey of bringing professional women's basketball back to the Rose City, while honoring the legacy of the original franchise to blaze a new, bold path forward." Portland was awarded a WNBA team in September. The team is run by Raj Sports, which also owns the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League. The Fire and the Thorns will share a new joint training complex in the first such partnership between the two women's leagues. The Fire have already sold more than 11,000 season tickets for the 2026 season, surpassing the WNBA's previous best. The team will play at the Moda Center, where the original Fire averaged about 8,000 fans a game. The Fire are not the only team the WNBA is introducing to the league next season. The Toronto Tempo will also begin play in 2026. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Mint
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Who is Tobin Heath? US women's soccer legend and two-time Olympic medallist retires after heartbreaking injury battle
Tobin Heath, one of America's greatest soccer players and two-time Olympic medallist, announced her retirement Thursday after struggling for three years with a devastating knee injury. The 37-year-old revealed the news on "The RE-CAP Show" podcast with her wife, former teammate Christen Press, breaking down as she described grieving the loss of her 'greatest gift'. Heath hasn't played since August 2022, when her left knee, damaged by cartilage holes discovered during 2021 Olympics prep, finally gave out after multiple surgeries, including a cartilage replacement. "I can't play soccer anymore, even casually," she confessed, describing the heartbreak when a ball rolls to her now, and 'my ability isn't there'. Heath leaves as a USWNT legend with 181 appearances, 36 goals, and trophy cases full of hardware: two World Cup titles (2015, 2019), two Olympic golds (2008, 2012), and two NWSL championships with Portland Thorns. Fans will forever remember her curling goal in the 2015 World Cup final against Japan, the exclamation point in a 5-2 victory. Teammates called her America's "most skillful player," famous for nutmegging opponents and street-soccer flair . Her career spanned clubs in France (PSG), England (Manchester United, Arsenal), and the NWSL, where she scored a championship-winning goal on a broken foot in 2013. Though heartbroken, Heath stays busy co-hosting "The RE-CAP Show" with Press and running their RE—INC lifestyle brand. She made history this year as the only woman in FIFA's technical study group for the men's Club World Cup. Retirement also makes her eligible for the National Soccer Hall of Fame, with voting expected soon.
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Tobin Heath announces retirement from soccer after lengthy injury absence
US international and two-time World Cup winner Tobin Heath announced her retirement on Thursday, after years away from the sport due to injury, disappointing her legions of fans who hoped she might one day retake the field. Famed for her cool demeanour and extraordinary intelligence on the pitch, Heath picked up two Olympic golds and won the NWSL championship twice with the Portland Thorns. 'I think I had a few more mountains I wanted to climb with football, even though I'm really grateful for the career that I had,' the 37-year-old forward said on her RE-CAP Show podcast. 'I get the question all the time 'So, are you coming back?' and kind of like, well, the writing's on the wall.' Heath last played for OL Reign and underwent season-ending knee surgery in September 2022 after suffering an injury. One of the most decorated figures in the wildly successful US Soccer program, she was named US Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in 2016 and earned 181 caps with the national team in her career. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion 'I never played to be famous or for people to care about me,' said Heath. 'I just played because I loved it.'
CNA
10-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Heath announces retirement after long absence and injuries
NEW YORK :United States two-time World Cup winner Tobin Heath announced her retirement on Thursday, after years away from the sport due to injury, disappointing her legions of fans who hoped she might one day retake the field. Famed for her cool demeanour and extraordinary intelligence on the pitch, Heath picked up two Olympic golds and won the NWSL championship twice with the Portland Thorns. "I think I had a few more mountains I wanted to climb with football, even though I'm really grateful for the career that I had," the 37-year-old forward said on her RE-CAP Show podcast. "I get the question all the time 'So, are you coming back?' and kind of like, well, the writing's on the wall." Heath last played for OL Reign and underwent season-ending knee surgery in September 2022 after suffering an injury. One of the most decorated figures in the wildly successful U.S. Soccer programme, she was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in 2016 and earned 181 caps with the national team in her career.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Heath announces retirement after long absence and injuries
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox NEW YORK - United States two-time World Cup winner Tobin Heath announced her retirement on Thursday, after years away from the sport due to injury, disappointing her legions of fans who hoped she might one day retake the field. Famed for her cool demeanour and extraordinary intelligence on the pitch, Heath picked up two Olympic golds and won the NWSL championship twice with the Portland Thorns. "I think I had a few more mountains I wanted to climb with football, even though I'm really grateful for the career that I had," the 37-year-old forward said on her RE-CAP Show podcast. "I get the question all the time 'So, are you coming back?' and kind of like, well, the writing's on the wall." Heath last played for OL Reign and underwent season-ending knee surgery in September 2022 after suffering an injury. One of the most decorated figures in the wildly successful U.S. Soccer programme, she was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in 2016 and earned 181 caps with the national team in her career. "I never played to be famous or for people to care about me," said Heath. "I just played because I loved it." REUTERS
