Thorns star Christine Sinclair announces retirement

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Christine Sinclair, the Canadian superstar who is the Portland Thorns all-time statistical leader, announced her retirement.

Sinclair, who signed a one-year deal with Portland through the 2024 season, made announcement on Friday, the Thorns confirmed on X.

The 41-year-old is the only player who's been part of every title the Thorns have ever won. She had previously retired from international soccer in 2023, where she was the all-time leader for international goals scored -- for men or women -- with 190 goals.

Sinclair played for the University of Portland from 2001-2005 and had a stellar college career.

She was named Freshman of the Year by Soccer America after scoring 23 goals and was a consensus All-America Selection. Sinclair was awarded the Hermann Trophy, honoring the top women’s soccer player in the country, in both 2004 and 2005 (only the fourth player ever at the time to win the award back-to-back)

While she was there, U-P won the NCAA Championships in 2002 and 2005, and scored the title-winning golden goal in 2002. During her senior year at UP she set the all-time Division I women’s scoring record at 39 goals, a record she still holds. That year she also won the Honda-Broderick Cup, which is given to the top female athlete across all NCAA sports.

And though she never won it, she was nominated for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year seven times.

Sinclair showed her love for Portland early on. She told the NWSL she would only play in the league if she was able to play with Portland -- and has been with the team since its inception in 2013.

“I've been very fortunate. When the NWSL formed, I made it clear to the people in power that Portland was the only city I was going to play in," she told the Associated Press. "It's my home and it will be my home forever. Being part of this organization through the ups and the downs, it's been one of the great honors of my career.”

KOIN 6 News will have more information soon.