Christine Sinclair, who led Portland to 3 NWSL titles, to be honoured in final regular-season match

Through all the matches, goals and titles, Christine Sinclair's favourite memory of the Thorns was one of her earliest, when she walked on the field in Portland for the very first National Women's Soccer League season.

More that 16,000 fans were at Providence Park for the Thorns' home opener in 2013, a harbinger of the sport's popularity in Portland in years to come.

"It was very special and just something that not many players in that opening year got to experience playing in their home parks," she said. "So it was just special and I was so proud to be able to call Portland home in that moment and share it with my teammates because I knew that was possible."

The 41-year-old Sinclair, who helped the Thorns win the inaugural NWSL championship in 2013 and titles in 2017 and 2022, is retiring from professional soccer at the end of the season. She'll be honoured Friday night when the Thorns host Angel City in the final game of the regular season.

It happens to be an important match, too. The Thorns need a win or a draw to outright capture a playoff spot. With a loss to Angel City, they'll need to be helped by other results.

That means Friday night may not be Sinclair's last match, but it's a way for the fans to celebrate the Portland icon just in case. While Sinclair is proudly Canadian, she played for the University of Portland and has called the city home since then.

"The Thorns, I think, showed the world what was possible when women's sports were invested into. And now looking around the NWSL, the WNBA, professional hockey, it's incredible to see the growth. And I'd like to think that Portland had a little bit of the start of it," she said. "I'm proud to have been able to experience it and been a part of the growth, and