Wilson returns from maternity leave in Thorns' NWSL opener victory - ESPN

Portland Thorns forward Sophia Wilson returned to the pitch in a competitive match for the first time in over a year on Friday in her team's 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit at Audi Field to open the 2026 NWSL season.

Wilson, the 2022 NWSL MVP, gave birth to her daughter in September and spent all last year on maternity leave. She entered Friday's match as a substitute in the 77th minute. Midfielder Olivia Moultrie scored the lone goal in the 52nd minute to lift Portland to victory.

Wilson, who starred for the United States in its 2024 Olympic gold-medal run, had last played for the Thorns in their 2024 quarterfinal, 488 days earlier. She announced in early 2025 that she was expecting her first child.

«Being her mom is just the most special thing ever,» Wilson said on the Prime Video broadcast before the match. «I feel so lucky. I think it just makes me feel like I'm playing for something so much bigger than what I was playing for before.»

For the first time since 2024...
MVP. Golden Boot Winner. Gigi's Mom.

Sophia Wilson returns to the NWSL. pic.twitter.com/12qzoEMVfa

Wilson registered a shot on goal in second-half stoppage time.

«What we spoke about this morning was not only to come back, but to actually try to push her to be even better than she was before,» new Thorns head coach Robert Vilahamn said after the match.

«A few of the players I have had, they have had a baby and they come back even stronger, even more motivated, and I think I am going to try to push her every [way] I can to make sure she gets back into the national team and make sure she can dominate this league and football for this country.»

Friday's game was a rematch of the 2025 NWSL semifinal in November, which the Spirit won 2-0. The Spirit