1 - After being selected with the number one pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, defender Emily Sonnett started in 15 matches for Portland Thorns FC in the 2016 NWSL regular season on the way to helping the club win its first NWSL Shield for the best regular-season record.
“I think getting drafted to Portland was a dream in itself. I was very excited getting over here, and the pace of life is different when you’re coming from the East Coast. I think the team performed very well. I think getting to play with some of the best players in the world for my development was huge. We stuck to our game plan and did everything the coaching staff wanted us to do. We came up short in the NWSL playoffs, but we have a lot of players coming back from last year. I’m looking forward to the start of the season and trying to go even further.”
2 - The NWSL and Thorns FC will be entering their historic fifth professional season.
“I think it’s huge. I think it’s the best league in the world. Being able to have a fifth year and hopefully have expansion teams and just growing the sport and women’s sports in general will be huge. I’m looking forward to this season and the years to come.”
3 - After living in the city for a year, Sonnett has picked out some of her go-to restaurants in Portland.
“Dick’s Kitchen is very good.
I get the Thai bowl with turkey. KURE Juice Bar is really good. Cheryl’s on 12th for brunch is absolutely amazing. Their Portuguese fried rice is so good.”
4 - If Sonnett were stranded on an island, she would pick Tobin Heath to help her figure out the keys to survival.
“I think she has hidden knowledge about survival. She would figure out how to open a coconut in two seconds. Her survival skills would help, but just being on an island with Tobin would be fun because of her personality.”
5 - Growing up, U.S. Women’s National Team defender and FC Kansas City’s Becky Sauerbrunn was Sonnett’s favorite player.
“She’s my role model, and now I get to play with her and I try to emulate my game after her. I think she’s calm on the ball, reads the game well and her attitude and professionalism are out of this world.”
