A member of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup winning U.S. squad, Meghan Klingenberg arrives to Portland Thorns FC with excellent experience. She played every minute of the 2015 tournament and has been a key player for the past two seasons with the Houston Dash in the NWSL.
U.S. Soccer and Sports Illustrated both did great profiles Klingenberg during the build up to the Women's World Cup. The SI one is interesting in part as Klingenberg talks about her drive to make the jump from her place in the USWNT's alternate training squad at the 2014 Summer Olympics to the senior team for the World Cup:
That drive paid off with Klingenberg helping the USWNT put together 540 minutes without allowing a goal during the Women's World Cup. Klingenberg's defensive chops were on display with this incredible goal line headed clearance against Sweden in the team's 0-0 draw during the group stage.
And while Klingenberg is a defender, she has scored a few goals in her time perhaps none such as stunning as this golazo against Haiti in the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championships. The strike made the No. 1 play on ESPN Sportscenter Top 10 plays. Keep an eye out for now current Thorns teammate Tobin Heath talking about the goal:
Heath and Klingenberg also combined nicely two months ago when the USWNT beat Costa Rica 8-0 in Klingenberg's hometown of Pittsburgh during the Victory Tour. Scoring the team's fifth goal on a great feed from Heath, Klingenberg was lauded by color commentator Cat Whitehall who spoke about how she was one of the best players in the recent Women's World Cup:
Finally, we leave you with two of Klingenberg's own "MEGisodes" from her YouTube channel that charts her trip home to Pittsburgh to play with the USWNT:
