PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have been recognized by the Portland Business Journal’s 2018 Women of Influence Awards, honoring the region’s most influential business women from every industry and profession, it was announced today.
The award was designed to honor women who have made a difference in their communities, blazing a trail for others and leaving a mark on the Pacific Northwest community. The winners were selected from a group of nominees with the following criteria: established business leaders with a strong record of innovation in their field, women with outstanding performances in their field or a clear track record of meaningful community involvement.
In 2017, Thorns FC won their second NWSL Championship in five seasons, posting a 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage on Oct. 14 at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Fla. With the win, Thorns FC became just the second club in league history to win multiple NWSL Championships. Thorns FC have helped set the standard as a model women’s sports team, drawing more fans than any professional women’s sports team in the world. Portland led the NWSL in attendance for a fifth consecutive season in 2017, averaging a record 17,653 fans per match during the regular season.
As part of the team’s community platform, Stand Together, players participated in the club’s annual Stand Together Week, working at various volunteer projects throughout the greater Portland area, painting houses for Habitat for Humanity, planting community gardens at Kateri Park and hula-hooping with students at recess. Additionally, Thorns FC helped host the second-annual Girl Strong Clinic, where 130 underserved girls from five area nonprofits participated in soccer drills and fun games alongside the players. In addition, throughout the season the team honored 26 young girls as the “Girls of the Game” for their positive contributions to their community.
Thorns FC were among 25 award winners honored at the Women’s of Influence Awards Luncheon in downtown Portland this week.
