PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC today announced that the club has signed defender Kelli Hubly to a two-year contract.
“We are pleased to re-sign Kelli. She is a player who has shown tremendous growth during her time in Portland, exhibiting a strong work ethic and commitment to the club,” said Karina LeBlanc, Thorns FC general manager. “She has played an integral role in not only our success on the field but helping to establish a strong foundation off the field.”
The 2022 season will mark her sixth season with the club after signing short-term contracts during both the 2017 and 2018 seasons as a national team replacement player. Across all competitions with Portland, Hubly has appeared in 49 matches, making 36 starts, playing a key role in helping the club secure the 2020 Community Shield, 2021 Challenge Cup, 2021 Women’s International Champions Cup and 2021 NWSL Shield. In 2021, Hubly appeared in 18 matches, including 12 starts, as part of a defensive unit that set an NWSL single-season record for shutouts (13).
“Kelli’s speed, athleticism and ability to read the field are key attributes that allow her to play multiple positions across different tactical plans, and I’m thrilled to be working with her,” said Thorns FC head coach Rhian Wilkinson. “She has established herself as an exceptional teammate and someone who brings a lot to the group off the field.”
Following the conclusion of her collegiate career at DePaul, Hubly began training with Thorns FC in 2017 and made her professional debut as a national team replacement player on July 15, 2017, against the North Carolina Courage. She began the 2018 campaign in the same role, earning her first professional start on March 24, 2018 against North Carolina, before officially signing with the club on April 27, 2018.
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