Portland Thorns win National Women's Soccer League championship

Washington DC - The Portland Thorns took home the title at the National Women's Soccer League championship on Saturday after a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current.

The Portland Thorns celebrate their victory in the NWSL championship on Saturday night.
The Portland Thorns celebrate their victory in the NWSL championship on Saturday night.  © Ira L. Black / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

The championship marks the team's third NWSL title after having won in 2013 and 2017, which is the most of any team in the league.

The championship matchup was aired in prime time on CBS, the first time the game has ever aired in prime time on broadcast network television.

Sophia Smith was named the season's Most Valuable Player.

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"We've put in so much work this whole season. We've gone through a lot of stuff that isn't in the job description," the 22-year-old athlete said, per NPR.

"I felt so proud of our team because we've just gone through so much – and to be able to bring this back to our fans who have stuck with us through everything this year, it means so much to us."

The victory comes on the heels of a major abuse scandal that has rocked the entire league.

The victory brings a challenging year for The Portland Thorns to a close

The Portland Thorns were rocked by an abuse scandal that came to light earlier this month.
The Portland Thorns were rocked by an abuse scandal that came to light earlier this month.  © IMAGO/USA TODAY Network

A shocking report by the US Soccer Federation released earlier this month revealed systemic abuse by coaches.

The Portland Thorns were particularly impacted, as the report led owner Merritt Paulson to step down from his role.

The report accused Paulson of hiding his knowledge of abuse perpetrated by a former coach for the Thorns, among other allegations.

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"I cannot apologize enough for our role in a gross systemic failure to protect player safety and the missteps we made in 2015," Paulson said in a statement.

Some fans attending the championship held signs that read "Support The Players."

The Thorns players remarked that although the scandal has been immensely difficult for the team, it has provided an opportunity to find strength through solidarity.

"We are a very close team off the field and we knew that these things would potentially derail us, so a lot of conversations were to stay process-based," goalkeeper Bella Bixby said.

"We know that some days are going to be hard for some people, so when we can just come together and bear that burden with them, we're able to balance it out," she continued.

Cover photo: Ira L. Black / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

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