Portland Thorns striker Sophia Wilson has been removed from maternity leave ahead of the 2026 NWSL season, making her available for selection. The 25-year-old forward spent last season on leave after giving birth to her daughter Gianna in September 2025.

Wilson, formerly Sophia Smith, could make her first appearance since October 2024 when the Thorns face Monterrey in a friendly on March 6. She had expressed hope in January to return for the NWSL regular season opener against Washington Spirit on March 13. The Colorado native has scored 44 goals in five seasons with Portland and was named NWSL MVP in 2022.

A key player for the USWNT, Wilson was part of the gold medal-winning team at the Paris Olympics and has 24 goals in 58 national team appearances. Despite hoping to join the SheBelieves Cup roster, she wasn't ready to return to international duty. Wilson exercised her contract option to stay with Portland through 2026, continuing her decorated career that began when she was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NWSL draft out of Stanford.