Four Thorns have allocated player status for the 2021 NWSL season

The National Women’s Soccer League announced on Thursday the list of allocated players from Canada and U.S. Soccer for the 2021 NWSL season. These players have their salaries paid for by U.S. Soccer Federation or Canada Soccer. There are 22 allocated players from U.S. Soccer and 10 from Canada Soccer, including four players from Portland Thorns FC: Sophia Smith, Christine Sinclair, Adrianna Franch, and Becky Sauerbrunn.

It was announced yesterday that both Lindsey Horan and Crystal Dunn would not be on this list as they were signed to three-year contracts with Portland Thorns FC. This means that instead of U.S. Soccer being responsible for their salaries, the club themselves will pay it. Smith has been designated as a New Allocated Player in 2021 while Sinclair, Franch, and Sauerbrunn previously had allocation status.

The NWSL release can be found here, as well as the full list of allocated players for all ten NWSL clubs.