Christine Sinclair to be honored as first Portland Thorn in team's hall of fame and have her iconic #12 jersey retired

In July, the team announced Canada Women’s National Team and Portland Thorns legend Christine Sinclair would be inducted into the club’s inaugural hall of fame - becoming the first player to hold that honor.

Today, the club also announced that she'll also have her iconic No. 12 retired at Providence Park.

On October 4, before the Portland Thorns take on Bay FC they will have a ceremony for the greatest footballer of all time.

Jersey retirements in football are extraordinary, especially in the NWSL. Lauren Holiday, Megan Rapinoe, and Alex Morgan are the only players in the league's history to hold that honor, and now Christine Sinclair will join them.

The No. 12 represents excellence in the highest regard.

At the University of Portland, she helped guide the Pilots two National Championships (2002, 2005). She was also awarded college soccer’s highest individual honor — the MAC Hermann Trophy — in 2004 and 2005.

Internationally and professionally, she has played for over 25 years, making her debut for Canada in 2000.

Over her 12 seasons with the Portland Thorns, Sinclair leads the way in many categories: 79 goals across all NWSL competitions (second most in league history), most matches played (237), games started (215), minutes played (18,579).

Thanks to her leadership and excellence, the Portland Thorns have won three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, the 2021 Women’s International Champions Cup and the 2020 Fall Series.

Internationally, she is the greatest goalscorer of all time, with 190 goals. In 2021, Sinclair and Canada won the Olympic Gold Medal for the first time in their country’s history.

There is no one more deserving of these honors than Christine Sinclair.

What's next? A statue.