Soccer fans will have a chance honour one of the greatest players of all time tonight. Nov. 1.
Burnaby's Christine Sinclair will play in her final professional regular season match when the Portland Thorns host Angel City FC at Providence Park.
It could be the last time Sinclair takes the pitch.
However, mathematically, the Thorns still have a chance to make the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) playoffs.
it’s the end of an era 🐐 #ThankYouSinc pic.twitter.com/F8xJ1M9orQ
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) October 31, 2024
Sinclair announced at the end of September that she would be retiring from professional soccer at the end of the year.
She was one of the first members of the Portland Thorns and is the only player that has been with the club throughout its 12-year existence.
In 203 appearances with the Thorns, Sinclair has 71 goals and has three NWSL titles with the club in 2013, 2017 and 2022.
Sixty-four goals have come in the regular season, which is a record for the Thorns and third most in NWSL history.
Sinclair retired from international play with Team Canada in December 2023.
The 41-year-old forward scored 190 international goals representing Canada on the world stage, which is the most all-time in both men and women's play.
Although Sinclair's playing career is ending, Vancouver Rise FC of the Northern Super League, Canada's new professional women's soccer league with its inaugural season set for 2025, announced in October that Sinclair had joined its ownership group alongside majority owner Greg Kerfoot.
“Growing up in Burnaby, I would have never imagined becoming an owner of a professional women’s soccer club in my hometown,” Sinclair said in a Vancouver Rise FC announcement release.
“I want every little girl in British Columbia and Canada to be inspired to play or coach or manage — see the opportunity for women in sport. I’m so excited to be a part of this movement, and to be able to share my passion to help this club grow.”
Sinclair is also set to be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in June 2025.
Kickoff between Angel City FC and the Portland Thorns is at 7 p.m. PST.
