U.S. teenage superstar Olivia Moultrie inks new Portland Thorns deal! USWNT's 2023 Young Player of the Year secures deal through 2026

The NWSL club announced that they have secured their 18-year-old superstar until 2026, with Moultrie set to stick around on the West Coast alongside Sophia Smith and the rest of the Thorns Squad. After recently being called up by interim USWNT boss Twila Kilgore for this February's Gold Cup, Moultrie has been rewarded by her side.

“I chose to stay and play in Portland because I feel like this club has every piece needed to achieve excellence - the roster, the staff, the ownership and of course the incredible supporters that create an unrivaled environment for every game,” Moultrie said. “I absolutely cannot wait to continue to build towards achieving greatness with this club, and of course winning championships!”

“We are really happy and proud to have Olivia commit her future with us at the Thorns. She is a pioneer for what we have seen in recent years, and we are excited to see her commitment to her continued development,” Head Coach Mike Norris said. “She has a tremendous attitude for growth and winning, and we look forward to seeing her grow into the world class player we all believe she can be.”

Moultrie may only be 18 years old, but she made her debut for the Thorns at just 15 - the then-youngest player to ever make an NWSL appearance. In 46 professional appearances for the Thorns since, she's registered five goals and eight assists, helping contribute to their 2022 NWSL Championship title as well as a 2021 NWSL Shield and a 2021 International Champions Cup.

Their 2024 NWSL campaign begins in just over a month, with their first match of the season coming against the Kansas City Current on March 16. Until then, the club will be in preseason, while Moultrie will instead be with the USWNT for the forthcoming Gold Cup next week.