Tobin Heath Signs One-Day Contract to Retire With Thorns

Tobin Heath, a revered figure in women's soccer, officially bid farewell to her career with the Portland Thorns on Saturday. The celebrated player inked a one-day contract with the club before a special pre-match ceremony to honor her illustrious career. In a game that followed, the Thorns emerged victorious, defeating the Denver Summit 1-0.

Sophia Wilson, another outstanding USWNT player and former Thorns teammate, assisted in scoring the winning goal for Portland in the 44th minute. Over her tenure with the Thorns from 2013 to 2020, Heath was an integral part of the club's 2013 and 2017 NWSL championship triumphs. She was honored with three NWSL Best XI selections and holds the distinction of being the franchise's all-time regular-season assist leader.

Heath's individual brilliance was on full display when she led Portland to a championship in her maiden season in 2013, scoring the decisive free kick and being named the Championship Most Valuable Player. She further solidified her legacy by guiding the Thorns to another NWSL title in 2017 and contributing to their NWSL Shield win for the best regular-season record in 2016.

Although Heath had announced her retirement from soccer last summer, she had not played a match since 2022, with her last outing being with the Seattle Reign. In September 2022, she underwent career-ending knee surgery. Despite this setback, Heath was posthumously inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, recognizing her two-time World Cup and two-time Olympic gold medal achievements in her first year of eligibility in May.