Sophia Wilson's suspension for pulling opponent's hair extended

Sophia Wilson, the Portland Thorns and USWNT star, has had her suspension for pulling an opponent's hair extended by one game, according to various reports. The incident occurred in a match against the Boston Legacy on Saturday, October 3, when Wilson pulled the hair of Laís Araújo. Referee Calin Radosav immediately issued a red card to Wilson, resulting in her ejection and mandatory one-game suspension.

This marks the second red card of Wilson's career, and the league has extended the punishment to two games following a review, upgrading the penalty to Major Game Misconduct.

Wilson will miss the match against Bay FC on Sunday, October 18, and the game against the North Carolina Courage on Friday, October 23. Thorns coach Robert Vilahamn addressed the play after the 4-2 loss, which reduced the Thorns' chances of hosting a playoff match. He stated that he spoke with Wilson about the incident, noting that the player was pulling her shirt and then attempting to pull back, causing her to reach for her hair.

Vilahamn emphasized that the rule is strict, and praised Wilson for apologizing and taking responsibility for her actions, indicating that she will learn from this experience.

Wilson is currently third in the NWSL with 13 goals. She is scheduled to report to the USWNT this weekend for two friendlies: the first on Saturday, October 10, and the second on Tuesday, October 13.