Thornton spent her first three professional seasons in France with Le Havre and Issy. In 2022, she moved to RSC Anderlecht in Belgium, where she won two league titles. Two years later, she joined the newly formed Dallas Trinity and won the inaugural USL Super League Golden Boot.
Early life
Thornton was born in Arlington, Texas, to Kelli and Jim Thornton.[2] She played youth soccer with Solar Chelsea 98 (now Solar Chelsea SC). Thornton attended Kennedale High School, where she helped lead the team to their first Texas 4A State Championship victory in 2015, recording 38 goals and 22 assists in the process. Kennedale repeated as champions in 2016, winning consecutive state titles.[3][4]
College career
In 2016, Thornton joined the SMU Mustangs. She earned numerous accolades, including first-team All-American Athletic Conference in every season and multiple All-Region honors, highlighted by a standout four-goal game against Northern Colorado in 2019.[5] Shen played a total 79 games, starting in 78, and scored 37 goals with 9 assists throughout her collegiate career. Thornton ranks 9th in SMU program history for goals scored.[6][7]
Club career
Le Havre
Thornton signed with French club Le Havre in January 2020.[8][9] Thornton has French citizenship, acquired through her father, which made her eligible to join the team without requiring a work visa.[10] She made her professional debut on January 19, 2020, in a 0–2 defeat against Thonan Evian. Just a week later, she got her first professional goal, scoring in the 51st minute during a 2–1 victory over FF Yzeure.
On March 12, 2020 the 2019–20 season was suspended by the French Football Federation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France.[11] The season was then subsequently cancelled a month later on April 16, 2020, and La Havre were awarded promotion to the Première Ligue.[12] Once the 2020–21 season commenced, Thornton made her Première Ligue debut in an away match against Issy on September 5, 2020. She contributed to the team's 4–0 victory by scoring a goal in the 53rd minute and providing an assist.[13]
Issy
Thornton transferred to Issy in August 2021.[14] She made her debut in a league match against Soyaux on August 28, 2021. Thornton scored her first goal for Issy on February 22, 2022 in a league match against Stade de Reims in a 3–4 loss.
Anderlecht
Belgian club Anderlecht announced the signing of Allie Thornton on July 7, 2022.[15][16] Thornton had an immediate impact, scoring twice against Polish side UKS SMS Łódź on August 18, 2022 during the 2022–23 UEFA Women's Champions League. One of her goals came in injury time, securing a 3–2 come from behind victory.[17] Anderlect would end up losing in the next round to KuPS on penalties.[18] Thornton earned another brace for Anderlect on September 30, 2022, in a league match against KRC Genk in a 4–2 away victory.[19] Anderlect ended the season as league champions, earning qualification for the Champions League. In April 2023, Thornton extended her contract an additional year.[20]
In June 2024, Thornton became the fourth player to sign with Dallas Trinity FC before the USL Super League's inaugural season. College teammate, Samantha Estrada, joined a few days later.[22] She made her club debut in Dallas's inaugural match against Tampa Bay on August 18, 2024. She was selected to the inaugural USL Super League Team of the Month for August 2024.[23]
On September 13, 2024, Thornton become the first player in league and club history to score a hat trick which was also a perfect hat trick in a 6–2 home win over Lexington.[24][25] On March 9, 2025, she scored twice within three minutes in a 6–0 victory over then league leaders Brooklyn.[26] Ten days later, she scored another goal against Brooklyn, this time by a score of 3–0.[27] On April 19, 2025, she scored her tenth goal in a 1–1 home draw against Fort Lauderdale, becoming the first player in club and league history to reach double digits.[28] On May 31, 2025, she opened scoring in the season finale against the Carolina Ascent, helping her team to a 2–1 win that clinched a playoff berth for Dallas. It brought her to 13 goals in 27 games, breaking a tie with Mia Corbin to win the inaugural USL Super League Golden Boot.[29]
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