The UBC Thunderbirds are the athletic teams that represent the University of British Columbia. In Canadian intercollegiate competition, the Thunderbirds are the most successful athletic program both regionally in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association, and nationally in U Sports, winning 116 national titles. UBC has won an additional 20 national titles competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics against collegiate competition from the United States and 40 national titles in sports that compete in independent competitions.
Christine Margaret Sinclair is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and, from 2000 until her retirement from international soccer in 2023, was a member of the Canadian national team. An Olympic gold medallist, two-time Olympic bronze medallist, CONCACAF champion, and 14-time winner of the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award, Sinclair is officially the world's all-time leader for international goals scored for men or women with 190 goals, and is one of the most-capped international soccer players with 331 appearances.
Nadine Marejke Angerer is a German football coach and player who is the former goalkeeping player-coach for Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Gavin Wilkinson is a former New Zealand footballer who served as general manager and President of Soccer for the Portland Timbers from 2009 to 2022.
Andrea Neil is a pioneer of women's soccer in Canada. Neil retired from the game after representing Canada more than any other Canadian player in history.
Karina Chenelle LeBlanc is an American-born Canadian former professional soccer goalkeeper and current general manager of the Portland Thorns FC. She played for the Canadian national team and multiple professional women's teams in the United States over her fourteen-year career.
Rhian Emilie Wilkinson is a Canadian professional soccer coach and former player, who currently coaches the Wales women's national team. She was previously the head coach of Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where she led the team to the 2022 NWSL Championship.
The Portland Thorns FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 in the then-eight-team National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which received support from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
Mark Richard David Parsons is an English football manager who is the former the head coach of American club Washington Spirit. He previously managed top-level teams including the Netherlands women's national team, the Portland Thorns FC, and the Washington Spirit in a previous stint.
Robert Peter Tabo Gale is an English former professional footballer and coach. He serves as the interim head coach for Portland Thorns FC in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The 2015 season was the Portland Thorns FC's third season of existence in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.
Emily Sofia Alvarado Natividad is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League. Born in the United States, she represents the Mexico national team.
Janine Elizabeth Beckie is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for National Women's Soccer League club Portland Thorns FC and the Canada national team. She previously played for Sky Blue FC, the Houston Dash, and Manchester City. She is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.
Freya Coombe is an English football manager and ex-player who is an assistant coach for Kansas City Current of the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She formerly managed NJ/NY Gotham FC and Angel City FC of the NWSL.
John Galas is an American soccer coach.
The National Women's Soccer League has undergone many allegations and reports of sexual harassment, misconduct, manipulation, pressure to lose an unhealthy amount of weight, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse, racist and sexist remarks, and the list goes on. These allegations of crossing professional boundaries with players led to formal investigations on the NWSL and many of its teams and coaches. Former US attorney general Sally Yates wrote in her report regarding the investigation how "Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women's soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players," The investigations ultimately concluded that multiple forms of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were systematic in the sport and were not a one-time occurrence; they impacted many teams, coaches, and players. This led to public protests by players and as a result, multiple coaches have been reprimanded for their behavior. Five out of 10 head coaches in the 2021 season were fired or stepped down due to misconduct allegations. Some of the more significant allegations include Coaches Riley, Dames, Burke, and Holly, who all faced harsh punishments resulting in being completely banned from coaching as well as having involvement in activities pertaining to the NWSL.
Nautsa’mawt Football Club is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The 2022 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's tenth season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Danielle Alice Steer is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Women's Football Super League.
The 2023 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's eleventh season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC played in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
