Portland Thorns FC Defender Katherine Reynolds Retiring

After a decade in professional soccer, and five years in Portland, Katherine Reynolds is hanging up her cleats. The Thorns FC defender officially announced her retirement on Friday.

Reynolds called playing in Portland “a dream come true.”

She added “I have played for many amazing teams in a lot of great cities all over the world throughout the past eleven years, but Portland is truly special. I am so lucky to have played for such a professional organization with high standards and expectations.”

Reynolds appeared in 77 career games (67 starts) across all competitions with the Thorns. She finished eighth all-time in appearances (70), games started (61) and minutes played (5,626) in Portland.

The 33-year-old also helped the Thorns win an NWSL shield in 2016 and the NWSL Championship in 2017.

As a defender she didn’t have a ton of scoring opportunities, but in her 100th NWSL game — May 30, 2018 against North Carolina — she scored her first NWSL goal.

“To my teammates, every single one of you has made an impact on me, and I am fortunate that I got to play alongside and learn from so many incredible players throughout my career,” she said. “And to the fans, thank you for making it so easy to fall in love with the city of Portland. This feeling is certainly bittersweet, but I am looking forward to this next chapter, and I will be a Thorns fan for the rest of my life.”

She also got praise — written and via video — from her coach, Mark Parsons.

“Katherine poured her heart into this team and was an integral part of our success on the field over the last five seasons, leading by example and striving for excellence in everything she did,” said Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons, on the team’s website. “As a person, she made everyone around her better in so many ways and is loved by all. While we are going to miss her, I am excited to see what her next steps will be, knowing the entire Thorns family will be cheering for her.”

Congratulations @KReynolds16 😢❤️ A few words from me. You have impacted so many throughout your career and want to encourage them to share that. I nominate @asalem6 @EstelleJohnson @LDoran33 to share a short video and to nominate 3 others. #ThankYouKath pic.twitter.com/K8DmfvR548

— Mark Parsons (@mparsons_1) October 30, 2020

Before her time in Portland, she played for Western New York and Washington in the NWSL. Her sits ninth all-time in games played (129), 10th in minutes played (10,817) and 11th in games started (120).

Reynolds started her pro career in Women’s Professional Soccer with the Philadelphia Independence in 2010. Then, she signed with the Atlanta Beat for the 2011 season. She also played overseas in Germany and Australia.

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After eleven years of professional soccer, I’ve decided it’s the right time for me to retire. Soccer has given me more than I could have ever imagined. I can’t picture life without soccer and playing still brings me so much happiness. However, the injuries were wearing on me both mentally and physically and there is a lot to look forward to in this next chapter of my life. I am fortunate to have played with and against so many incredible women throughout my career and it’s my teammates, many who have become life-long friends, who have made it especially difficult to leave. I’m going to miss spending time with them every day. I want to thank my parents for their endless support. You always encouraged me to follow my dream and were by my side every single step of the way. I’m thankful for the characteristics you instilled in me at a young age that allowed me to achieve what I have. Thank you to my three amazing sisters. I know you were forced to watch more soccer games than you would have ever wanted in your lifetime but having you there meant more to me than you know. Thank you to my husband who has been my number one fan for the past sixteen years. You encouraged me to pursue every opportunity I was presented with even if it meant moving to the other side of the world. I wouldn’t have been able to play for as long as I did without your constant support and I CAN’T WAIT to spend the rest of our lives in the same city. Thank you to Mark, Gavin, and Merritt for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Portland Thorns for the past five years. I have played for a lot of amazing teams all over the world but Portland is truly special. Thank you to every coach that ever believed in me. You’ve shaped me into the player and person I am today. Lastly, thank you to all the fans. Our league is stronger and better because of you. A special thank you to the Rose City Riveters and the entire city of Portland. Your dedication to the Thorns is unique, special, and unprecedented. Playing in front of you at Providence Park is a dream. It’s been incredible to see the growth of woman’s professional soccer the past few years and I am very optimistic about its future ❤️🌹

A post shared by Katherine Reynolds Hopp (@kreynolds20) on Oct 30, 2020 at 12:01pm PDT