The Portland Thorns fans have been anxiously awaiting updates on two of their prime stars, Sophia Smith and Hina Sugita. As luck would have it, the assistant coach of the team offered some information about their recovery to get a sense of when they could be back on the pitch. 

Sophia Smith has been a game-changer for the Thorns, and any news of her absence understandably leaves fans anxious. The Thorns have been a game changer with her on the field, and as for any news about her absence, fans naturally get concerned. After having to deal with an ankle injury.

While her injury details remain somewhat vague, the focus seems to be on ensuring she’s fully recovered before she makes her return. The coach emphasized that there’s no rush to get her back into action, stating, “Then Soph is kind of week-to-week.” Thorns fans are hoping to see her return sooner rather than later, but it looks like they have to wait quite some time.

Japan’s dynamic midfielder Hina Sugita is also injured. She is a midfielder who excels at both defense and offense using her tactical awareness and technical skills. According to the coach, she is somewhat slow in her recovery. He stated, “With Hina, she’s receiving top-of-the-line care. With her, we kind of are sitting side-by-side with medical.” The medical staff has been on top of her situation, and while no definitive date for her return has been set, at least her fans can find comfort in knowing she is doing better. 

Thorns’ recent loss against San Diego

As the Thorns were without their top scorer Sophia Smith and midfielder Hina Sugita, they had a tough time playing against San Diego and ended up in a 2-0 defeat. Portland hasn’t won in its past five games, while the Wave is moving closer to clinching a playoff berth.

Mya Jones and 16-year-old Melanie Barcenas scored the goals for the San Diego Wave at Snapdragon Stadium. Jones scored her second goal of the season in the 69th minute when she headed in a free kick by María Sánchez. Barcenas scored her first NWSL goal five minutes later to double San Diego’s lead.

The future remains bright for the Portland Thorns, despite all their recent losses and injuries. Portland has a talented roster, which could bounce back once their stars regain full fitness. The Thorns will probably focus on integrating younger players, reinforcing their depth, and fine-tuning the game plan so that they can challenge championships in the next couple of seasons.

The NWSL team has a strong history and fanbase. But the challenge for them now is they need to keep their consistency. They also need to stay healthy. And they may need to make tactical changes. This can help them regain momentum and compete for titles.