After the NWSL Challenge Cup, the league saw some of its big name US Women’s National Team players sign short-term deals with ‘big’ European clubs. Obviously, former Thorns player Tobin Heath signed the deal with Manchester United and not many were optimistic that we would see her in a Thorns’ shirt again. That turned out to be the case as Racing Louisville selected Heath’s NWSL playing rights in the expansion draft and it is still unclear whether or not she will return to the NWSL.
Portland Thorns FC did loan out two players to European clubs: Meaghan Nally and Celeste Boureille.