WASHINGTON, D.C. [October 29, 2022] – Portland Thorns FC clinched the 2022 NWSL Championship on Oct. 29 at Audi Field with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current. Sophia Smith scored the game-winning goal and was named NWSL Championship game MVP as the team won their third National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship since joining the league and beginning play in the 2013 season. Their victory follows an impressive season that saw the Thorns become the first team to win three league titles (2013, 2017, 2022).

As the club’s Official Fertility Partner, US Fertility, the nation’s largest physician-led integrated network of top-tier fertility practices, supports Thorns players with fertility preservation options and educational resources, so they do not have to choose between their careers and their plans for building a family.

“US Fertility congratulates the Thorns on a spectacular season, post-season, and championship victory,” shares Jean Dzierzak, Senior Vice President of Marketing at US Fertility. “We recognize the sacrifices many female athletes must make with regard to building their families and feel empowered as an organization to step in and help. Given the options we have available, players shouldn’t have to choose between family and career. They deserve our support now more than ever. It’s the right thing to do. In welcoming the Thorns to the US Fertility family, we’re in a position to help players and fans discover their own family-building options. It is an incredible honor, and we thank the Thorns organization for helping us pioneer this important partnership.”

Since the beginning of 2022, in addition to the Thorns, US Fertility’s founding partner practice, Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) has become the Official Fertility Partner of the Chicago Red Stars, and founding partner practice Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) has become the Official Fertility Partner of the North Carolina Courage and Houston Dash, with additional team partnerships in the works.

The Thorns’ championship victory comes on the heels of US Fertility’s prominent presence at the annual American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Scientific Congress and Expo, which was held in Anaheim California from October 23 – 26, 2022. Seven researchers from across the US Fertility network won eight prizes at the event, considered the largest, most prestigious event in the field of reproductive medicine. Members from the US Fertility team presented 31 abstracts at the event to their colleagues from across the world. Their research includes new data providing hope to those with cancer who are considering fertility preservation treatment, as well as new insights that provide an optimal age for egg donors and those pursuing elective egg freezing.

“US Fertility physicians and researchers are champions in their own right, conducting award-winning research and providing award-winning care,” shares Portland Thorns FC general manager Karina LeBlanc. “This has been a momentous week for both organizations, and we are incredibly proud of the work our teams have done both on the pitch and in the lab. We look forward to continuing to support our players with the best family-building options available and cheering on our US Fertility family’s commitment to continuously improving treatment outcomes and increasing nationwide access to affordable care.”