PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Thorns welcomed new club owners RAJ Sports to Providence Park on Monday, celebrating the beginning of the next era of the Thorns organization in a press conference.
“Our family is deeply humbled and honored to join the Thorns community,” said Lisa Bhathal Merage, a representative of RAJ Sports and new National Woman's Soccer League (NWSL) Governor. “Portland’s deep and long-standing love for the Thorns means the world to us, and we could not be more excited to take on the responsibility of guiding an incredible organization to even newer heights in the years ahead.”
The club sold to California-based RAJ Sports in early January for a $63 million deal, the largest in NWSL history.
RAJ Sports is owned by the Bhathal family, which includes Bhathal Merage, her brother Alex Bhathal and their parents Raj and Marta Bhathal. The family also owns the Sacramento Kings, which they bought in 2013.
"Our goal for the future for the Thorns is simple to be the best and globally number one, and the best franchise of woman's soccer in the world," Bhathal Merage said.
RAJ Sports plans to build a new "world-class" women's soccer-specific training facility for the club.
Many players and city leaders said they feel it is a new chapter for the club; one that was much needed after NWSL sexual harassment scandals that prominently featured the Thorns and its then-leadership. After the scandal broke, former owner Merritt Paulson fired key staffers from the organization and pledged to sell the Thorns — but not the Timbers.
For the last two weeks, Thorns players have been in preseason practice. In an interview, Sophia Smith said that there is definitely a "new energy" around the club.
"I mean this club is known for winning but it's a new energy of winners ... but just good people overall and the Bhathal family are great people first and foremost," Smith said. "So to add them to this family and for them to kind of take charge and create the change we know this clubs needs and needs desperately ... We're excited for them to kind of to get that started."