PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Thorns FC made two trades Tuesday, including of one of their longest-tenured players, in exchange for expansion draft protection in Friday's NWSL Expansion Draft.
Defender Emily Menges was traded to the Bay FC, and Forward Hannah Belfort was traded to the Utah Royals FC.
Menges has spent 10 seasons with the Thorns since being drafted in 2014. She helped Thorns FC win two NWSL Championships, two NWSL Shields, the NWSL Challenge Cup and the WICC. Menges also ranks second all-time in regular-season games played, games started and minutes played. She also earned NWSL Best XI honors and NWSL Second XI accolades.
“I want to thank Emily for everything she’s done for our club and community over her 10 seasons in Portland. She helped shape the Thorns into the team we are now, and we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors,” said Karina LeBlanc, Thorns FC general manager and president of soccer operations.
“Expansion drafts are always a difficult process, but it’s been a priority of ours to find a mutually beneficial situation for the player and the club," LeBlanc continued. "Emily expressed her desire for a change, and together we felt that Bay FC was the right fit, which in turn helped us earn protection.”
In the trade with Bay FC, the Thorns also received $75,000 in allocation money.
From Wake Forest University, Belfort was selected by the club in 2021. She had three seasons with the club, tallying five goals and one assist in 29 appearances. In addition to Belfort, the Thorns also sent $10,000 in allocation money and the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft to Utah Royals FC.
“We would like to thank Hannah for her years of contribution to the Thorns over the last three seasons. On and off the field, she was a joy to have as part of our locker room and beloved by our fans,” LeBlanc said in another statement.
The NWSL Expansion Draft will be on Dec. 15 with the two expansion teams, Bay FC and Utah Royals FC, selecting players from teams’ respective rosters, according to LeBlanc.
Sugita signs extension with Thorns
The Thorns announced Wednesday that they signed Hina Sugita to a contract extension through 2026.
Sugita, 26, has 13 goals and seven assists the past two seasons with Portland while starting 41 games.
"Hina's obviously a special talent and adds a unique flair to our style of play," said Karina LeBlanc, general manager and president of soccer operations for the Thorns. "We are lucky to have a player of her caliber and character on the roster."
Correction: A previous version of this article reported that the Thorns received allocation money in the trade with Utah. The $10,000 in allocation money went from Portland to Utah in that trade.
