Portland Thorns Name New GM – Former Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc

PORTLAND, OR — Karina LeBlanc is a proud part of the history of the Portland Thorns. She was the goalkeeper for the team in the 2012-13 season when the Thorns won the first championship of the National Women's Soccer League.

Now she will also be a fundamental part of the team's future.

The Thorns say that LeBlanc is coming back to Portland to be the team's new general manager. She replaces Gavin Wilkinson who was forced to step aside in the wake of questions over how a sex abuse scandal was handled.

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"When I left in 2014, I felt there was unfinished business for me here," LeBlanc said on Monday. "The way the community, the club, and the team made me feel, was something that I would never forget.

"I thought I might come back as a player, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be coming back as the general manager of what is for me, the greatest club in the world. My experience as a Thorn helped shape me into the woman I am today."

In addition to her time with the Thorns, LeBlanc played 18 years at the international level with the Canadian National Team. During that time, she played in five Women's World Cups and two Summer Olympics including 20212 when Canada took home the Bronze.

She also led them to CONCACAF championships – in 1998 and 2010.

She retired in 2015 after playing in 110 games. She started 108 of them.

Thorns players are excited to have her.

“With Karina the sky is the limit," team captain Christine Sinclair said. "To have her back in Portland for me is a dream come true because she is going to take this club to places I don’t think people think are possible.

"She’s going to help this club be the benchmark for women’s football around the world and I just can’t wait to get started."

LeBlanc has spent the past three years as the Head of Women's Football for CONCACAF. In that position, she has overseen the work of 41 federations across North and Central America as well as federations in the Caribbean.

“I have learned that in trying to live a life of purpose, the things that are meant for you will come to you," LeBlanc said. "My dream is that together we take this club to new levels which inspires us all to be the best version of ourselves."