On Saturday, August 15, the Portland Thorns take on the Orlando Pride in a matchup that will prove pivotal for their playoff seeding. While this game is important as it is, it will be equally special for the Thorns organization due to the pre-match festivities.
Before this game, Thorns legend Meghan Klingenberg will be honored and celebrated by the club and its fans. Klingenberg had a special career on the pitch, earning many accolades during a 13-year stretch that consisted of over 200 professional appearances and over 70 appearances with the USWNT.
The Precursor to an Illustrious Career
Klingenberg was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, where she almost instantly became a rising star in the game. She went to Pine-Richland high school where she captained her team to a state championship while also being named an NSCAA All-American.
Her impressive time in high school earned her the right to play collegiate soccer with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, Klingenberg would go on to be a dominant four-year starter who racked up accolades, including winning two national championships with UNC.
Klingenberg was an iron woman with the Tar Heels, playing in 20 or more games in each of her four seasons with the school, all while making multiple appearances with several of the United States youth national teams. Klingenberg totaled 18 goals and 24 assists across her four seasons, an impressive output that thrust her into the pros for many years to come.
A Decade of NWSL Dominance
Klingenberg started her pro career in the WPS, where she would play with a handful of clubs. Fast-forward a few years later, the WPS folds and in comes the NWSL, a league in which Klingenberg would eventually build a legacy while playing in. While she was abroad playing for Tyresö in Sweden, Klingenberg was drafted to the NWSL to play for the Houston Dash, where she would total 19 appearances with the club.
Once her time in Houston was up, Klingenberg would be subject to a whirlwind of trades that would eventually land her in Portland. This marked the beginning of a legendary tenure with the Thorns, in which Klingenberg would put together a spectacular nine seasons with the club.
Across all NWSL competitions, she played in a resounding 183 matches, tallying 27 assists. Klingenberg quickly became a prominent leader for the club, and would help lead them to two NWSL Championships in both 2017 and 2022. Her winning ways with the Thorns weren’t just limited to those two seasons though, as Klingenberg was also able to add two NWSL Shields, one NWSL Challenge Cup and one International Champions Cup to her resume as well.
Individually, Klingenberg cemented herself as one of the NWSL’s best and most reliable left backs while in Portland. She was named to the NWSL Second XI in both 2017 and 2021, two seasons in which she notched 23 or more appearances in each. Following her retirement in 2025, Klingenberg went down as one of the all-time greats in Rose City.
Winning on the International Stage
While becoming a Portland legend, Klingenberg quietly became a mainstay for the USWNT as well. She played for the team from 2011 to 2018, totaling three goals and six assists across 74 matches. Klingenberg played a crucial role in loads of achievements for the squad, including a CONCACAF Championship and a SheBelieves Cup.
Of course, Klingenberg’s premier achievement with the national team came in the 2015 World Cup. In Canada, Klingenberg started every game for the USWNT, being a key contributor for a squad that would reach the mountaintop and win the World Cup. Her stellar tournament earned her spots on both the FIFPro Women’s World XI and the 2015 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.
Celebrating a Portland Icon
Now, Meghan Klingenberg has been out of the game for a little over a year, but it is her time to be in the spotlight. Before the matchup against Orlando, Providence Park will come together and celebrate a career that certified her as not just a Portland legend, but a U.S. soccer legend as well.
Featured image via @thornsfc
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