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Morgan Weaver took her performance to a new level in 2022. Scoring seven goals and setting up a further three for her Portland Thorns<\/a> teammates, she finished joint-eighth in the National Women\u2019s Soccer League<\/a><\/strong> rankings for goals plus assists. Playing alongside league MVP winner Sophia Smith, the 25-year-old \u2014 without much hoopla \u2014 became one of the most potent forwards in American soccer. That development originated from a subtle change of position.<\/p>\n Drafted by the Thorns in 2020, where she was the second overall pick, Weaver\u2019s debut season in the professional game was truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her first full NWSL campaign came in 2021, where she scored once and recorded three assists. She enjoyed a key role, playing mostly in a strike partnership with Smith, and that dynamic looked set to continue into 2022.<\/p>\n Rhian Wilkinson\u2019s tenure as Portland head coach began with a tactical shift, but she initially stuck with two up front, replacing the 4-4-2 diamond instituted by her predecessor Mark Parsons with a 3-5-2. After conceding a goal too many, however, Wilkinson changed things up again, to a 4-2-3-1 system. This meant Smith led the line solo, with support underneath from Weaver, Christine Sinclair and Yazmeen Ryan, or Hina Sugita.<\/p>\n \n Access the best women\u2019s soccer coverage all year long\n <\/p>\n \n Start your FREE, 7-day trial of The Equalizer Extra for industry-leading reporting and insight on the USWNT, NWSL and beyond.\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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