Olivia Moultrie becomes youngest to reach 100 regular-season NWSL appearances

Olivia Moultrie becomes youngest to reach 100 regular-season NWSL appearances

Olivia Moultrie on Sunday became the youngest player in National Women’s Soccer League history to reach 100 regular-season games played.

The 20-year-old Portland Thorns midfielder marked the milestone by recording a goal and an assist in her team’s victory at the Chicago Stars. The 2-0 win maintained the Thorns’ top spot in the league table, 4 points above the second-place Washington Spirit.

Moultrie opened scoring with a one-touch goal in the box, capitalizing on a clean assist from forward Pietra Jordin, who opened space by passing to Moultrie as defenders swarmed Jordin. Despite Chicago’s last-place ranking, the team maintained a balanced duel with the Thorns for nearly the entire match at Martin Field.

It wasn’t until the 89th minute that Moultrie reminded fans why she is one of the best playmakers in the league and a Portland favorite. With a swift motion, Moultrie crossed a long ball to teammate Reilyn Turner as she ran toward the goal on the other side of the pitch. Turner found herself in a one-on-one with Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, beating her and then striking the ball into an empty net.

Turner ran to Moultrie as the two embraced, and the goal secured Portland’s lead until full time.

It’s no surprise Moultrie is the youngest player to reach 100 regular-season games.

She changed the trajectory of the NWSL when, at 15, she sued the league in 2021 for her right to play in it. Two years earlier, she became a household name in American soccer when she announced, at 13, that she would forgo her college eligibility to go pro. She had already committed to UNC two years prior.

Moultrie’s fight to play in the NWSL led to the league’s establishing guidelines for U-18 players to play in it. It opened the floodgates, with a steady stream of younger players following in Moultrie’s footsteps to play in the NWSL. This meant records set by Moultrie would be broken many times over as she developed into one of the best midfielders, both in the NWSL and for the U.S. women’s national team. She debuted for the in 2023 at 18.