Since we got some big news this week, it’s an unscheduled Part 4 Off-season Answers: just in case you missed it, Sophia Wilson announced that she and husband Michael are expecting their first child. Congratulations to both of them!
Now, for us FNWSL aficionados, the bad news is that Soph will miss the 2025 season. As one of the elite players in both real life and fantasy soccer, she’s almost irreplaceable. So, if you had her on your Round 1 fantasy team, you probably have some questions like…
Which of the other premium forwards should I bring in?
If you are looking to do a straight replacement for Wilson, there are five other premium FWs in FNWSL this season: Temwa Chawinga, Trinity Rodman, Barbra Banda, Lynn Biyendolo, and Mal Swanson. Like I mentioned in the Round 1 article, I have Temwa Chawinga as the #1 option with Banda a close second, but you can’t really go wrong with any of those players. However, if you do bring in Rodman or Swanson, just make sure you keep an eye on their availability leading up to Round 1.
How will this affect the FNWSL landscape in Portland?
You also may already be maxing out your KC or Orlando roster spots and are looking for an alternative option at FW, or you may just be wondering how this will affect the Thorns this season. The absence of a player of Wilson’s caliber always opens up opportunities for many other players, which can translate into major fantasy value. We don’t really know what the Thorns lineup will look like yet, but we can take a look at Portland’s matches last season while Sophia was on international duty.
Izzy D’Aquila was her primary backup, but D’Aquila departed Portland for Malmö in the off-season. Likewise, Morgan Weaver was the centerpiece of the Thorns attack while Wilson was away, but she unfortunately will miss 2025 with a knee injury. And, just to top it off as we look back at last year’s team, Christine Sinclair retired. Long story short, there are a LOT of attacking minutes available in Portland this year. So, who will be on the field?
Alexa Spaanstra ($75k) will probably start on the wing in Wilson’s place to start the season. I’ve mentioned several times that she has a very high upside in 2025, and Wilson’s absence should increase it even more. While it’s true that the overall Portland attack may be a little less efficient than in previous years, a starting FW with a price tag of $75k is an ideal option regardless of the situation. Speaking of $75k FWs, last year’s 11th overall draft pick Payton Linnehan got a couple of starts late in the regular season, and likely will also get more playing time in her second season. Look for one or both of these players to have a big 2025!
In the off-season, the Thorns acquired Deyna Castellanos ($150k) from Bay and signed rookie forward Pietra Tordin ($75k). Tordin was a significant piece for the United States in the U20 Women’s World Cup last fall, leading the team in goals on their way to a bronze medal. Castellanos and Reilyn Turner ($125k) are probably the two true finishers on the Portland roster at the moment, if Castellanos can turn it around from a disappointing first season in the NWSL. Both could be good options for your team, though, since they play in the middle, they’re more adversely affected by Sophia’s absence (remember, in addition to goal scoring, Wilson is one of the elite creators in the league from the wing).
With all this turnover, it’s almost guaranteed that we will see a lot of Olivia Moultrie ($250k) in 2025, both in the midfield and the right wing. Moultrie is entering her fifth NWSL season but is still only 19 years old. Look for her to take a big step forward this year and anchor the Portland attack. I wouldn’t necessarily count on a huge jump in goal scoring, but she should have a very high floor with lots of minutes and lots of touches.
What are your thoughts on the news? Comment or Bluesky @mansersanswers!
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