Portland Thorns FC's general manager Karina LeBlanc to take on new role in 2025

Portland Thorns FC general manager Karina LeBlanc will not return in the role next year but will continue to be involved with the operations, the club announced on Wednesday. The news comes after a seven-Game winless streak as the Thorns are struggling to stay above the playoff line. LeBlanc, former Canada and Thorns goalkeeper, will pivot to a new role with RAJ Sports in 2025. RAJ Sports is in year one of their ownership of the NWSL club and is set to bring a new WNBA franchise to the Portland area. LeBlanc's new role will be a connective one between the two teams.

"Karina provided stability for the Thorns during a very tumultuous time, contributed to a NWSL Championship in 2022, and has been an integral part of this club's work in the community," said Lisa Bhathal Merage, co-executive chair, in a club statement.

"We believe now is a good time to make a change and set the club, and Karina, up for future success. Karina will remain with RAJ Sports in a role that will allow her to thrive and drive impact in our community as we build Portland into the global epicenter for women's sports. We will begin our search for a new general manager immediately."

LeBlanc was hired as GM in 2021 under then-owner Merritt Paulson as the team placed former GM Gavin Wilkinson on administrative leave. The franchise was investigated for its role in managing complaints against former head coach Paul Riley. Wilkinson was later terminated from his roles with the Thorns and MLS side Portland Timbers. Riley was named in several investigations that corroborated several allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion. He has been banned from coaching in the NWSL.

A traumatic time for players and staff, LeBlanc quickly got to work trying to establish a stable environment for the locker room. In many ways, she was asked to clean up the mess that others made before. Despite the ongoing investigations, the club won the 2022 NWSL Championship a year later and made the postseason in 2023 as the No. 2 seed. 

However, the 2024 season presented some historic lows despite remaining in a postseason position. This is the first year the league will have eight teams in the playoffs. The expanded competition has added weight to the strange journey that Portland has been on this season. 

With six losses in their last seven fixtures, the Thorns are currently in seventh place, above the eighth-place playoff line. The Thorns began the season on a four-game winless streak, a first in franchise history, and LeBlanc promoted then-head coach Mike Norris to a sporting director role and tabbed Rob Gale as interim. The move paid off shortly as the Thorns then went on an impressive winning streak, but then came mixed results ahead of the Olympic break. Still, LeBlanc hired Gale as the full-time head coach on July 19, and the Thorns have had no regular season wins since July 5. 

As more former players continue to take on executive roles in their post-playing careers, not all roads have led to success, with LeBlanc's time an example of a complex one that includes a championship and questionable hires that didn't pan out. Her experience as a player and an advocate for women's soccer, and her contributions to growing the game, will make her an asset for a different role with RAJ Sports -- one that suits her strengths as a connective force in the evolving world of women's sports.

"I'm incredibly honored and empowered to represent RAJ Sports through the unique and passionate lens of Portland," said LeBlanc. "Having played here and now living and raising my daughter in Portland, I have first-hand experience of how deeply rooted this community is in the success of women's Sports. I truly believe Portland can become the epicenter of women's Sports, and I'm excited to be part of the team driving that vision forward."