Jul 5, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Thorns FC forward Janine Beckie (16) shoots during the first half against the San Diego Wave FC at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports Racing Louisville acquired forward Janine Beckie, an Olympic gold medalist and former NWSL champion, in a trade with the Portland Thorns, the clubs announced Wednesday.
Portland received rookie first-round forward Reilyn Turner in return.
“Janine has a winning mentality and is someone we’ve paid close attention to for a long time,” Louisville coach Bev Yanez said.
“We can’t wait for her to get here and continue to move us forward as we make a playoff push in the last half of the season. Her experiences are incredibly valuable to our group and what we’re trying to build here.”
Beckie, who turned 30 on Tuesday, helped Canada’s national team win gold at the 2020 Olympics, which were held the following year in Tokyo due to the pandemic. She also won bronze with Canada at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and has played in two FIFA Women’s World Cups.
Beckie was part of Portland’s NWSL championship team in 2022 and won a pair of FA Cups and League Cups with Manchester City.
“I’m really grateful and excited to be joining Racing!” Beckie said. “I’m honored to have an opportunity to bring my leadership and experience to an incredibly talented group of players. It is a club that aligns so well with my aspirations and values as a player and person, and I am really looking forward to making a lasting impact on the field and off in the Louisville community.”
Beckie has tallied eight goals and seven assists in 86 career NWSL appearances for the Houston Dash (2016-17), Sky Blue FC – now NJ/NY Gotham FC – (2018) and Portland (2022, 2024). Her contract with Louisville runs through the 2026 season.
Turner, 21, was selected sixth overall by Louisville in this year’s NWSL Draft. She had five goals and two assists across her first 19 professional matches.
An All-American at UCLA, Turner in 2023 became the program’s first player to win Pac-12 Conference Forward of the Year. A year earlier, Turner was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player at the College Cup as UCLA won its second national championship.
“Louisville will always hold a special place in my heart,” Turner said. “I will remember this place forever as the city where my professional career started and a place that made a cross-country move feel like my new home. … I am thankful to my coaches and all the staff at Louisville who have been supportive the whole way, and I leave this place with a full heart and many great memories that I will never forget.”
The NWSL returns from the Olympic break on Friday. Portland (8-5-3, 27 points) is in fifth place, while Louisville (3-6-7, 16 points) sits in ninth. The league’s top eight teams qualify for the playoffs, which begin Nov. 9.
–Field Level Media
