NWSL
NWSL side Portland Thorns sold for record price
The Thorns have been sold to the Bhathal family who have acquired the Portland team for a reported US$63 million, the highest price ever paid for a controlling stake in an NWSL team.
The National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Portland Thorns have been sold to the Bhathal family. Led by Lisa Bethal Merage and Alex Bhathal, RAJ Sports has acquired the Thorns for a reported US$63 million, the highest price ever paid for a controlling stake in an NWSL team.
The family thus add the Thorns to their sport portfolio which already includes holdings with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, Sacramento RiverCats AAA baseball club, Stockton Kings NBA-G League club, and Kings Guard NBA 2K e-sports team.
Portland Thorns are one of the most successful and well supported teams in the women’s game in the US having led the league in attendance for eight seasons and set a new club playoff attendance record last year with 25,218 fans supporting Thorns FC in the 2023 semifinal match at Providence Park.
Thorns FC have won the NWSL Championship a league-record three times (2013, 2017, 2022) and finished as runners-up in 2018. The club has made the postseason a league-high nine times and has won the NWSL Shield in 2016 and 2021.
“This is a milestone day for our family, and for the amazing Portland community,” stated Lisa Bhathal Merage. “Everything we do centers on positive impact. As fans ourselves, and as seasoned sports and real estate operators, we believe in the future of Portland and the NWSL, and in the tremendous opportunity that surrounds this iconic team. I would like to thank Merritt Paulson for believing in our vision for this club and for all that he and the Thorns have done for the growth of the NWSL and women’s soccer in this country”.
Former owner Paulson claimed: “The Thorns have been both aspirational and foundational, a cornerstone franchise of the NWSL that helped grow the league to the successful place it is in today.”