Portland Thorns FC Midfielder Allie Long Voted NWSL Player of the Week

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Portland Thorns FC midfielder Allie Long was voted the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week by the NWSL Media Association for Week 19 of the 2016 NWSL season.

Long, 29, had two goals to lead the Thorns to a 3-1 road victory over Sky Blue FC as Portland won their fourth consecutive game and clinched the 2016 NWSL Shield. It is the first time in club history the Thorns have earned the best regular-season record. Coach Mark Parsons and his team will now aim to become the first NWSL Shield winner to also go on and win the league championship.

The Northport, N.Y. native finished the regular season with six goals and two assists – with all six tallies and one of the assists coming in the last five games of the year. Midfielder and fellow U.S. international Tobin Heath has assisted on four of Long's six goals – three of which came from dead ball situations, including the first goal against Sky Blue FC in Week 19.

The North Carolina product also scored an insurance tally versus SBFC as Portland completed their league-best fourth comeback victory of the season. The Thorns finished the 2016 campaign with 13 points recovered from losing positions – two more than the 11 by the Western New York Flash for the most in the league.

Long, who was voted to the 2015 NWSL Best XI, is the second Portland player to be honored as NWSL Player of the Week this season. It is the first time she has been voted Player of the Week Honors and the 10th time a member of the Thorns has earned the accolade.

Portland Thorns FC will return to action Sunday, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. ET against the Western New York Flash in a semifinal of the 2016 NWSL Playoffs at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. and broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.