Heading into the third week of NWSL action, the Portland Thorns are by far the hottest team in the league, and midfielder Sam Coffey is the player making it all work.
It is difficult to ignore the obvious. Two weeks into the 2023 NWSL regular season, Mike Norris and the Portland Thorns have picked up right where they left off. Beyond the talented attack that features the likes of USWNT star Sophia Smith and Hina Sugita, the Thorns’ most integral piece to success is in the midfield. Last season was a rookie year to remember for Sam Coffey, who finished as a member of the NWSL’s Best XI right out of the gate to begin her professional career. This year is shaping up to be even better.
The Thorns’ No. 17 set up the opening goal on the road in Kansas City for Crystal Dunn to smash into the back of the net. She is averaging 7.20 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes so far in the NWSL, totaling a team-high 15, three more than anybody else in the league. she has played a part in all of Portland’s 180 minutes this season, completing an astounding 82.5 percent of her total passes. For someone that has limited experience in such a competitive league, Coffey is making everything look easy.
As one of the primary set-piece takers, Coffey collected her first of what is going to be many assists in 2023.
Sam Coffey has done nothing but perform for the Portland Thorns this season
Anyone can point out Smith’s dominance in the final third, but it is Coffey in the No. 6 role that has been one of the main reasons for the relentless attack that is the Thorns. Her passing range is of world-class quality, executing all types of passes to keep the opposition guessing. It is difficult to pick out a better defensive midfielder currently in the NWSL that is as versatile and efficient as the 24-year-old.
There is not much the former All-Big Ten midfielder hasn’t been able to do between the white lines. On top of her talents distributing the ball, Coffey has been an extremely sound defender through these two contests this season. The former Penn State midfielder leads the Thorns in tackles with seven, continuing to disrupt the opposition’s goal of getting at the backline.
She makes both Smith’s and Morgan Weaver’s jobs so much easier with her composure on the ball and her accuracy when distributing. With the way she is playing in the first two matches of the season, Coffey is on track to earn back-to-back NWSL Best XI appearances. The additional year of college soccer at Penn State following her selection in the draft seems to have helped Coffey in the transition into the NWSL.
Throughout most of her soccer career, the New York native was more of an attacking midfield threat, but former Portland head coach Rhian Wilkinson saw so much potential in her ability to occupy the six role. She may be out of the national team picture for now, but if Portland’s No. 17 continues to do her thing in the middle of the park, it may be almost impossible for the USWNT coaching staff to say no to her place on the World Cup roster.
For the USWNT coaching staff to call in Julie Ertz rather than a healthy Coffey should provide her with all the motivation moving forward the rest of the season. While she is not going to get the look she deserves on the international stage quite yet, the 24-year-old midfielder is demonstrating exactly what is going to be in store for the United States in the foreseeable future.
She has just four appearances for her country so far. That is only the start of what looks to be a successful career controlling the midfield for the United States in many major tournaments. Coffey may not have the keys to the car at the moment, but in a few years, they’ll be in her hands if all goes well.
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