Portland Thorns have confirmed that Super Falcons defender Nicole Payne will miss the entire 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Payne suffered the injury during a pre-season friendly against Angel City FC on February 16.
She is one of three Portland Thorns players sidelined for the season, alongside Morgan Weaver and Marrie Muller. Muller sustained a cruciate ligament injury while on international duty with Germany on February 19, while Weaver injured her right knee in January 2025—the same knee she had surgery on in May 2024.
Payne, 24, joined Portland Thorns on loan from Paris Saint-Germain last year and made 10 league appearances under head coach Robert Gale last season.
 season due to a cruciate ligament injury.){kind=link}