The Portland Thorns are looking for a general manager after announcing Wednesday that Karina LeBlanc will depart her role with the team following the conclusion of the 2024 season and transition to a new role with RAJ Sports. The investment firm is led by Thorns owners Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal — who also just became the owners of the newest WNBA franchise in Portland.
LeBlanc’s new role will span both the NWSL and WNBA teams for RAJ Sports and have some community angle focused on the Bhatha’s vision of Portland as an “epicenter” of women’s sports, though no further details have been provided as of yet.
“Karina provided stability for the Thorns during a very tumultuous time, contributed to a NWSL Championship in 2022, and has been an integral part of this club’s work in the community,” Bhathal Merage said in the club’s official release: “We believe now is a good time to make a change and set the club, and Karina, up for future success.”
LeBlanc took over the general manager role in November 2021 after the club’s previous general manager, Gavin Wilkinson, was placed on administrative leave amidst a team investigation into how it handled a complaint against Paul Riley.
The new role should suit LeBlanc’s strengths far more than the general manager role ever did. While she came into the team directly in the aftermath of the NWSL abuse scandal and could provide valuable insight as a former player, the machinations of building a roster were outside of her comfort zone. This should be a win-win for the Thorns and LeBlanc.
It’s not the first time the Bhathals have opted to move Thorns technical staff into a role the owners viewed as better suited for them, with former coach Mike Norris also having transitioned to his current role of technical director in April following the team’s 0-1-3 start to the season.
But even after the Thorns bounced back from that poor start to the 2024 season with a string of results under interim coach Rob Gale, who was then promoted to the role permanently after 12 matches in July, they’ve struggled mightily following the Olympic break. They last won on July 5 against the San Diego Wave; since the regular season resumed they’ve only earned a single point with a 0-1-6 record.
The Thorns are still hanging on to a playoff spot, however, despite the momentum swing against them. They’re in seventh place and will face the Orlando Pride — who just clinched the NWSL Shield — at home this weekend.
(Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer / Imagn Images)
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