Olivia Moultrie: The Prodigy
She sued her way into the league at 15. Then she proved she belonged.
Olivia Moultrie didn't wait for permission. When the NWSL said she was too young to play professionally, she took them to federal court. She was 15. A judge agreed with her. The league dropped its age restriction. Moultrie signed with the Portland Thorns on June 30, 2021, and became the youngest professional player in NWSL history. Five years later, she's a champion, a Best XI selection, and the player who scored the match-winner in the 2026 season opener. The prodigy label stuck because the production backed it up.
The Lawsuit That Changed Everything
Before Moultrie was a Thorn, she was a plaintiff. The NWSL required players to be at least 18 years old. Moultrie, who had left her youth club at 13 to train professionally, filed an antitrust lawsuit in federal court arguing the rule was an illegal restraint of trade. In June 2021, a judge granted a temporary restraining order. The league dropped the age rule entirely. Within days, Moultrie had a contract with Portland.
It was the kind of move that could have backfired spectacularly. A teenager forcing her way into a professional league could've been dismissed as a gimmick, a pushy parent situation, a cautionary tale. Instead, she made the lineup. She earned minutes. And on June 12, 2022, she became the youngest player to ever score a goal in the NWSL.
The Breakout
The 2022 championship season was Moultrie's coming-out party. She went from "interesting teenager" to "legitimate contributor" to "starter on a title-winning team." Portland won the NWSL Championship, and Moultrie had a ring before she could legally vote. By the time the teenage years were over, she'd scored 14 goals -- an NWSL record for goals by a teenager, surpassing Jaedyn Shaw.
The 2025 season was the real leap. With Sophia Wilson on maternity leave and Sam Coffey in Manchester, Moultrie stepped into a larger role and delivered. She earned 2025 NWSL Best XI First Team honors. Not bad for someone who needed a court order to get into the league four years earlier.
The 2026 Opener
March 13, 2026. Washington Spirit. The first game of the Robert Vilahamn era. Moultrie scored the only goal in the 52nd minute -- assist from Pietra Tordin -- to give Portland a 1-0 road win. It was the kind of goal Moultrie has made a habit of: arriving at the right spot, staying composed, putting it away. Five years in, the prodigy plays like a veteran.
She's 20 now. Under contract through 2029. The partnership with Sophia Wilson -- Moultrie's creativity feeding Wilson's finishing -- is the most dangerous attacking combination in the NWSL. The best is still ahead.
Key Games
Career Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Olivia Moultrie when she signed with the Portland Thorns?
Moultrie signed with the Portland Thorns at age 15, after successfully suing the NWSL to remove its age restriction rule. She became the youngest professional signing in NWSL history on June 30, 2021.
How many NWSL goals has Olivia Moultrie scored?
18 goals in 95 NWSL appearances for the Portland Thorns, with 11 assists. She holds the NWSL record for most goals scored by a teenager (14).
Did Olivia Moultrie sue the NWSL?
Yes. In 2021, Moultrie filed a federal antitrust lawsuit challenging the NWSL's rule requiring players to be 18. A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order, and the league subsequently removed the age restriction. She signed with Portland immediately after.
What contract is Olivia Moultrie on with the Thorns?
Moultrie signed a contract extension through 2029 in November 2025, committing her to the Portland Thorns through age 23. Check the 2026 schedule to see her in action.