Defender Kat Williamson finds herself in an unusual situation.
But it’s one she’s happy to be in.
At this time last year, she was in Tucson as part of Portland Thorns FC’s preseason training and eager to help the team try to defend its National Women’s Soccer League title. A couple weeks after that, she was headed to Rochester after being traded to the Western New York Flash.
The Thorns didn’t defend their title, losing in the semifinals. Williamson played in 21 matches for the Flash, which finished in seventh place in the nine-team league.
Among the offseason changes made by an unfulfilled Portland team was another trade with the Flash. The Thorns sent Amber Brooks to Western New York for midfielder McCall Zerboni and, you guessed it, Kat Williamson.
She’s back in Tucson this week, preparing for the upcoming season with her new/old Thorns teammates. Portland will play the FC Tucson Women on Wednesday and the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday. Both matches kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Kino North Stadium.
The 25-year-old center back took a few minutes after the Thorns’ first practice at Kino Sports Complex to talk about returning to the Rose City and her first pro club.
1. She’s both the new girl and an old friend.
After four years at University of Florida, Williamson became the first ever college draft pick by the Thorns, going No. 8 overall in 2013. In her first season, she played in all 24 matches as Portland finished third in the regular season and then won two postseason matches to claim the title.
“It’s been incredible” being back in Portland, said Williamson, who wears the smile of someone who seems to be back in the right place. “I’ve had this deep connection with Portland ever since I was drafted. I had a great experience in New York. I got to play with different players and saw a different kind of coaching style. But I’m definitely glad to be back.
“Everybody has a strong connection with the organization and the fans. Even when I was on the opposing team I still heard people saying my name. … It’s an awesome thing to be back here.”
Six of the current Thorns played with Williamson in the 2013 NWSL title victory, but there are many new faces as well.
“It’s interesting. Some of the girls were like ‘how are you such good friends with the girls?’ and I say: ‘Well actually, I’ve known them for quite some time,’ ” the 5-foot-6-inch Williamson said. “It’s nice to see them again and play with them.”
2. This summer’s World Cup looms large as the season approaches.
The upcoming Women’s World Cup in Canada, which runs from June 6 to July 5, will mean quite a few players will be on international duty. The NWSL will take a two-week break during the group-stage matches of the World Cup, but some elite players could be gone for two months when you figure in the pre-World Cup camp and the knockout-stage matches.
The Thorns are currently without star forward Alex Morgan, defender Rachel Van Hollebeke and midfielder Tobin Heath, who are at the U.S. national team’s camp in Carson, California. Christine Sinclair is training with the Canadian national team.
“For all the girls that are here, we are all committed to moving the team in the right direction,” Williamson said. “The national team girls will come in and contribute significantly for us. But I think, as long as we’re all on the same page, taking that leadership role isn’t just for one person. … It’s coming together right now.”
3. More will be asked of Williamson this year.
In addition to taking a greater leadership role with teammates off at the World Cup, Williamson will be the lone center back in the Thorns’ new defensive formation.
“We’re trying different formations; we’ve played with three at the back now,” the McKinney, Texas, native said. “It’s new for a lot of us. It’s something we are focusing on (in the matches in Tucson). Having us be more leaders back there and command the back and the midfield. That’s definitely something that’s going to be really important.
“I think the great thing about our formation is that whenever we’re playing three at the back our midfielders help us out a lot. At times, we do have four at the back when we are shifting. So I think it really does come back to an entire team effort.”
Thorns coach Paul Riley knows how important his captain will be.
“I said we would get her back and we got her back. We missed Kat, there’s no question,” Riley said. “We missed her leadership. We missed her humor on and off the field. She’s a great leader in the locker room. She’s competitive, bordering on nasty.
“I think every team needs that leader, we didn’t have that leader last year. I think we missed it. She’s that person we didn’t have last year. She can hold the back line together. She can move the back line around. She gets things out of people. She makes demands of people.”
