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Portland Thorns GM Karina LeBlanc, coach Rhian Wilkinson reflect on entry into Canada Soccer Hall of Fame - OregonLive

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VANCOUVER, B.C. — While Christine Sinclair was receiving her honors for being the all-time leading goal scorer in the history of international soccer, Karina LeBlanc and Rhian Wilkinson were in the suites at BC Place preparing for a special Friday night for Canada.

An international friendly awaited against Nigeria, part of Canada’s “Celebration Tour” for winning its first-ever gold medal in women’s soccer at the 2020 Olympics. At halftime, LeBlanc and Wilkinson were set to be honored for entering the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.

Standing on the sideline after her honors, LeBlanc said many of the legends in attendance — including her and the other four women celebrated at halftime — were crying in the suites at the sight of Sinclair’s pregame celebration. That’s how much Sinclair means to the game.

“You see Sinc celebrate, and she was like, nervous,” LeBlanc said with a wide smile. “For her, it was about having her nieces there. She’s just so humble and it’s the most beautiful thing. You hear the crowd, you see her nieces, and for all of us we’re just sitting up there crying.

“We know this is the perfect person to represent the women’s game: humble, not worried about herself, inspired by others, making others better. The fact she can get that moment and the world can finally understand what we’ve seen for so many years, it’s incredible. She just had to sit there and take it. She hates that, and she had to take it. If the world could be like Christine Sinclair, we wouldn’t be in a lot of the messes we’re in today.”

Sinclair joined GM LeBlanc (a former goalkeeper), coach Wilkinson (a former forward, midfielder and defender) and new teammate Janine Beckie as members of the Portland Thorns in attendance on the night of celebration for Canada. Sinclair and Beckie took care of business on the field, while LeBlanc and Wilkinson watched while joined by members of their family before getting their recognition at halftime.

The past, present and future of Canada soccer was woven into the moment, and Wilkinson felt it special to share that with her young nephews. LeBlanc felt the same sharing it with her daughter.

“It’s going to take a little second to sink in,” Wilkinson said. “All these former teammates are here watching these women that either were my teammates or I coached. I think this moment will take a while to really register for me. I’m here with my nephews, and we’re celebrating a 10th birthday. He was in the stands as a baby at the Olympics in London, so watching him out there holding the award has brought home just how much has happened since those 2012 Olympics.

“You look at this crowd, this is Canadian soccer as we’ve seen with our men’s team and now with our women. Gold medal for the women and now Olympic qualification on the men’s side. The game is growing and it’s just exciting for me, as someone who knew the women who were the beginnings of it. I see them in the crowd right now and they’re cheering on the current superstars on the field.”

In between signing autographs, acknowledging adoring fans and posing for photos with a constantly rotating cast of characters, LeBlanc took the time to speak with The Oregonian/OregonLive about the impact she and Wilkinson hope to have in Portland with the Thorns. She shared those thoughts before Canada scored its first goal of the night and she screamed, running around pumping her fists and high-fiving anyone within an arm’s reach.

The bonds built over decades are what stand out to LeBlanc as she looks back at what Canada soccer has meant to her. She hopes she and Wilkinson leave behind a similar legacy with the Thorns.

“For Rhian and I to have this moment together is pretty special,” LeBlanc said. “The opportunity that Portland has given us to continue to work together to want to make this game better is priceless. To have moments like this, I remember Rhian’s first game on the sideline for the Thorns, walking up to her and giving her that pound. One day we hope we can do something that makes Portland proud and makes Portland cry with us all of the good tears. Winning championships back-to-back-to-back and impacting the game the way we want to.”

-- Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com

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Portland Thorns GM Karina LeBlanc, coach Rhian Wilkinson reflect on entry into Canada Soccer Hall of Fame - OregonLive
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