Cristina Alexander

And we have so many unique qualities in the locker room.

So there's a lot of leadership in a lot of different ways, obviously.

You can't replace Sam.

I mean, we're going to miss her so much, and she was such an important part of the team on and off the field.

But it's the sport.

People have dreams and goals that they want to achieve, and that might be somewhere else.

And I'm excited for Sam.

Selfishly, I'll miss her, but we're going to keep moving.

People are going to have to step up in different roles and get the job done regardless.

You've watched Olivia Moultrie grow into such a central figure for this team.

From your perspective, what does her development mean for the Thorns moving forward?

It's great for us.

When I started on the Thorns, it seems like Liv was just so little, and she was just little Liv, and I feel like I've watched her grow up and become just an amazing young woman and an amazing player, and I've seen her develop in a lot of different ways, and I feel like last year she really...

She really took it to a new level.

And I think a lot of people saw what she could do.

And it's great for our team.

It's great for the city of Portland.

Yeah, I mean, I'm excited to play with her again.

I'm proud of just everything that she's done since I've known her.

And I know that's reciprocating because when I was speaking to her earlier, she was like, yeah, I'm going into my sixth year of the league.