Free agency in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) officially opened on Wednesday. The top names on the board this summer include Portland Thorns forward Sophia Wilson, alongside the likes of Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle and Orlando Pride forward Marta.The Thorns are in a familiar spot with Wilson, having negotiated her contract extension ahead of the 2025 season, which included an option year — and made Wilson the first player to cross the seven figures mark for a year’s salary.What it takes to retain top talent from a salary point in the NWSL has changed significantly since the last time Portland was in talks with Wilson. The cap has risen as agreed upon in the current collective bargaining agreement, and will eventually reach more than $5 million by 2030. More drastically, the league introduced the High Impact Player rule in December when the Washington Spirit worked to re-sign forward Trinity Rodman. The rule, which allows clubs to pay certain players up to $1 million over the cap, took effect on July 1 alongside the opening of the free agency window.“We’ve been working with (Wilson) for the better part of five or more months to try and get a deal done where she’s committed to Portland for the long term,” Thorns president of soccer operations and general manager Jeff Agoos told The Athletic on Wednesday.“Our objective clearly is to re-sign Sophia.”Agoos pointed to Wilson’s family dynamic that makes her negotiations a little more unique than most between her husband playing for the Arizona Cardinals and the addition of their daughter in September 2025. He highlighted the club’s extensive efforts to make Portland feel like a special place for her and her family to continue calling home.Sophia Wilson signed a seven-figure contract extension at the start of 2026. (Chris Carter / Getty Images)“We’re doing everything we can to put together a package that speaks to the importance of Sophia and what she means to the team, both on and off the field,” Agoos said. “We don’t think that this is a competition, understanding where other teams are, where her value is. We’ve made her a really aggressive offer.”There’s no timeline for the Thorns on when a new deal might get across the line, as Agoos said the club wants her to feel comfortable and supported in her decision to return. There are no strong rumblings out of other NWSL clubs as the free agency window opens, though Wilson has been linked to Denver Summit FC thanks to her Colorado roots.Wilson is by far the most high profile of the Thorns’ free agents, but she is not the only one.The Thorns are also actively pursuing contract extensions for midfielder and Canadian international Jessie Flemming and forward Pietra Tordin (who has a player option for 2027). The Thorns declined options for forward Mimi Alidou, midfielder Deyna Castellanos and defender Isabella Obaze, making them free agents as of July 1. Four more — defender Mallie McKenzie, midfielder Renee Lyles, midfielder Jennie Immethun and forward Alexa Spanstra (on loan with Utah) — are also on the free agency list.