Mallory Weber was three years and two major trophies into her Portland Thorns career when she was ruthlessly told her services were no longer required mid-season.

The US winger had racked up 45 appearances for the National Women’s Soccer League powerhouse, helping it win a regular campaign title and championship straight out of college.

But within 72 hours of being cut and placed on the waiver wire in May, she had gathered her possessions and set off on a 1500km road trip with her dog, Meeko, bound for Utah Royals.

“They called me in and basically cut me out of nowhere,” Weber, 25, said.

“I got released on the Sunday, entered the waiver list that next Monday morning and three days later, I was driving out there (to Salt Lake City) to finish the season.

media_camera Adelaide United US import Mallory Weber at St Clair. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“I literally packed up an apartment, got my dog and went on a little road trip with him.

“Portland is a stacked team with some of the best players in the world and it had been really good to develop me.

“But I wasn’t consistently starting.

“It was definitely a good move for my career, although it was very scary at the time when it happened.”

Weber’s sudden switch spoke volumes for the cutthroat nature of the NWSL, regarded as the strongest professional women’s soccer league on the planet.

But it earned her an off-season loan move to Adelaide United, as she started the last 11 games of the campaign for the Royals and shone in an unfamiliar full back role.

media_camera Winger Mallory Weber has impressed during her first two W-League matches for Adelaide United. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

The experience also provided a valuable lesson, one of many Weber hoped to share with her Reds teammates, including teenagers Mary Fowler, Emily Hodgson and Charlotte Grant.

“The team is definitely younger than I was expecting,” said Weber, who scored 36 goals in 100 college games and captained Penn State to its maiden NCAA division one title in 2015.

“But I see a lot of characteristics in them that I had when I was younger.

“They work hard and they really want to learn.

“In Utah I’m one of the youngest players, so it’s been fun to adjust and have more of leadership role.

“Hopefully I can help them develop and become better players.”

media_camera American import Mallory Weber won an NWSL regular season title and championship during her three years with Portland Thorns. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

The Georgia-born, Michigan-raised, talent cut her teeth in a star-studded Thorns line-up boasting US World Cup winner Tobin Heath and 289-cap Canadian gun Christine Sinclair.

Weber also called Matildas Hayley Raso, Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Foord colleagues at Portland, where she claimed back-to-back silverware in 2016-17.

But it was Utah that led her to the W-League, as the Royals’ Icelandic international and ex-Adelaide midfielder Gunny Jonsdottir put her in touch with the Reds.

Weber had caught the eye with her pace and creativity on the left flank in United’s narrow season-opening defeats to Western Sydney and Sydney FC.

Still she backed Ivan Karlovic’s side to thrive this summer, starting with Saturday’s trip to face three-time champion Melbourne City at John McEwan Reserve.

media_camera Mallory Weber in action during Adelaide United’s 1-0 home loss to reigning W-League champion Sydney FC. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“The quality is really good here,” said Weber, a degree-holder in management, who hopes to open her own restaurant one day.

“I was surprised with how well we did in the first two games, especially with not having much time with the full team together.

“The hardest part is creating chances and we’ve done that.

“We just haven’t been able to finish, myself included.

“Once those first couple of goals hit, it’s absolutely going to take off.

“Confidence will shoot and we’ll be good to go.”