With the Vancouver Whitecaps looking to potentially start a National Women's Soccer League team in 2019, some have questioned whether renowned forward Christine Sinclair might leave the Portland Thorns to join a new club in Canada.

Sinclair grew up in outside of Vancouver and is the captain of the Canadian Women's National Team.

But Thorns fans have no reason to worry: Sinclair isn't going anywhere.

When asked Wednesday whether she would be interested in joining an expansion team in Vancouver, Sinclair said that she considers Portland to be her home and couldn't "imagine leaving the Thorns."

"Being from Vancouver, I would love to see a professional women's team, whether it's Vancouver, whether it's Toronto, Montreal, just to grow the league, grow the game and selfishly grow women's soccer in Canada," Sinclair said. "I think the NWSL has done and will continue to do great things for soccer in the U.S. and I'd loved to see that mirrored in Canada.

"But Portland is home for me," she added. "I don't know what else to say. Portland is home and it's just been great being a part of this organization for going on six years. I went to university in Portland, so Portland is my hometown. My family is in Vancouver, but I can't imagine leaving the Thorns."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg