Not more than four matchdays remain before the 2025 NWSL regular season concludes and the playoffs kick off. While one might expect teams to make massive turnarounds on the pitch to push for the best possible finish in the league table, we are instead witnessing unexpected transfer moves. The latest comes from the Portland Thorns, who have let go of their star midfielder Hina Sugita to Angel City in exchange for not just a talented defender, M.A. Vignola, but also $600,000 in intra-league transfer funds. While it might seem like a steal to many, the reality is a stark contrast as Thorns fans are far from impressed!

The deal was announced earlier today by both parties, who didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the ongoing trade window, with trades still allowed through the Oct. 9 roster freeze, even though the external transfer deadline has passed. This move marks the second-biggest intra-league deal to date. Interestingly, the figure $600,000 matches what Kansas City Current paid Utah Royals FC for USWNT forward Ally Sentnor in August, but unlike that transfer, it also brings a starting-caliber player to Portland.

For context, Jaedyn Shaw’s $1.25 million move from the North Carolina Courage to NJ/NY Gotham FC in September still holds the intra-league record and ranks among the six largest global transfers so far. “I am so grateful to have the opportunity to join Angel City,” said Sugita while speaking to her new club.

“I feel a lot of energy and passion from the club, and I’m happy to be part of this community. I’m very excited to play for this team and look forward to seeing the fans at BMO Stadium,” added the 28-year-old Japanese international, who is joining the Angels just months after they brought in new head coach Alexander Straus earlier this summer.

Just like Sugita didn’t take much time in embracing her new team, similarly was the case for the Portland Thorns, who gave a warm welcome to M.A. Vignola. As Thorns general manager Jeff Agoos puts it, the 27-year-old American fullback is exactly the type of player they had been looking to add for quite a while.

“She addresses a critical need in our squad — a physical, no-nonsense defender who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work and sets a standard with her competitiveness,” said Jeff Agoos. He said that Vignola is the kind of teammate “any team would want in a battle,” and her addition positions the Thorns for success as they enter the playoffs and beyond.

A move to Angel City sees Hina Sugita reunite with Mark Parsons, who, after serving as the club’s interim coach, became sporting director. Back when he was a coach, Portland had signed the Kitakyushu native in 2022.

No wonder Parsons also expressed his gratitude for being able to sign a “World-class and championship-caliber midfielder” for Angel City, who has shown consistent signs.

“She is dynamic with high game intelligence, who we believe helps us on the field and brings valuable experience off the field,” said the English tactician turned sporting chief. Overall, the move seems to be in favor of both the Portland Thorns and Angel City. Then again, the question is, why exactly are fans upset?

Portland Thorns fanbase upset with Hina Sugita’s exit!

After the news was shared on the internet, ardent Portland Thorns fans couldn’t hold back their criticism of the decision to let a player like Hina Sugita go. “This f—— sucks. Didn’t you just give your left back a 5 yr extension, too?” wrote one fan. But the problem is that’s not completely true. Apparently, the Oregon-based club tried to retain Sugita with a better, longer contract. However, they were unable to match the terms offered by Angel City, according to sources familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to ESPN.

Another netizen believes that while there’s no problem in making such a transfer, the problem is that it shouldn’t have been Sugita. “I don’t mind getting rid of some of our glut of redundant midfielders for a position of extreme need in fullback. However, the midfielder shipped out should have been Jessie Fleming, NOT HINA!”

But again, we would like to contradict this with a counter that the former INAC Kobe Leonessa had her own reasons for leaving Portland. For starters, Hina did see her role in the team get diminished. Quite obvious, considering the team had the likes of Sam Coffey, Olivia Moultrie, and Jessie Fleming.

But fans seem to be quite blunt about the midfield options that the Thorns have: “I like Vignola, good pickup…BUT WHY MOVE HINA???? Trade Fleming if you want to trade a midfielder, trading Hina is a gargantuan mistake,” said another.

And so what if Hina Sugita left? In the eyes of Portland Thorns fans, she will always be the player who is holding a rose. “Hina once a thorn, always a thorn. Don’t understand why our coach wasn’t playing a player who’s a menace to the other team and so good on the ball,” said another.

In the case of Angel City, they benefit from the arrival of Hina, as club veteran Ali Riley, also a full-back, earlier announced her decision to hang up her boots. Hence, the latter can easily replace the departee. But for Thorns, though, it’s simply not right. “THIS IS NOT F*CKING OK!! What the hell is management doing??? We keep losing key players. Hina is a THORN. We will miss her so much!” added another fan.

Consider it an even transfer, as this certainly isn’t the first time such a deal transpired between these two clubs. Earlier, Portland acquired forward Julie Dufour and a 2025 international roster spot from Angel City in exchange for $40,000 in intra-league transfer funds. Dufour had scored two goals in five appearances for Portland before suffering an ACL tear.

Then again, deep down, all the Thorns supporters know what kind of gem they lost. “Our only player to not make the most predictable play and has more than an ounce of creativity … Hina and Coffey were the only two running this team,” wrote another.

Be that as it may, this is just a glimpse of what you saw, as many others came to question this call from Portland Thorns. Either way, share your views in the comments below.