TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –– Maddie Padelski became the second player from the 2025 Alabama soccer roster to earn a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) contract as the sophomore signed with the Portland Thorns on Thursday.

Padelski’s professional contract is the second in two weeks for the Crimson Tide as Gianna Paul agreed to a three-year deal with the Kansas City Current last month. Overall, Alabama has had 10 players sign an NWSL contract as both Padelski and Paul join current league standouts Nealy Martin (Angle City FC), McKinley Crone (Orlando Pride) and Reyna Reyes (Portland Thorns). The NWSL draft was eliminated in 2024 as part of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

• The youngest NCAA Division I women’s soccer player in 2024, entering college as a 16-year-old
• Missed six games during the 2024 season to compete with the United States National Team at the U17 FIFA World Cup
• Scored two goals at the U17 World Cup, helping to the lead the U.S. to a bronze medal and secure its best finish since 2008
• Scored eight goals for the Tide over her two years, including six last season to tie for third on the team in the category  
• Concluded the 2025 campaign with 13 points
• Scored a goal in both 2025 NCAA Tournament games, including the tying goal against Northwestern to force the match into overtime
• Was instrumental in the Tide’s win over Michigan, scoring the come-from-behind, game-winning goal, in addition to tallying an assist in UA’s last-minute draw versus No. 3 Duke during the 2025 season