Portland Thorns legend Christine Sinclair prepares for final regular season match at Providence Park

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- When Christine Sinclair walked into what would be her second to last press conference as a Thorns player, she was told she would be alone up at the podium.

“Oh, just me?!” she exclaimed.

Instead of heading up to the microphone, she then went and sat down in a chair next to her teammates, trying to once again avoid the spotlight.

One of those teammates finally chimed in and said, “Your chair’s up there, babe. Get up there.”

Sinclair begrudgingly headed to her throne and then was asked cheekily if she was having too much fun in this moment to walk away from the game.

“No, I’m good,” she said with laughter, turning her head away from the microphone while scratching the back of her ear.

It was exactly what you would expect from a superstar with the most lowkey of tendencies.

But she also does seem legitimately good with this chapter of her life coming to a close.

“I mean, besides being 41 years old?” replied Sinclair to the question of how she knew it was time to hang up the cleats. “Obviously retiring from the national team, I always wanted to play one year of pro just to be able to enjoy it. Just to be able to give my all one last year to Portland, but, yeah, it’s time.”

The University of Portland alum has certainly given her time, time and again.

Playing off and on in Portland at various levels for the past 23 years.

She said off the field, being a Portland Thorn meant giving back to the community, but on it?

“Being gritty, playing for the badge, never giving up, humble, but at the same time, man, we love to win. What makes this team special is also winning championships. I think we had a motto. Build a constellation, and I hope this next group continues that,” said the Canada native.

For now, though, it’s about continuing that just through Friday.

“Tomorrow night will be interesting. I haven’t really thought about it much. But to be able to step out onto Providence Park one more time with the Riveters in such a meaningful game, it’s kind of perfect,” said Sinclair.

Speaking of perfect, she ended her press conference in the same tone that it started with.

When told it was over, she exhaled, saying “Oh, thank God.”