Merritt Paulson is an American businessman, best known as the owner and CEO of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer (MLS) and, until late 2022, the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). He is the son of Henry M. Paulson Jr., who served as the 74th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
Early Life and Career Paulson graduated from Dartmouth College in 1993. Prior to his involvement in professional sports, he worked in finance, including in private equity at the firm the Carlyle Group.
Sports Ownership Paulson's venture into sports ownership began with the acquisition of the Portland Timbers, then a USL First Division team, in 2007. Under his ownership, the Timbers transitioned to Major League Soccer in 2011. The team has since achieved significant success, including winning the MLS Cup in 2015.
In 2012, Paulson founded the Portland Thorns FC as one of the inaugural teams in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The Thorns quickly established themselves as a dominant force in the league, winning NWSL Championships in 2013 and 2017, and the NWSL Shield in 2016 and 2021.
Paulson was a vocal advocate for the growth of professional soccer in the United States, particularly in Portland, and invested heavily in infrastructure such as Providence Park, the home stadium for both the Timbers and Thorns.
Controversies and NWSL Scandal Paulson's ownership and leadership came under intense scrutiny in late 2021 and 2022 following revelations of widespread abuse and misconduct within the NWSL, particularly regarding his organization's handling of allegations against former Thorns coach Paul Riley. Investigations, including one conducted by former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, detailed how the Thorns organization and Paulson himself failed to act adequately on reports of sexual misconduct by Riley in 2015, instead allowing him to be quietly fired and move on to another NWSL team without public disclosure of the reasons for his departure.
These findings led to significant public outcry, calls for Paulson's resignation, and a player-led movement demanding accountability. In October 2022, Paulson announced his decision to remove himself from all Thorns-related decision-making and initiated a process to sell the Portland Thorns FC. He also stepped down as CEO of the Portland Timbers, though he retained ownership of the MLS club. The Yates report characterized the Thorns' handling of the Riley allegations as failing to "protect players and prioritize their safety."
Impact Paulson's tenure as a sports owner has been marked by both significant success and profound controversy. He played a key role in elevating professional soccer in Portland and in the early establishment of the NWSL. However, his legacy is heavily overshadowed by the NWSL abuse scandal, which highlighted systemic failures in player protection and accountability within professional women's soccer.