Nike didn't immediately respond to an Insider question about retail theft. The sportswear giant last fall closed a celebrated outlet store in its hometown of Portland because of ongoing theft.

But much of the industry resides in Portland, Oregon, and its surrounding suburbs, home to well-known brands such as Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Keen, and the North American branch of Adidas.

And not to mention, Nike’s hometown is also home to the league’s crown jewel, the Portland Thorns. The team has housed some of the greatest female soccer players of all time, including Alex ...