Thorns End of Season Contract Updates

PORTLAND THORNS ANNOUNCE END-OF-SEASON CONTRACT UPDATES

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have updated the status of the club’s roster heading into the offseason.

Ahead of the End of Season process, the Thorns have waived forward Izzy D’Aquila, allowing her to pursue other opportunities. D’Aquila joined the Thorns ahead of the 2023 season as the 12th overall pick in the NWSL Draft. Throughout her two years with the Club D’Aquila appeared in 29 matches. D’Aquila scored her first professional goal on May 24 against Orlando Pride. The forward scored her second professional goal on July 5, netting the late-game winner against San Diego Wave.

Midfielder Marissa Sheva, goalkeepers Lauren Kozal and Kat Asman, defenders Kelli Hubly, Meghan Klingenberg, Gabby Provenzano and Becky Sauerbrunn, and recently retired forward Christine Sinclair, are all out of contract and thus Free Agents under the CBA and are free to sign with any team in the league, including the Portland Thorns.

Additionally, The Thorns recently signed midfielder Sophie Hirst and defender Mallie McKenzie to contract extensions. Hirst and McKenzie were set to be free agents per the CBA and elected to re-sign with Portland. The Club also recently signed free agent Sam Hiatt from Gotham FC, inking the centerback through the 2026 season with an option for 2027. Hiatt’s contract will go into effect January 1, 2025.

Portland Thorns Current Roster:

Goalkeepers (3): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan

Defenders (6): Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL), Nicole Payne, Isabella Obaze (INTL), Reyna Reyes

Midfielders (6): Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Sophie Hirst, Olivia Moultrie, Hina Sugita (INTL), Olivia Wade-Katoa

Forwards (5): Payton Linnehan, Sophia Smith, Alexa Spaanstra, Reilyn Turner, Morgan Weaver

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PORTLAND, Ore. (Saturday, August 15, 2026) – The Portland Thorns continued their impressive home form with a 2-1 win over Orlando Pride on Saturday when forward Caiya Hanks — who was making her return to the pitch after missing action for over a year with an ACL injury — scored a stoppage time winner to secure three points for the home side.

Both sides battled back and forth as they tried to search for the opening goal, with Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold making three saves to ensure the match remained level going into the halftime break.
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The Thorns came out into the second half much more threatening in Orlando’s half and finally broke the deadlock in the 58^th minute when forward Pietra Tordin laid the ball off to forward Deyna Castellanos, who from the top right corner of Orlando’s box placed the ball perfectly into the top left corner of the goal over the hands of Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

The lead was short lived however when Arnold’s diving save to punch out a crossed ball in the 63^rd minute ricocheted off the knees of Orlando forward Jacqueline Ovalle and rolled into the net to level things back up.

From there, Portland and Orlando continued in their fight to search for a second and despite several good looks at goal, the match remained level.

That would all change after Hanks — who subbed on in the 88^th minute — curled the ball into the goal from outside the box in the 96^th to send Providence Park into a frenzy as the Thorns secured three points and extended its home unbeaten streak to 12 matches, nine on the season.

UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns host Denver Summit FC for the first time at Providence Park on Saturday, August 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:45 pm PT on ION and 910 ESPN Portland. Purchase tickets for the match HERE.

TEAM NOTES

Pietra Tordin extended her assist tally to nine, sitting alongside Croix Bethune (KC) for most in the league so far this season. Tordin is one assist away from equalizing the league record for assists which is 10 (Tobin Heath, POR 2016 and Croix Bethune, KC 2024).
Deyna Castellanos scored her first goal of the 2026 season.
Caiya Hanks, who was removed off the Season-Ending Injury list, made her return to the pitch for the first time since June 15, 2025 and scored the game-winner.
M.A. Vignola got her first assist of the season.
The Thorns have gone 12 home regular season matches (dating back to September 2025) without losing (8W,4D), extending the current club record.
The Thorns have not lost at home in 2026 (6W,3D).
In seven matches since 2018, Portland has not lost at home against Orlando (7W-0L-0D).

GOAL BREAKDOWN
First Half

N/A

Second Half

POR – Deyna Castellanos (Pietra Tordin) 58’
ORL – Jacqueline Ovalle 63’
POR – Caiya Hanks (M.A. Vignola) 90+6’

LINEUPS
Portland Thorns (4-2-3-1): Mackenzie Arnold (GK), M.A. Vignola, Jayden Perry, Isabella Obaze (Sam Hiatt 78’), Carolyn Calzada, Jessie Fleming-C, Nina Nijstad (Cassandra Bogere 85’), Pietra Tordin (Caiya Hanks 88’), Deyna Castellanos (Renee Lyles 78’), Marie Müller (Morgan Weaver 67’), Sophia Wilson

Subs not used: Morgan Messner (GK), Reyna Reyes, Shae Harvey, Mallie McKenzie

Orlando Pride (4-4-2): Anna Moorhouse (GK), Hailie Mace (Gabi Nunes 90+8’), Rafaelle (Zoe Matthews 89’), Cori Dyke, Oihane Hernández (Zara Chavoshi 76’), Solai Washington, Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon-C, Julie Doyle (Summer Yates 65’), Jacqueline Ovalle, Barbra Banda (Angelina 65’)

Subs not used: Cara Martin (GK), Cossette Morche, Luana, Nicole Payne

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MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

POR: N/A
ORL: Jacqueline Ovalle (Yellow) 40’, Julie Doyle (Yellow) 52’, Rafaelle (Yellow) 85’

MATCH STATS

POR | ORL

ATTENDANCE: 19,106

Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant Referee 1: Katarzyna Wasiak
Assistant Referee 2: Sarah Gaddes
4th Official: Justin St. Pierre
VAR: Danielle Chesky
Assistant VAR: Seun Yinka-Kehinde