PORTLAND, Ore. (May 5, 2026) – The Portland Thorns announced today that it has signed goalkeeper Morgan Messner to a two-year contract extension through 2028.
“Morgan stepped up at the start of the year when the opportunity was presented to her to lead the backline and her performances in goal were critical to helping us start the season off strong,” President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos said. “She has been a valuable member of our competitive goalkeeping unit and we look forward to supporting her continued development over the next few years.”
Since her arrival to Portland in 2025 as a non-roster invitee, Messner has continued to impress and inks her extension after a strong display in net for the Thorns to start the 2026 season, posting two clean sheets and 13 saves in her three matches played
She made her NWSL regular season debut in the 1-0 victory at Washington Spirit, which saw her become the third goalkeeper in club history (alongside Bella Bixby and Nadine Angerer) to register a clean sheet in a league debut. Her clean sheet against Seattle Reign FC (2-0) in the following match went down as only the second time in club history that the Thorns opened a season with two consecutive clean sheets.
Messner also earned Save of the Week honors in Week 3 for her outstretched save against San Diego Wave FC.
About the Portland Thorns
Founded in 2012, the Portland Thorns are a global leader in women’s soccer, defined by unmatched fan support, championship success, and a longstanding commitment to excellence since their inaugural 2013 season. The Thorns have created one of the premier environments in women’s sports at Providence Park, leading the NWSL in average attendance for a league-record ninth time in 2025 and hosting four of the five largest-attended matches during the 2025 season. Portland is the winningest club in NWSL history, capturing a league-record three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), and the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, while qualifying for the postseason a league-high 11 times. Looking ahead, the club’s investment in the world’s first dual-sport women’s performance center, the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center, set to open in 2026, will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance.
PORTLAND, Ore. (May 5, 2026) – The Portland Thorns announced today that it has signed goalkeeper Morgan Messner to a two-year contract extension through 2028.
“Morgan stepped up at the start of the year when the opportunity was presented to her to lead the backline and her performances in goal were critical to helping us start the season off strong,” President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos said. “She has been a valuable member of our competitive goalkeeping unit and we look forward to supporting her continued development over the next few years.”
Since her arrival to Portland in 2025 as a non-roster invitee, Messner has continued to impress and inks her extension after a strong display in net for the Thorns to start the 2026 season, posting two clean sheets and 13 saves in her three matches played
She made her NWSL regular season debut in the 1-0 victory at Washington Spirit, which saw her become the third goalkeeper in club history (alongside Bella Bixby and Nadine Angerer) to register a clean sheet in a league debut. Her clean sheet against Seattle Reign FC (2-0) in the following match went down as only the second time in club history that the Thorns opened a season with two consecutive clean sheets.
Messner also earned Save of the Week honors in Week 3 for her outstretched save against San Diego Wave FC.
About the Portland Thorns
Founded in 2012, the Portland Thorns are a global leader in women’s soccer, defined by unmatched fan support, championship success, and a longstanding commitment to excellence since their inaugural 2013 season. The Thorns have created one of the premier environments in women’s sports at Providence Park, leading the NWSL in average attendance for a league-record ninth time in 2025 and hosting four of the five largest-attended matches during the 2025 season. Portland is the winningest club in NWSL history, capturing a league-record three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), and the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, while qualifying for the postseason a league-high 11 times. Looking ahead, the club’s investment in the world’s first dual-sport women’s performance center, the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center, set to open in 2026, will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance.
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