Portland to shift focus to NWSL Season Opener at Kansas City Current next Saturday, March 15.  

PORTLAND, Oregon (Friday, March 7, 2025) – The Portland Thorns closed out their 2025 preseason schedule against Utah Royals FC on Friday evening at Providence Park, falling 1-0 in the team’s final test ahead of its 2025 NWSL Season Opener at Kansas City Current next Saturday, March 15.  

The Thorns would get off to a strong start offensively in the first half. Dominating in possession and shots to consistently test the Royals backline in the first 45 minutes, the Thorns came close several times to strike first, most notably off a penalty box strike from Olivia Moultrie and a long-distance freekick by Deyna Castellanos that bounced off the crossbar. However, the Royals would walk away at the end of the half with a 1-0 lead, having opened the scoring off an Ally Sentnor strike outside the box in the 20^th minute.

Coming out in the second half, the Thorns would make several changes to continue applying pressure against Utah’s defense. Amongst those changes were new signings Jayden Perry, Carissa Boeckmann, Pietra Tordin as well as trialists Maddie Kemp and Moira Kelley (Deyna Castellanos and Sam Hiatt also made their first appearances for the Thorns at Providence Park as starters).  

Notably in the second half, goalkeeper Bella Bixby also made her long-awaited return to action for Portland at Providence Park, with fans in attendance cheering and applauding loudly as she ran onto the field.  

The Thorns continued to apply pressure throughout the second half, finding chance after chance in the box. Reilyn Turner came closest in the dying minutes to get the Thorns back in the match, with her shot unluckily hitting the post. Unfortunately, Portland was unable to find the equalizer but managed to showcase to the fans in attendance a team that was hungry to dominate and entertain.  

UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns FC will open the 2025 NWSL season on the road at Kansas City Current on Saturday, March 15.

GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN

UTA: Ally Sentnor (Mina Tanaka), 20’: Off a pass from Mina Tanaka, Sentnor would shoot from outside the box to send the ball into the bottom right corner.  

LINEUPS

Portland Thorns FC (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold (Bella Bixby 63’), Reyna Reyes, Isabella Obaze, Sam Hiatt (Jayden Perry 63’), Kaitlyn Torpey (Moira Kelley 75’), Sam Coffey-C, Hina Sugita (Maddie Kemp 83’), Jessie Fleming (Carissa Boeckmann 83’), Olivia Moultrie (Alexa Spaanstra 63’), Payton Linnehan (Pietra Tordin 63’), Deyna Castellanos (Reilyn Turner 75’)

Subs not used: Morgan Messner, Eres Freifeld

Utah Royals (4-2-3-1): Amanda McGlynn, Kate Del Fava, Ana Tejada, Nuria Rabano, Paige Monaghan-C, Claudia Zornoza, Dana Foederer (Mikalya Cluff 66’), Bianca St-Georges (KK Ream 66’), Macey Fraser, Ally Sentnor (Aria Nagai 66’), Mina Tanaka (Aisha Solorzano 66’)

Subs not used: Cristina Roque, Sydney Jones, Danika Serassio, Madison Pogarch

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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

Goals: 2|1
Assists: 2|0
Possession: 51|49
Shots: 10|12
Shots on Target: 4|6
Saves: 5|2
Tackles: 16|16
Tackles Won: 9|11
Interceptions: 14|26
Fouls: 7|6
Offsides: 0|1
Corner Kicks: 0|6

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

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