PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have acquired free agent Venezuelan international forward Deyna Castellanos through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Deyna to the Thorns, she is a player who has qualities we feel we can continue to develop and enhance within our program,” Head Coach Rob Gale said. “We are excited to challenge her in this next stage of her career and have her join in our club ambitions.”
Castellanos, 25, comes to Portland via Bay FC where she spent her first year in the National Women’s Soccer League with the 2025 expansion side. During the 2024 season Castellanos recorded two goals and one assist in 25 matches, across all competitions, including the first official home goal in Bay FC’s inaugural match at their home stadium.
Castellanos began her professional career in Europe with Atlético Madrid where she made a name for herself as a lethal offensive threat, netting 26 goals and tallying 12 assists in 71 matches. On January 16, 2021 Castellanos scored the opening, and eventual game-winning, goal in the final of the Supercopa de España Femenina to give Atlético Madrid its first major trophy half a decade.
Following a successful tenure in Spain Castellanos made the move to England where she signed with Manchester City ahead of the 2022 season. Throughout her two years with the club Castellanos recorded five goals and four assists in 36 games played.
Before becoming a professional, Castellanos played collegiately for Florida State University where she became an NCAA National Champion in 2018. Castellanos finished her career with 48 goals and 22 assists, giving her the second-most points in school history. Her 48 goals are also good for the second-most in school history, while she holds the record for the most game-winning goals (20 goals).
Internationally, Castellanos has been a pillar of the Venezuelan Women’s National Team, recording 22 goals and 15 assists in 38 matches, earning title of captain in 2021 at just 21 years old.
Portland Thorns are set to begin preseason, ahead of the 2025 regular season, later this month with the current roster as it stands:
Goalkeepers (2): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby
Defenders (8): Daiane, Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL), Nicole Payne, Jayden Perry, Isabella Obaze (INTL), Reyna Reyes
Midfielders (6): Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Sophie Hirst, Olivia Moultrie, Hina Sugita (INTL), Olivia Wade-Katoa
Forwards (7): Deyna Castellanos, Payton Linnehan, Sophia Smith, Alexa Spaanstra, Pietra Tordin, Reilyn Turner, Morgan Weaver
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.
The Thorns came out into the second half much more threatening in Orlando’s half and finally broke the deadlock in the 58th 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 63rd 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 88th minute — curled the ball into the goal from outside the box in the 96th 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
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
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
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have acquired free agent Venezuelan international forward Deyna Castellanos through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Deyna to the Thorns, she is a player who has qualities we feel we can continue to develop and enhance within our program,” Head Coach Rob Gale said. “We are excited to challenge her in this next stage of her career and have her join in our club ambitions.”
Castellanos, 25, comes to Portland via Bay FC where she spent her first year in the National Women’s Soccer League with the 2025 expansion side. During the 2024 season Castellanos recorded two goals and one assist in 25 matches, across all competitions, including the first official home goal in Bay FC’s inaugural match at their home stadium.
Castellanos began her professional career in Europe with Atlético Madrid where she made a name for herself as a lethal offensive threat, netting 26 goals and tallying 12 assists in 71 matches. On January 16, 2021 Castellanos scored the opening, and eventual game-winning, goal in the final of the Supercopa de España Femenina to give Atlético Madrid its first major trophy half a decade.
Following a successful tenure in Spain Castellanos made the move to England where she signed with Manchester City ahead of the 2022 season. Throughout her two years with the club Castellanos recorded five goals and four assists in 36 games played.
Before becoming a professional, Castellanos played collegiately for Florida State University where she became an NCAA National Champion in 2018. Castellanos finished her career with 48 goals and 22 assists, giving her the second-most points in school history. Her 48 goals are also good for the second-most in school history, while she holds the record for the most game-winning goals (20 goals).
Internationally, Castellanos has been a pillar of the Venezuelan Women’s National Team, recording 22 goals and 15 assists in 38 matches, earning title of captain in 2021 at just 21 years old.
Portland Thorns are set to begin preseason, ahead of the 2025 regular season, later this month with the current roster as it stands:
Goalkeepers (2): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby
Defenders (8): Daiane, Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL), Nicole Payne, Jayden Perry, Isabella Obaze (INTL), Reyna Reyes
Midfielders (6): Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Sophie Hirst, Olivia Moultrie, Hina Sugita (INTL), Olivia Wade-Katoa
Forwards (7): Deyna Castellanos, Payton Linnehan, Sophia Smith, Alexa Spaanstra, Pietra Tordin, Reilyn Turner, Morgan Weaver
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