PORTLAND, Ore. (Sunday, September 6, 2026) – The Portland Thorns fell 1-2 to Washington Spirit on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park, ending the 13-match home unbeaten streak.

Midfielder Nina Nijstad would draw a penalty in favor of the Thorns to give Portland an opportunity to get ahead first. Forward Sophia Wilson converted from the spot in the 18^th minute to grab the lead and scored her team-leading 12^th goal of the year. Portland then dominated the rest of the first half, denying Washington any threatening chances while continuing to attack the visitors’ goal in search of a second.

Forward Pietra Tordin almost doubled Portland’s lead within the opening minute of the second half, with her shot deflecting off the near post. However, the Spirit would be the side to get on the board first in the second half when they won a penalty after a VAR review. Washington’s Tara Rudd stepped up to convert the chance in the 59th minute.

Both sides then entered a tense back and forth as they fought for a winner, with Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold making a crucial diving save in the 72nd minute to keep things equal. Washington’s persistence continued and they eventually found the go-ahead strike in the 80^th minute when Trinity Rodman’s low cross found Melissa Beth, who placed the ball in the bottom right corner of Portland’s net.

Despite Portland’s efforts to get back level, the match played out in favor of Washington. The Thorns will now shift focus to next week’s match vs Chicago Stars FC.  

UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns are back at Providence Park against Chicago Stars FC on Sunday, September 13. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 4 pm PT on the Roku Channel and KNKR-2. Tickets are available for purchase HERE.

TEAM NOTES

• Sophia Wilson scored her team-leading 12th goal of the year from the penalty spot. As of Sunday afternoon, she sits third in the NWSL’s Golden Boot race.
• Wilson is 4/4 from the penalty spot this season. She has converted all 10 of her career penalty kicks, becoming only the second NWSL player to reach that feat.
• Wilson has scored in eight of Portland’s last 11 matches, her second consecutive goal from the penalty spot.
• Forward duo Morgan Weaver and Reilyn Turner made their returns to the pitch as starters. For Turner, it is her first match back from injury since July 5.

GOAL BREAKDOWN
First Half

POR – Sophia Wilson (PK) 18’

Second Half

WAS – Tara Rudd (PK) 59’
WAS – Mélissa Bethi (Trinity Rodman) 80’

LINEUPS
Portland Thorns (4-2-3-1): GK Mackenzie Arnold, M.A. Vignola (Reyna Reyes 84’), Jayden Perry, Sam Hiatt-C, Carolyn Calzada (Maddie Padelski 84’), Nina Nijstad, Jessie Fleming, Reilyn Turner (Marie Müller 63’), Pietra Tordin, Morgan Weaver (Caiya Hanks 45’), Sophia Wilson
Subs not used: GK Morgan Messner, Cassandra Bogere, Shae Harvey, Mallie McKenzie, Renee Lyles

Washington Spirit (4-3-3): GK Sandy MacIver, Gabrielle Carle, Esme Morgan, Tara Rudd-C, Paige Metayer, Monique Ngock (Andi Sullivan 73’), Hal Hershfelt, Mélissa Bethi (Élisabeth Tsé 90+8’), Trinity Rodman, Sofia Cantore (Gift Monday 87’), Rosemonde Kouassi (Madison Haugen 88’)
Subs not used: GK Sara Wojdelko, GK Kaylie Collins, Lucia Di Guglielmo, Tamara Bolt, Emma Gaines-Ramos
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MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

POR: Jayden Perry (Yellow) 90+3’
WAS: Monique Ngock (Yellow) 26’, Tara Rudd (Yellow) 32’, Andi Sullivan (Yellow) 90+2’, Andi Sullivan (Red) 90+7’

MATCH STATS

POR | WAS

Goals: 1|2
Assists: 0|1
Possession: 44.7|55.3
Shots: 17|10
Shots on Target: 7|5
Saves: 3|6
Tackles: 20|16
Tackles Won: 13|9
Interceptions: 6|13
Fouls: 14|14
Offsides: 1|3
Corner Kicks: 5|5

ATTENDANCE: 19,065

Referee: Cristian Campo
Assistant Referee 1: Mateusz Dulski
Assistant Referee 2: Cameron Siler
4th Official: Iryna Petrunok
VAR: Jaclyn Metz
Assistant VAR: Brian Marshall

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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