INDIO, Calif. (Sunday, February 15, 2026) – Despite a late goal from trialist midfielder Renee Lyles, the Portland Thorns fell 2-1 to Angel City FC in its opening match at the 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational on Sunday at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Angel City would get onto the scoresheet early after defender Gisele Thompson’s cross found midfielder Maiara Niehues in the box for a header in the 2nd minute, quickly putting the Thorns in a position to search for an equalizer.
Angel City would continue to push for a second goal, but the Thorns backline held strong to limit those opportunities and shift momentum for Portland to go on the offensive. However, despite settling more into the match as the first half progressed, the Thorns were unable to get a shot past Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.
Angel City did sneak some opportunities near the end of the first half, but Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold would make two big consecutive saves in the 46th minute to keep the scoreline tight.
After the halftime break, Angel City would double their lead off a corner in the 56th minute after midfielder Kennedy Fuller sent a cross that found Niehues, who slotted the ball into the net to bag a brace.
Both teams would make several changes throughout the second half to give new players and trialists an opportunity to come on and make an impact, with Portland itself looking to fight back into the match.
One of those players for Portland was Lyles, who would receive a pass from forward Valerin Loboa near half field and dribbled all the way into the opponent’s box to get a late one back for Portland in the 89th minute to deny Angel City the clean sheet.
UP NEXT: Portland Thorns will face the Houston Dash on Saturday, February 21 at 10:30 am PT. The match will be available to watch on KPTV Fox 12 Plus and the Thorns YouTube channel.
GOAL BREAKDOWN
First Half
LA – Maira Niehues (Gisele Thompson) 2’
Second Half
LA – Maira Niehues (Kennedy Fuller) 56’
POR – Renee Lyles (Valerin Loboa) 89’
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold (Morgan Messner 46’), Reyna Reyes (M.A. Vignola 78’), Jayden Perry (Isabella Obaze 63’), Sam Hiatt (Carolyn Calzada 63’), Mallie McKenzie (Sydney Cheesman 78’), Jessie Fleming (Jenni Immethun 78’), Mimi Alidou (Maddie Padelski 63’), Olivia Moultrie (Renee Lyles 78’), Reilyn Turner (Farrah Walters 63’), Alexa Spaanstra (Valerin Loboa 63’), Pietra Tordin (Deyna Castellanos 46’)
Subs not used: Mathilde Braithwaite, Hayden Colson
Angel City FC (4-3-3): Angelina Anderson (Hannah Seabert 46’), Evelyn Shores (Jadyn Betchel 76’), Savy King (Sophia Mattice 31’), Sarah Gorden (Jennah Black 64’), Gisele Thompson (Enasia Colon 64’), Ary Borges (Hina Sugita 31’), Nealy Martin (Natalia Bautista 64’), Maiara Niehues (Grace Murray 64’), Riley Tiernan (Diem Sealy 64’), Kennedy Fuller (Casey Phair 76’), Jónsdóttir Sveindis (Prisca Chilufya 46’)
Subs not used: Jun Endo
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: Spaanstra (Yellow) 61’
LA: Hina Sugita (Yellow) 73’
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
INDIO, Calif. (Sunday, February 15, 2026) – Despite a late goal from trialist midfielder Renee Lyles, the Portland Thorns fell 2-1 to Angel City FC in its opening match at the 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational on Sunday at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Angel City would get onto the scoresheet early after defender Gisele Thompson’s cross found midfielder Maiara Niehues in the box for a header in the 2nd minute, quickly putting the Thorns in a position to search for an equalizer.
Angel City would continue to push for a second goal, but the Thorns backline held strong to limit those opportunities and shift momentum for Portland to go on the offensive. However, despite settling more into the match as the first half progressed, the Thorns were unable to get a shot past Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.
Angel City did sneak some opportunities near the end of the first half, but Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold would make two big consecutive saves in the 46th minute to keep the scoreline tight.
After the halftime break, Angel City would double their lead off a corner in the 56th minute after midfielder Kennedy Fuller sent a cross that found Niehues, who slotted the ball into the net to bag a brace.
Both teams would make several changes throughout the second half to give new players and trialists an opportunity to come on and make an impact, with Portland itself looking to fight back into the match.
One of those players for Portland was Lyles, who would receive a pass from forward Valerin Loboa near half field and dribbled all the way into the opponent’s box to get a late one back for Portland in the 89th minute to deny Angel City the clean sheet.
UP NEXT: Portland Thorns will face the Houston Dash on Saturday, February 21 at 10:30 am PT. The match will be available to watch on KPTV Fox 12 Plus and the Thorns YouTube channel.
GOAL BREAKDOWN
First Half
LA – Maira Niehues (Gisele Thompson) 2’
Second Half
LA – Maira Niehues (Kennedy Fuller) 56’
POR – Renee Lyles (Valerin Loboa) 89’
LINEUPS
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold (Morgan Messner 46’), Reyna Reyes (M.A. Vignola 78’), Jayden Perry (Isabella Obaze 63’), Sam Hiatt (Carolyn Calzada 63’), Mallie McKenzie (Sydney Cheesman 78’), Jessie Fleming (Jenni Immethun 78’), Mimi Alidou (Maddie Padelski 63’), Olivia Moultrie (Renee Lyles 78’), Reilyn Turner (Farrah Walters 63’), Alexa Spaanstra (Valerin Loboa 63’), Pietra Tordin (Deyna Castellanos 46’)
Subs not used: Mathilde Braithwaite, Hayden Colson
Angel City FC (4-3-3): Angelina Anderson (Hannah Seabert 46’), Evelyn Shores (Jadyn Betchel 76’), Savy King (Sophia Mattice 31’), Sarah Gorden (Jennah Black 64’), Gisele Thompson (Enasia Colon 64’), Ary Borges (Hina Sugita 31’), Nealy Martin (Natalia Bautista 64’), Maiara Niehues (Grace Murray 64’), Riley Tiernan (Diem Sealy 64’), Kennedy Fuller (Casey Phair 76’), Jónsdóttir Sveindis (Prisca Chilufya 46’)
Subs not used: Jun Endo
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: Spaanstra (Yellow) 61’
LA: Hina Sugita (Yellow) 73’
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