Portland Thorns FC have acquired Denmark centerback Isabella Obaze from FC Rosengård for an undisclosed amount, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Obaze has signed with the club through the 2026 season, with a mutual option for the 2027 season. Additionally, Obaze will occupy an international spot.
“I am so excited to be joining Portland Thorns FC, they are a club with a winning mentality and I hope to help continue their success,” Obaze said. “I can’t wait to get started!”
At just 21 years old, Obaze has become one of Denmark’s stalwarts along the backline following the 2023 FIFA World Cup, having started in four consecutive matches for the “Red and White,” contributing to victories over Iceland and Wales in UEFA Women’s Nations League competition. Obaze made her national team debut in 2022 at the Algarve Cup, starting in Denmark’s match against Italy.
“We became aware of Isabella quite some time ago, and as a result we have been able to see her quickly develop into an incredibly strong defensive player, well beyond her years. Isabella possesses all the intangibles which make her an excellent fit for us, both on and off the field, and we believe she will be an important piece for our club going forward,” Portland Thorns FC general manager Karina LeBlanc said.
Obaze becomes just the second Danish individual to appear for Thorns FC, joining striker Nadia Nadim who was part of both the 2016 NWSL Shield and 2017 NWSL Championship winning squad.
“We are excited to welcome Isabella to the Thorns. She comes to the Thorns with a profile that we believe is very suited to the direction of this team and the league,” head coach Mike Norris said. “Isabella loves to defend, first and foremost, and brings a calmness, beyond her years, on the ball. We look forward to seeing her flourish here in Rose City.”
Since signing her first professional contract with her hometown club, Kolding IF, as a teenager, Obaze has appeared in 105 professional matches, recording a goal and an assist, across all clubs and competitions. After three seasons with Kolding, Obaze joined HB Køge, where she helped the Danish-side lift three consecutive league titles and advance to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Group Stage for the first time in club history.
Obaze’s performance in the HB Køge’s historic season led to a transfer for the young defender to FC Rosengård in Sweden, where she has once again played Champions League football, starting in all seven matches of the tournament this year.
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Born: October 30, 2002
Hometown: Kolding, Denmark
Citizenship: Denmark
Previous Club: FC Rosengård (Damallsvenskan)
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 Thorns FC have acquired Denmark centerback Isabella Obaze from FC Rosengård for an undisclosed amount, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Obaze has signed with the club through the 2026 season, with a mutual option for the 2027 season. Additionally, Obaze will occupy an international spot.
“I am so excited to be joining Portland Thorns FC, they are a club with a winning mentality and I hope to help continue their success,” Obaze said. “I can’t wait to get started!”
At just 21 years old, Obaze has become one of Denmark’s stalwarts along the backline following the 2023 FIFA World Cup, having started in four consecutive matches for the “Red and White,” contributing to victories over Iceland and Wales in UEFA Women’s Nations League competition. Obaze made her national team debut in 2022 at the Algarve Cup, starting in Denmark’s match against Italy.
“We became aware of Isabella quite some time ago, and as a result we have been able to see her quickly develop into an incredibly strong defensive player, well beyond her years. Isabella possesses all the intangibles which make her an excellent fit for us, both on and off the field, and we believe she will be an important piece for our club going forward,” Portland Thorns FC general manager Karina LeBlanc said.
Obaze becomes just the second Danish individual to appear for Thorns FC, joining striker Nadia Nadim who was part of both the 2016 NWSL Shield and 2017 NWSL Championship winning squad.
“We are excited to welcome Isabella to the Thorns. She comes to the Thorns with a profile that we believe is very suited to the direction of this team and the league,” head coach Mike Norris said. “Isabella loves to defend, first and foremost, and brings a calmness, beyond her years, on the ball. We look forward to seeing her flourish here in Rose City.”
Since signing her first professional contract with her hometown club, Kolding IF, as a teenager, Obaze has appeared in 105 professional matches, recording a goal and an assist, across all clubs and competitions. After three seasons with Kolding, Obaze joined HB Køge, where she helped the Danish-side lift three consecutive league titles and advance to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Group Stage for the first time in club history.
Obaze’s performance in the HB Køge’s historic season led to a transfer for the young defender to FC Rosengård in Sweden, where she has once again played Champions League football, starting in all seven matches of the tournament this year.
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Born: October 30, 2002
Hometown: Kolding, Denmark
Citizenship: Denmark
Previous Club: FC Rosengård (Damallsvenskan)
.avif)
