Portland, Ore. - Portland Thorns FC have acquired forward Alexa Spaanstra from Kansas City Current in exchange for $25,000 in intra-league transfer funds and an additional $15,000 in allocation money.
“We are very excited to be adding Alexa to our squad, her attacking prowess will improve the depth of our attacking core,” General Manager and President of Soccer Operations Karina LeBlanc said. “Her ability to score, as well as contribute to the build up will be of great benefit as we begin a long and hard stretch which includes vital league matches and the start of the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Alexa has proven herself to be capable of competing in this league and we are thrilled to now have her as a member of the Thorns.”
“I am delighted to welcome Alexa to the Thorns, she is a player our recruitment team has followed through college and the 2023 draft and now through a year-and-a-half in the league,” Head Coach Rob Gale said. “She’s a forward who is attacking minded, great on the dribble and makes excellent runs in behind, she has all the dynamics we are looking for to add to our attacking unit. We are excited to bring her into our group.”
Spaanstra, 24, was drafted by Kansas City 10th overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft from the University of Virginia. This season Spaanstra has appeared in 11 matches, eight of them starts, recording a goal and an assist. During her rookie season she made 15 appearances, contributing two goals and an assist. Spaanstra scored her first professional goal on October 7, 2023 in a 6-0 victory over Chicago Red Stars, and was subsequently named the October NWSL Rookie of the Month.
Before going pro, Spaanstra spent five years at the University of Virginia where she appeared in 107 matches, all of them starts. As a member of the Cavaliers, Spaanstra scored 37 goals and added 34 assists across her career. With her acquisition she becomes the second Virginia alumnae as part of this Thorns roster, joining defender Becky Sauerbrunn.
Internationally, Spaanstra has appeared at various levels of the United States Youth Women’s National Teams, including the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. During both World Cup tournaments, as well as throughout much of her international career, Spaanstra was teammates with Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith.
The Portland Thorns return to regular-season play on Saturday, August 24 at Red Bull Arena against Gotham FC, and are set to be back at Providence Park on Saturday, Saturday, August 30 to host Bay FC at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at thorns.com.
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 forward Alexa Spaanstra from Kansas City Current in exchange for $25,000 in intra-league transfer funds and an additional $15,000 in allocation money.
“We are very excited to be adding Alexa to our squad, her attacking prowess will improve the depth of our attacking core,” General Manager and President of Soccer Operations Karina LeBlanc said. “Her ability to score, as well as contribute to the build up will be of great benefit as we begin a long and hard stretch which includes vital league matches and the start of the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Alexa has proven herself to be capable of competing in this league and we are thrilled to now have her as a member of the Thorns.”
“I am delighted to welcome Alexa to the Thorns, she is a player our recruitment team has followed through college and the 2023 draft and now through a year-and-a-half in the league,” Head Coach Rob Gale said. “She’s a forward who is attacking minded, great on the dribble and makes excellent runs in behind, she has all the dynamics we are looking for to add to our attacking unit. We are excited to bring her into our group.”
Spaanstra, 24, was drafted by Kansas City 10th overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft from the University of Virginia. This season Spaanstra has appeared in 11 matches, eight of them starts, recording a goal and an assist. During her rookie season she made 15 appearances, contributing two goals and an assist. Spaanstra scored her first professional goal on October 7, 2023 in a 6-0 victory over Chicago Red Stars, and was subsequently named the October NWSL Rookie of the Month.
Before going pro, Spaanstra spent five years at the University of Virginia where she appeared in 107 matches, all of them starts. As a member of the Cavaliers, Spaanstra scored 37 goals and added 34 assists across her career. With her acquisition she becomes the second Virginia alumnae as part of this Thorns roster, joining defender Becky Sauerbrunn.
Internationally, Spaanstra has appeared at various levels of the United States Youth Women’s National Teams, including the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. During both World Cup tournaments, as well as throughout much of her international career, Spaanstra was teammates with Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith.
The Portland Thorns return to regular-season play on Saturday, August 24 at Red Bull Arena against Gotham FC, and are set to be back at Providence Park on Saturday, Saturday, August 30 to host Bay FC at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at thorns.com.
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