THORNS FC SIGN BELLA BIXBY TO CONTRACT EXTENSION
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have signed goalkeeper Bella Bixby to a contract extension through the 2025 season with an option for 2026, the Club announced today.
“Bella has been a critical role to our success these past few years, including helping us win our third league championship. She has been a beloved member of our team, and we are thrilled to be able to have her continue with us,” Head Coach Rob Gale said. “As an organization we fully support our players and their respective journeys to grow their families, and we are so happy for Bella and the birth of her daughter. We are excited for her return to the pitch, and look forward to being part of this next chapter in her life.”In her NWSL career, Bixby ranks among the top ten all-time in league history for goals-against average and shutouts. She has the third-best goals-against average (1.07) and ranks eighth overall with 24 career shutouts since her first regular season appearance in 2021. Across the last three seasons, Bixby has helped Portland secure an NWSL Shield (2021) and an NWSL Championship (2022), making 57 appearances with 173 career saves during that span. Her 27 wins are second-most in club history while she also ranks second for career shutouts and needs just three more to become the club’s all-time career leader in shutouts.A native of Milwaukie, Ore., Bixby was drafted by Portland out of Oregon State in the fourth round of 2018 NWSL Draft. Bixby made her NWSL debut at the 2020 Challenge Cup, while also gaining professional experience in Israel and Germany before her first league appearance. In 2023, Bixby started 21 of Portland’s 22 regular season games, registering six shutouts and 67 saves and became just the second goalkeeper in NWSL history to score in a match, tallying the equalizer in Portland’s 3-3 draw against Angel City FC on April 29.
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
THORNS FC SIGN BELLA BIXBY TO CONTRACT EXTENSION
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have signed goalkeeper Bella Bixby to a contract extension through the 2025 season with an option for 2026, the Club announced today.
“Bella has been a critical role to our success these past few years, including helping us win our third league championship. She has been a beloved member of our team, and we are thrilled to be able to have her continue with us,” Head Coach Rob Gale said. “As an organization we fully support our players and their respective journeys to grow their families, and we are so happy for Bella and the birth of her daughter. We are excited for her return to the pitch, and look forward to being part of this next chapter in her life.”In her NWSL career, Bixby ranks among the top ten all-time in league history for goals-against average and shutouts. She has the third-best goals-against average (1.07) and ranks eighth overall with 24 career shutouts since her first regular season appearance in 2021. Across the last three seasons, Bixby has helped Portland secure an NWSL Shield (2021) and an NWSL Championship (2022), making 57 appearances with 173 career saves during that span. Her 27 wins are second-most in club history while she also ranks second for career shutouts and needs just three more to become the club’s all-time career leader in shutouts.A native of Milwaukie, Ore., Bixby was drafted by Portland out of Oregon State in the fourth round of 2018 NWSL Draft. Bixby made her NWSL debut at the 2020 Challenge Cup, while also gaining professional experience in Israel and Germany before her first league appearance. In 2023, Bixby started 21 of Portland’s 22 regular season games, registering six shutouts and 67 saves and became just the second goalkeeper in NWSL history to score in a match, tallying the equalizer in Portland’s 3-3 draw against Angel City FC on April 29.
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