PORTLAND, Ore. (December 17, 2025) – The Portland Thorns announced today that forward Sophia Wilson has exercised her 2026 player option and will represent Portland next season.
“We are thrilled to have a world-class player like Sophia continue to call Portland her home,” said President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos. “Sophia is an exceptional global star that can change the game in an instant. She will strengthen our roster’s attack and her return makes our front line one the most formidable in the NWSL.”
Added Wilson: “Coming back to Portland is so special to me because Portland is where I started my professional career and where I've grown up in a lot of ways. I'm excited for the city. I love living here. I love the people here. I'm excited to get back with everyone and play in Providence Park and to play in front of the Riveters. There's no place like it. That is the place to play and I'm excited to be back in it!”
Since her arrival to the Thorns as the #1 pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft, Wilson has played a pivotal role for the Thorns’ on-field success, racking up several team and individual accolades to position herself amongst the elite of global footballers. After being out this past season on maternity leave, the 25-year-old will return in 2026 ready to help the Thorns compete for a championship. Wilson’s return will reinforce a strong Thorns foundation that in 2025 finished third in the league and advanced to the semifinals.
As a Thorn, Wilson has lifted the 2022 NWSL Championship, 2021 NWSL Shield, 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, 2021 Women’s International Champions Cup and 2020 NWSL Community Shield. Her individual honors include being the first player to win both NWSL MVP and NWSL Championship MVP in in a single season (2022) as well as being the youngest to win both at 22 years old. Between 2022-24, she earned three consecutive NWSL MVP nominations and NWSL Best XI First Team honors as well as becoming the first Thorn to win the NWSL Golden Boot (11 goals in 2023). She was a finalist for the 2024 Ballon D’Or Féminin and the only American to be nominated for the award in 2023. In 82 starts within 97 matches across all NWSL and international club competitions, Wilson has scored 50 and assisted 15.
Wilson’s contributions carry over to the U.S. Women’s National Team, where she won Gold at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and scored twice at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. With the USWNT, Wilson has also won the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, 2022 Concacaf Women’s Championship and three SheBelieves Cups (2021-22, 2024). Individual USWNT accolades for Wilson include being the 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year — the first Black woman to earn the honor and the fifth player to win both U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year (2017) and Female Player of the Year— and 2024 SheBelieves Cup MVP. Since her 2020USWNT debut, she has accumulated 24 goals and 11 assists in 58 games and 40 starts for her country.
About the Portland Thorns
Founded in 2012, the Portland Thorns are a global leader in women’s soccer, defined by unmatched fan support, championship success, and a longstanding commitment to excellence since their inaugural 2013 season. The Thorns have created one of the premier environments in women’s sports at Providence Park, leading the NWSL in average attendance for a league-record ninth time in 2025 and hosting four of the five largest-attended matches during the 2025 season. Portland is the winningest club in NWSL history, capturing a league-record three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), and the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, while qualifying for the postseason a league-high 11 times. Looking ahead, the club’s investment in the world’s first dual-sport women’s performance center, set to open in 2026, will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance.
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. (December 17, 2025) – The Portland Thorns announced today that forward Sophia Wilson has exercised her 2026 player option and will represent Portland next season.
“We are thrilled to have a world-class player like Sophia continue to call Portland her home,” said President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos. “Sophia is an exceptional global star that can change the game in an instant. She will strengthen our roster’s attack and her return makes our front line one the most formidable in the NWSL.”
Added Wilson: “Coming back to Portland is so special to me because Portland is where I started my professional career and where I've grown up in a lot of ways. I'm excited for the city. I love living here. I love the people here. I'm excited to get back with everyone and play in Providence Park and to play in front of the Riveters. There's no place like it. That is the place to play and I'm excited to be back in it!”
Since her arrival to the Thorns as the #1 pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft, Wilson has played a pivotal role for the Thorns’ on-field success, racking up several team and individual accolades to position herself amongst the elite of global footballers. After being out this past season on maternity leave, the 25-year-old will return in 2026 ready to help the Thorns compete for a championship. Wilson’s return will reinforce a strong Thorns foundation that in 2025 finished third in the league and advanced to the semifinals.
As a Thorn, Wilson has lifted the 2022 NWSL Championship, 2021 NWSL Shield, 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, 2021 Women’s International Champions Cup and 2020 NWSL Community Shield. Her individual honors include being the first player to win both NWSL MVP and NWSL Championship MVP in in a single season (2022) as well as being the youngest to win both at 22 years old. Between 2022-24, she earned three consecutive NWSL MVP nominations and NWSL Best XI First Team honors as well as becoming the first Thorn to win the NWSL Golden Boot (11 goals in 2023). She was a finalist for the 2024 Ballon D’Or Féminin and the only American to be nominated for the award in 2023. In 82 starts within 97 matches across all NWSL and international club competitions, Wilson has scored 50 and assisted 15.
Wilson’s contributions carry over to the U.S. Women’s National Team, where she won Gold at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and scored twice at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. With the USWNT, Wilson has also won the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, 2022 Concacaf Women’s Championship and three SheBelieves Cups (2021-22, 2024). Individual USWNT accolades for Wilson include being the 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year — the first Black woman to earn the honor and the fifth player to win both U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year (2017) and Female Player of the Year— and 2024 SheBelieves Cup MVP. Since her 2020USWNT debut, she has accumulated 24 goals and 11 assists in 58 games and 40 starts for her country.
About the Portland Thorns
Founded in 2012, the Portland Thorns are a global leader in women’s soccer, defined by unmatched fan support, championship success, and a longstanding commitment to excellence since their inaugural 2013 season. The Thorns have created one of the premier environments in women’s sports at Providence Park, leading the NWSL in average attendance for a league-record ninth time in 2025 and hosting four of the five largest-attended matches during the 2025 season. Portland is the winningest club in NWSL history, capturing a league-record three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), and the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, while qualifying for the postseason a league-high 11 times. Looking ahead, the club’s investment in the world’s first dual-sport women’s performance center, set to open in 2026, will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance.
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