PORTLAND, Ore. (September 3, 2026) – The Portland Thorns announced today that Thorns legend Becky Sauerbrunn will assist the Club as a Technical Consultant for the remainder of the 2026 season.
A three-time NWSL Champion, four-time NWSL Defender of the Year and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, Sauerbrunn will bring meaningful defensive expertise and veteran mentorship as the Thorns continue to compete for the NWSL Championship in 2026. Sauerbrunn will also provide her high-level insights during video analysis to help athletes and technical staff review performance.
"I'm excited to be joining the Thorns for the remainder of the season,” Sauerbrunn said. “As a player, I loved watching film, talking tactics and details, working with a backline, and this opportunity affords me all those things with a lot less running. I had the privilege of a long career in this league, and I hope to be a resource for the players and staff as they work towards a championship season.”
“Becky is a massive addition to our technical staff,” said Portland Thorns President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos. “She will bring an excellent combination of valuable knowledge and experience that will benefit the development of our athletes and help push us to be in a position to compete for titles.”
Sauerbrunn retired as a member of the Portland Thorns in 2024 after nearly two-decades in professional club and international soccer. Over the course of her career, which spanned across four leagues and seven teams, she was a major leader in advocating for continued growth and investment in the women’s game on and off the pitch.
She was one of the NWSL’s original players in the league’s inaugural 2013 season, playing a huge part for each club she represented. Sauerbrunn joined Portland ahead of the 2020 season and in her five years as a Thorn, she helped the Club win the 2022 NWSL Championship, the 2021 NWSL Shield, the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, the 2020 NWSL Community Shield and the 2021 International Champions Cup.
Prior to her time in the Rose City, Sauerbrunn spent the first five years of her NWSL career with the now defunct FC Kansas City, where she won the 2014 and 2015 NWSL Championship and earned three-consecutive NWSL Defender of the Year awards between 2013-15. She later joined the Utah Royals between 2018-19, where she won her fourth NWSL Defender of the Year honor. She made a total of 189 league appearances, 72 of which were for the Portland Thorns.
Sauerbrunn cemented herself as one of the greatest of all time with the United States Women’s National Team, making 219 international appearances which included three FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Summer Olympics. Sauerbrunn’s international trophy cabinet includes the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, a 2012 Olympic Gold Medal and a Bronze Medal from the 2020 Summer Olympics. She is also a four-time winner of the Concacaf Women’s Championship (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), a five-time winner of the She Believes Cup (2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and winner of the inaugural 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
About 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, the Kaiser Permanente 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. (September 3, 2026) – The Portland Thorns announced today that Thorns legend Becky Sauerbrunn will assist the Club as a Technical Consultant for the remainder of the 2026 season.
A three-time NWSL Champion, four-time NWSL Defender of the Year and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, Sauerbrunn will bring meaningful defensive expertise and veteran mentorship as the Thorns continue to compete for the NWSL Championship in 2026. Sauerbrunn will also provide her high-level insights during video analysis to help athletes and technical staff review performance.
"I'm excited to be joining the Thorns for the remainder of the season,” Sauerbrunn said. “As a player, I loved watching film, talking tactics and details, working with a backline, and this opportunity affords me all those things with a lot less running. I had the privilege of a long career in this league, and I hope to be a resource for the players and staff as they work towards a championship season.”
“Becky is a massive addition to our technical staff,” said Portland Thorns President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos. “She will bring an excellent combination of valuable knowledge and experience that will benefit the development of our athletes and help push us to be in a position to compete for titles.”
Sauerbrunn retired as a member of the Portland Thorns in 2024 after nearly two-decades in professional club and international soccer. Over the course of her career, which spanned across four leagues and seven teams, she was a major leader in advocating for continued growth and investment in the women’s game on and off the pitch.
She was one of the NWSL’s original players in the league’s inaugural 2013 season, playing a huge part for each club she represented. Sauerbrunn joined Portland ahead of the 2020 season and in her five years as a Thorn, she helped the Club win the 2022 NWSL Championship, the 2021 NWSL Shield, the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, the 2020 NWSL Community Shield and the 2021 International Champions Cup.
Prior to her time in the Rose City, Sauerbrunn spent the first five years of her NWSL career with the now defunct FC Kansas City, where she won the 2014 and 2015 NWSL Championship and earned three-consecutive NWSL Defender of the Year awards between 2013-15. She later joined the Utah Royals between 2018-19, where she won her fourth NWSL Defender of the Year honor. She made a total of 189 league appearances, 72 of which were for the Portland Thorns.
Sauerbrunn cemented herself as one of the greatest of all time with the United States Women’s National Team, making 219 international appearances which included three FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Summer Olympics. Sauerbrunn’s international trophy cabinet includes the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, a 2012 Olympic Gold Medal and a Bronze Medal from the 2020 Summer Olympics. She is also a four-time winner of the Concacaf Women’s Championship (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), a five-time winner of the She Believes Cup (2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and winner of the inaugural 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
About 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, the Kaiser Permanente 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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