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PORTLAND, Ore. (July 30, 2025) – Portland Thorns midfielder Sophie Hirst announced today that she will retire from professional soccer effective immediately to pursue a medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
“Getting to play professional soccer for the past three years has been a surreal and incredible experience,” Hirst said. “I enjoyed my time as a Thorn immensely and no experience will come close to playing a home match in front of the fans at Providence Park. Deciding to retire to pursue medical school was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but ultimately it was the best for me and my future career. I want to thank the Club, my teammates, coaches and staff for making my time in Portland so memorable and for the incredible support that I have received during this time. I am beyond grateful to have gotten to live out two of my dreams and as one comes to a close, I can confidently say that I am excited to pursue this next chapter of my life.”
Hirst is set to begin medical school on August 4, and the Portland Thorns wish her all the best as she pursues a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.
“Sophie embodies what it means to be a Thorn—driven, selfless, and committed to excellence on and off the field,” said Portland Thorns General Manager Jeff Agoos. “We are incredibly proud of everything she’s accomplished in her time here, and even more excited for what lies ahead as she begins her journey in medicine. Our club is built on supporting players not just as athletes, but as people, and Sophie’s story is a testament to that. She will always be part of the Thorns family.
Hirst joined the Thorns via a trade from the Houston Dash in September 2024 and contributed immediately by starting three of her four appearances for the Thorns in the Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage, helping Portland secure qualification to the Finals in 2025. She would make her league debut during Portland’s 2024 season finale, a 3-0 home victory against Angel City.
In total, she made 23 NWSL appearances on the pitch for both Portland and Houston. Her lone career goal, scored in 2023, was the game-winner for Houston in a 2-0 victory against Orlando Pride.
Hirst was a two-time First-Team All-Ivy selection with Harvard University – starting 56 times in 60 matches and logging 10 goals and 12 assists between 2018 and 2022 – and helped the Crimson clinch back-to-back NCAA DI Women’s Soccer Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. She was selected as the 20th overall pick by Houston in the 2023 NWSL Draft to become the second ever Harvard student-athlete and sixth Ivy League player to get drafted into the NWSL.
Off the pitch at Harvard, Hirst took the first steps towards her medical dream by studying neuroscience. She excelled in the classroom, evident in her Academic All-America honor in 2021 and two selections to the Academic All-Ivy team (2021, 2022).
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. (July 30, 2025) – Portland Thorns midfielder Sophie Hirst announced today that she will retire from professional soccer effective immediately to pursue a medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
“Getting to play professional soccer for the past three years has been a surreal and incredible experience,” Hirst said. “I enjoyed my time as a Thorn immensely and no experience will come close to playing a home match in front of the fans at Providence Park. Deciding to retire to pursue medical school was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but ultimately it was the best for me and my future career. I want to thank the Club, my teammates, coaches and staff for making my time in Portland so memorable and for the incredible support that I have received during this time. I am beyond grateful to have gotten to live out two of my dreams and as one comes to a close, I can confidently say that I am excited to pursue this next chapter of my life.”
Hirst is set to begin medical school on August 4, and the Portland Thorns wish her all the best as she pursues a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.
“Sophie embodies what it means to be a Thorn—driven, selfless, and committed to excellence on and off the field,” said Portland Thorns General Manager Jeff Agoos. “We are incredibly proud of everything she’s accomplished in her time here, and even more excited for what lies ahead as she begins her journey in medicine. Our club is built on supporting players not just as athletes, but as people, and Sophie’s story is a testament to that. She will always be part of the Thorns family.
Hirst joined the Thorns via a trade from the Houston Dash in September 2024 and contributed immediately by starting three of her four appearances for the Thorns in the Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage, helping Portland secure qualification to the Finals in 2025. She would make her league debut during Portland’s 2024 season finale, a 3-0 home victory against Angel City.
In total, she made 23 NWSL appearances on the pitch for both Portland and Houston. Her lone career goal, scored in 2023, was the game-winner for Houston in a 2-0 victory against Orlando Pride.
Hirst was a two-time First-Team All-Ivy selection with Harvard University – starting 56 times in 60 matches and logging 10 goals and 12 assists between 2018 and 2022 – and helped the Crimson clinch back-to-back NCAA DI Women’s Soccer Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. She was selected as the 20th overall pick by Houston in the 2023 NWSL Draft to become the second ever Harvard student-athlete and sixth Ivy League player to get drafted into the NWSL.
Off the pitch at Harvard, Hirst took the first steps towards her medical dream by studying neuroscience. She excelled in the classroom, evident in her Academic All-America honor in 2021 and two selections to the Academic All-Ivy team (2021, 2022).
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