PORTLAND, Ore. (July 23, 2025) – The Portland Thorns announced today that midfielder Naomi Powell has signed a short-term contract through August 2025.
Powell will be available for selection for Portland’s friendlies against Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday, July 23 and Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, July 26. Tickets for both matches can be purchased online at thorns.com/tickets.
The 26-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native arrives in Portland after a combined four-year stint abroad in England and Scotland. She most recently played for Hearts FC, scoring twice in 14 matches for the Scottish side during the 2024/25 Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) season. Powell’s Scottish football career began during the 2023/24 SWPL season with Hibernian FC where she played 28 games and tallied six assists.
Her first stint across the pond in 2021 was with England’s Nottingham Forest where she made 60 appearances and lifted both the FA Women’s National League Cup and the Northern Premier Division title in 2022/23.
Powell played four seasons at North Carolina State University between 2017-2021, notching three assists in 21 matches to help the Wolfpack clinch consecutive appearances to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament each season she was there.
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 23, 2025) – The Portland Thorns announced today that midfielder Naomi Powell has signed a short-term contract through August 2025.
Powell will be available for selection for Portland’s friendlies against Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday, July 23 and Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, July 26. Tickets for both matches can be purchased online at thorns.com/tickets.
The 26-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native arrives in Portland after a combined four-year stint abroad in England and Scotland. She most recently played for Hearts FC, scoring twice in 14 matches for the Scottish side during the 2024/25 Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) season. Powell’s Scottish football career began during the 2023/24 SWPL season with Hibernian FC where she played 28 games and tallied six assists.
Her first stint across the pond in 2021 was with England’s Nottingham Forest where she made 60 appearances and lifted both the FA Women’s National League Cup and the Northern Premier Division title in 2022/23.
Powell played four seasons at North Carolina State University between 2017-2021, notching three assists in 21 matches to help the Wolfpack clinch consecutive appearances to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament each season she was there.
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