PORTLAND, Ore. (January 8, 2025) – The Portland Thorns announced today the signing of University of Alabama forward Maddie Padelski through the 2027 season.
The 18-year-old Tennessee native joins the Thorns after helping the Crimson Tide advance to the Second Round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament for the first time since 2023 and helped post a winning 21-15-7 record in her two seasons with Alabama.
“Maddie is an extremely driven player hungry for challenge and growth,” President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos said. “As a forward, she is aggressive in and out of possession with an ability to beat defenders head-on. She also has a pressing mindset that fits our intention to command the field and physical speed to play our fast-tempo game.”
Padelski registered 27 starts in 36 matches for Alabama between 2024-25, scoring eight goals and assisting three in 2,029 minutes of action, netting in both 2025 NCAA Tournament games which includes the game-tying goal against Northwestern University in the First Round that resulted in a penalty-shootout win for the Crimson Tide.
Internationally, Padelski helped the United States to a bronze finish at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic — the team’s best finish since 2008 — and scored a goal against Korea Republic (group stage) and England (third-place match). She appeared in all six matches for the U.S., including a start in the 2-0 quarterfinal win vs Nigeria.
For the 2026 season, the Thorns contracted roster currently features the following players:
Goalkeepers (3): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby, Morgan Messner
Defenders (7): Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL - SEI), Isabella Obaze (INTL), Jayden Perry, Reyna Reyes, M.A. Vignola
Midfielders (5): Deyna Castellanos, Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Shae Harvey, Olivia Moultrie
Forwards (10): Mimi Alidou (INTL), Julie Dufour (INTL - SEI), Caiya Hanks (SEI), Valerin Loboa (INTL), Maddie Padelski, Alexa Spaanstra, Pietra Tordin, Reilyn Turner, Morgan Weaver (SEI), Sophia Wilson (ML)
INTL – Player holds an international roster slot; SEI – Season-Ending Injury; ML – Maternity Leave
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, 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. (January 8, 2025) – The Portland Thorns announced today the signing of University of Alabama forward Maddie Padelski through the 2027 season.
The 18-year-old Tennessee native joins the Thorns after helping the Crimson Tide advance to the Second Round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament for the first time since 2023 and helped post a winning 21-15-7 record in her two seasons with Alabama.
“Maddie is an extremely driven player hungry for challenge and growth,” President and General Manager of Soccer Operations Jeff Agoos said. “As a forward, she is aggressive in and out of possession with an ability to beat defenders head-on. She also has a pressing mindset that fits our intention to command the field and physical speed to play our fast-tempo game.”
Padelski registered 27 starts in 36 matches for Alabama between 2024-25, scoring eight goals and assisting three in 2,029 minutes of action, netting in both 2025 NCAA Tournament games which includes the game-tying goal against Northwestern University in the First Round that resulted in a penalty-shootout win for the Crimson Tide.
Internationally, Padelski helped the United States to a bronze finish at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic — the team’s best finish since 2008 — and scored a goal against Korea Republic (group stage) and England (third-place match). She appeared in all six matches for the U.S., including a start in the 2-0 quarterfinal win vs Nigeria.
For the 2026 season, the Thorns contracted roster currently features the following players:
Goalkeepers (3): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby, Morgan Messner
Defenders (7): Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL - SEI), Isabella Obaze (INTL), Jayden Perry, Reyna Reyes, M.A. Vignola
Midfielders (5): Deyna Castellanos, Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Shae Harvey, Olivia Moultrie
Forwards (10): Mimi Alidou (INTL), Julie Dufour (INTL - SEI), Caiya Hanks (SEI), Valerin Loboa (INTL), Maddie Padelski, Alexa Spaanstra, Pietra Tordin, Reilyn Turner, Morgan Weaver (SEI), Sophia Wilson (ML)
INTL – Player holds an international roster slot; SEI – Season-Ending Injury; ML – Maternity Leave
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, set to open in 2026, will foster an environment that champions innovation, elevates athlete development, and enhances elite performance.
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