The Portland Thorns’ “From Portland to Paris” Olympic coverage is presented by Alaska Airlines.
In the final moments of the USA’s Olympic Semi-final against Germany, and with the prospect of a dreaded penalty shootout on the horizon, Sam Coffey found herself with the ball at her feet in the middle of the Parc Olympique Lyonnais pitch. Opening her hips, and taking a slight turn towards goal, she dribbled forward, took three touches before slipping a beautifully weighted pass forward. Sophia Smith watched the sequence unfold, lingering on the backside of Germany’s defense, waiting for her chance.
Smith received the ball, and scored one of the most important goals in the 23-year-old forward’s young career, leading the United States Women’s National Team to a 1-0 victory over Germany and giving her team a chance to compete for a Gold Medal.
For Portland Thorns fans who have had the pleasure of watching Coffey and Smith perform week-in and week-out for years now, this moment solidified what they already knew, this duo was built for moments like this.
Throughout the Olympic tournament, Smith has proven herself to be unstoppable in the attack, contributing to goals in each of the United States’ five games (three goals and two assists), a feat only three other athletes have achieved at these games, including Barba Banda, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and her fellow countrymen, Mallory Swanson.
Meanwhile, Coffey has become a vital piece of the midfield under the leadership of USWNT manager Emma Hayes, with the team only conceding two goals during her time on the pitch, contributing to a plus eight goal differential in the matches she's started.
Thorns players shining in Olympic tournaments is nothing new, in fact the last time the United States won an Olympic semifinal match, Portland captain Christine Sinclair netted a hat trick. That same match saw a stoppage-time goal in extra time from forward Alex Morgan, another future member of the Portland Thorns, to force the game into penalties where the USA would eventually take the 3-4 advantage.
In the 2016 Olympic Games, Sinclair scored the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute to give Canada the Bronze Medal for a 2-1 win over Brazil. And at the 2020 Olympic Games, Thorns midfielder Jessie Fleming scored against the United States in the semifinal to clinch a spot in Canada’s first-ever Gold Medal match before netting a penalty kick in the final.
Smith’s goal against Germany is just another in a historic line of moments made possible by Portland Thorns athletes. Portland fans will hope this continues as the United States look to win Gold on Saturday, August 10 at 8:00 a.m. PT against Brazil.
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
The Portland Thorns’ “From Portland to Paris” Olympic coverage is presented by Alaska Airlines.
In the final moments of the USA’s Olympic Semi-final against Germany, and with the prospect of a dreaded penalty shootout on the horizon, Sam Coffey found herself with the ball at her feet in the middle of the Parc Olympique Lyonnais pitch. Opening her hips, and taking a slight turn towards goal, she dribbled forward, took three touches before slipping a beautifully weighted pass forward. Sophia Smith watched the sequence unfold, lingering on the backside of Germany’s defense, waiting for her chance.
Smith received the ball, and scored one of the most important goals in the 23-year-old forward’s young career, leading the United States Women’s National Team to a 1-0 victory over Germany and giving her team a chance to compete for a Gold Medal.
For Portland Thorns fans who have had the pleasure of watching Coffey and Smith perform week-in and week-out for years now, this moment solidified what they already knew, this duo was built for moments like this.
Throughout the Olympic tournament, Smith has proven herself to be unstoppable in the attack, contributing to goals in each of the United States’ five games (three goals and two assists), a feat only three other athletes have achieved at these games, including Barba Banda, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and her fellow countrymen, Mallory Swanson.
Meanwhile, Coffey has become a vital piece of the midfield under the leadership of USWNT manager Emma Hayes, with the team only conceding two goals during her time on the pitch, contributing to a plus eight goal differential in the matches she's started.
Thorns players shining in Olympic tournaments is nothing new, in fact the last time the United States won an Olympic semifinal match, Portland captain Christine Sinclair netted a hat trick. That same match saw a stoppage-time goal in extra time from forward Alex Morgan, another future member of the Portland Thorns, to force the game into penalties where the USA would eventually take the 3-4 advantage.
In the 2016 Olympic Games, Sinclair scored the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute to give Canada the Bronze Medal for a 2-1 win over Brazil. And at the 2020 Olympic Games, Thorns midfielder Jessie Fleming scored against the United States in the semifinal to clinch a spot in Canada’s first-ever Gold Medal match before netting a penalty kick in the final.
Smith’s goal against Germany is just another in a historic line of moments made possible by Portland Thorns athletes. Portland fans will hope this continues as the United States look to win Gold on Saturday, August 10 at 8:00 a.m. PT against Brazil.
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