The Portland Thorns’ “From Portland to Paris” Olympic coverage is presented by Alaska Airlines.
On Saturday morning, Thorns midfielders Sam Coffey and Sophia Smith will be kicking off the biggest game of their young careers, as they go for gold with the United States Women’s National Team in the Gold Medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
South American powerhouse Brazil stands in the way of the United States winning an unprecedented fifth Olympic Gold Medal, its first in over a decade. To do so, the Red, White and Blue will have to defeat a talented Brazil side, led by international scoring legend Marta, along with a squad of impressive youngsters, including Kerolin and Adriana.
Brazil’s path to the Gold Medal match was plagued with hardship, as the team faced consecutive losses against Japan and Spain in the Group Stage, as well as the loss of their captain, Marta, following an early red card in the final match of the group stage and a subsequent two-match suspension.
Despite scraping it into the knockout stage as a third-place finisher, Brazil has strung together back-to-back wins over heavily favored opponents, including their recent 4-2 victory in the semifinals over the reigning 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions Spain.
Saturday’s matchup is set to be the third time these two countries have met in an Olympic Gold Medal match, with the United States coming out victorious in 2004 and 2008. Since then, Brazil has failed to medal in each of the last three tournaments.
The United States enters Saturday as the heavy favorite, having earned wins in each of their five matches, out-scoring their opponents 11-2, while posting shutouts in three of their games. The match will kickoff at 8:00 a.m. PT, and will be broadcast live on the USA Network and Telemundo, as well as streamed on Peacock.
Coffey and Smith, along with their four other Thorns teammates who competed at the Olympics will return to Portland to continue National Women’s Soccer League regular-season play on Saturday, August 24 at Red Bull Arena against Gotham FC. The Thorns olympians will be welcomed back to Providence Park on Saturday, Saturday, August 30 when the team will host Bay FC at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at www.thorns.com.
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.
On Saturday morning, Thorns midfielders Sam Coffey and Sophia Smith will be kicking off the biggest game of their young careers, as they go for gold with the United States Women’s National Team in the Gold Medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
South American powerhouse Brazil stands in the way of the United States winning an unprecedented fifth Olympic Gold Medal, its first in over a decade. To do so, the Red, White and Blue will have to defeat a talented Brazil side, led by international scoring legend Marta, along with a squad of impressive youngsters, including Kerolin and Adriana.
Brazil’s path to the Gold Medal match was plagued with hardship, as the team faced consecutive losses against Japan and Spain in the Group Stage, as well as the loss of their captain, Marta, following an early red card in the final match of the group stage and a subsequent two-match suspension.
Despite scraping it into the knockout stage as a third-place finisher, Brazil has strung together back-to-back wins over heavily favored opponents, including their recent 4-2 victory in the semifinals over the reigning 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions Spain.
Saturday’s matchup is set to be the third time these two countries have met in an Olympic Gold Medal match, with the United States coming out victorious in 2004 and 2008. Since then, Brazil has failed to medal in each of the last three tournaments.
The United States enters Saturday as the heavy favorite, having earned wins in each of their five matches, out-scoring their opponents 11-2, while posting shutouts in three of their games. The match will kickoff at 8:00 a.m. PT, and will be broadcast live on the USA Network and Telemundo, as well as streamed on Peacock.
Coffey and Smith, along with their four other Thorns teammates who competed at the Olympics will return to Portland to continue National Women’s Soccer League regular-season play on Saturday, August 24 at Red Bull Arena against Gotham FC. The Thorns olympians will be welcomed back to Providence Park on Saturday, Saturday, August 30 when the team will host Bay FC at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at www.thorns.com.
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