Portland Thorns FC have turned it on, and with four-straight wins, they welcome rivals Seattle Reign FC for the first Cascadia showdown of the NWSL season. Kickoff from Providence Park is set for 7pm PT. Tickets are available **here** – viewers can also stream the match live on ION.
Portland (4th, 4-3-1, 13pts) and Seattle (11th, 2-5-1, 7pts) will face-off for the 23rd time in NWSL regular season play. The Thorns have been enjoying a revitalized period of soccer that has seen them win four-straight with a +7 goal differential over that span. Their 2-1 home win last weekend over then-second place Washington Spirit helped propel them into the league's top 4. Meanwhile, Seattle have lost five of their last seven matches, and a win over the hottest team in the league could help turn their season around.
the Seattle Reign are coming off a valiant effort against league-leaders Kanasas City Current midweek, securing a scoreless draw at home. Now they travel to the hottest-team in the league on just two-days rest.
Head coach Laura Harvey has some work to do if Seattle are to be playoffs contenders this season. Her lineups have fluctuated throughout the matchdays so it's hard to put a finger on how the Reign may suit up come Saturday. Against the current on Wednesday, Harvey deployed a 4-4-2 formation that ultimately shut Kansas City out, in part thanks to the player of the match performance from goalkeeper Laurel Ivory.
Korean international So-Yun Jin and forward Bethany Balcer are leading their fight offensively. So-Yun has recorded two assists and a goal, while Balcer has three tallies to her name.
During their current winning streak, the Thorns have been dangerous in the first 45 minutes of regulation scoring eight of their eleven total goals over that stretch in the first half.
Sophia Smith's season just keeps getting better and better. She currently leads the league in goal involvements with 10 total goals and assists. It's no wonder she's a part of the NWSL Best XI for March/April.
The Thorns defense has been getting praised during their current run of form, and defender Marie Müller has been making her presence known in her debut NWSL season. Portland's No. 23 is currently second in the league in interceptions per 90 minutes with 3.1.
In their last five regular season meetings against Seattle, the Thorns are undefeated, amassing a 2-0-3 record.
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 Thorns FC have turned it on, and with four-straight wins, they welcome rivals Seattle Reign FC for the first Cascadia showdown of the NWSL season. Kickoff from Providence Park is set for 7pm PT. Tickets are available **here** – viewers can also stream the match live on ION.
Portland (4th, 4-3-1, 13pts) and Seattle (11th, 2-5-1, 7pts) will face-off for the 23rd time in NWSL regular season play. The Thorns have been enjoying a revitalized period of soccer that has seen them win four-straight with a +7 goal differential over that span. Their 2-1 home win last weekend over then-second place Washington Spirit helped propel them into the league's top 4. Meanwhile, Seattle have lost five of their last seven matches, and a win over the hottest team in the league could help turn their season around.
the Seattle Reign are coming off a valiant effort against league-leaders Kanasas City Current midweek, securing a scoreless draw at home. Now they travel to the hottest-team in the league on just two-days rest.
Head coach Laura Harvey has some work to do if Seattle are to be playoffs contenders this season. Her lineups have fluctuated throughout the matchdays so it's hard to put a finger on how the Reign may suit up come Saturday. Against the current on Wednesday, Harvey deployed a 4-4-2 formation that ultimately shut Kansas City out, in part thanks to the player of the match performance from goalkeeper Laurel Ivory.
Korean international So-Yun Jin and forward Bethany Balcer are leading their fight offensively. So-Yun has recorded two assists and a goal, while Balcer has three tallies to her name.
During their current winning streak, the Thorns have been dangerous in the first 45 minutes of regulation scoring eight of their eleven total goals over that stretch in the first half.
Sophia Smith's season just keeps getting better and better. She currently leads the league in goal involvements with 10 total goals and assists. It's no wonder she's a part of the NWSL Best XI for March/April.
The Thorns defense has been getting praised during their current run of form, and defender Marie Müller has been making her presence known in her debut NWSL season. Portland's No. 23 is currently second in the league in interceptions per 90 minutes with 3.1.
In their last five regular season meetings against Seattle, the Thorns are undefeated, amassing a 2-0-3 record.
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