Portland Thorns FC (5th, 7-4-2, 23pts) are on a mission to climb up the playoffs standings as they host undefeated Kansas City Current (2nd, 8-0-5, 29pts). Kickoff from Providence Park is schduled for 1pm PT – Tickets available here.
After narrowly escaping with a 5-4 win over the Thorns in the NWSL season opener, Kansas City has not looked back and have taken points match after match. After 13 matches, they're just behind the Orlando Pride in the standings.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski's squad leads the league in goals per game (2.5) and shots on target per game (7.6). Leading their offense is forward Temwa Chewinga with eight goals and five assists and right behind her is Brazilian forward Beatriz with five goals and four assists. As both KC forwards battle Thorns' very own Sophia Smith for the goal involvement lead, it's their defense that's kept them undefeated through 13 matches. As a team, they lead the league in successful tackles per game (14.5). Centerback Gabrielle Robinson has been dominant in blocks (1.9) and clearances (5.2) per game, leading the team in each category. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch has been solid beneath the posts, averaging 2.8 saves per game and recording a 65.5% save percentage.
A Timbers and Thorns mixed-teams scrimmage to benefit the environment, on Wednesday, June 26 at Providence Park.
Against the the Current, the Thorns have held their own over the years. In eight all-time regular-season matchups between the Thorns and Kansas CIty, Portland holds the advantage with four wins, two defeats, and two draws.
Although the current edition of Kansas City has only battled eight times with the Thorns, the goal differential over those matches is in considerable favor of Portland. The Thorns have a +7 GD against the Current, with various high-scoring affairs.
Thorns forward Sophia Smith and Current forward Temwa Chewinga go head-to-head on Sunday amidst a battle for the lead in several stats. Smith leads the Golden Boot race (9) by one goal over Chewinga (8) and also total goal contributions, totaling 15 goals and assists to Chewinga's 13. On her end, the Malawian international leads the league in shots (43) and shots on target (31) with Smith close behind her in second in both categories (38 and 24, respectively). One could make the argument that it will be a battle of the top two forwards in the NWSL.
Both clubs head into Sunday's clash with similar form over their last five games. For Portland, a 3-1-1 stretch where they collected 10 points. For the visitors, they collected 11 points from a 3-0-2 run.
ThornsFC.com Staff -@ThornsFC
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 (5th, 7-4-2, 23pts) are on a mission to climb up the playoffs standings as they host undefeated Kansas City Current (2nd, 8-0-5, 29pts). Kickoff from Providence Park is schduled for 1pm PT – Tickets available here.
After narrowly escaping with a 5-4 win over the Thorns in the NWSL season opener, Kansas City has not looked back and have taken points match after match. After 13 matches, they're just behind the Orlando Pride in the standings.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski's squad leads the league in goals per game (2.5) and shots on target per game (7.6). Leading their offense is forward Temwa Chewinga with eight goals and five assists and right behind her is Brazilian forward Beatriz with five goals and four assists. As both KC forwards battle Thorns' very own Sophia Smith for the goal involvement lead, it's their defense that's kept them undefeated through 13 matches. As a team, they lead the league in successful tackles per game (14.5). Centerback Gabrielle Robinson has been dominant in blocks (1.9) and clearances (5.2) per game, leading the team in each category. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch has been solid beneath the posts, averaging 2.8 saves per game and recording a 65.5% save percentage.
A Timbers and Thorns mixed-teams scrimmage to benefit the environment, on Wednesday, June 26 at Providence Park.
Against the the Current, the Thorns have held their own over the years. In eight all-time regular-season matchups between the Thorns and Kansas CIty, Portland holds the advantage with four wins, two defeats, and two draws.
Although the current edition of Kansas City has only battled eight times with the Thorns, the goal differential over those matches is in considerable favor of Portland. The Thorns have a +7 GD against the Current, with various high-scoring affairs.
Thorns forward Sophia Smith and Current forward Temwa Chewinga go head-to-head on Sunday amidst a battle for the lead in several stats. Smith leads the Golden Boot race (9) by one goal over Chewinga (8) and also total goal contributions, totaling 15 goals and assists to Chewinga's 13. On her end, the Malawian international leads the league in shots (43) and shots on target (31) with Smith close behind her in second in both categories (38 and 24, respectively). One could make the argument that it will be a battle of the top two forwards in the NWSL.
Both clubs head into Sunday's clash with similar form over their last five games. For Portland, a 3-1-1 stretch where they collected 10 points. For the visitors, they collected 11 points from a 3-0-2 run.
ThornsFC.com Staff -@ThornsFC
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