Portland Thorns FC are back on the road this weekend, stopping in Bridgeview, Ill., for a matchup with the Chicago Red Stars. Kickoff from Seatgeek Stadium is scheduled for 4:30pm PT and can be streamed on ION.
Portland (9th, 1-3-1, 4pts) and Chicago (3rd, 3-1-1, 10pts) matchup for the first time this year. In 2023, Portland dominated the season series, winning both matchups and outscoring the Chicago 7-2. The scenario in 2024 looks a little different as the Red Stars currently sit in the top-3 and Portland has just started the climb out of the bottom of the table.
Saturday's hosts is one of the most in-form teams in the NWSL through the season's first five games. Chicago currently sit in the top-three, following a 3-1-1 start to 2024. With exemplary play from midfielder Mallory Swanson (1g, 2a), as well as forwards Allyson Schlegel (2g) and Jenna Bike (2a), the Red Stars are off to one of their best starts ever, collecting 10 points from a possible 15.
Head coach Lorne Donaldson is undefeated when placing Chicago in a 4-2-3-1 formation this season (2-0-1) and following a 2-1 win on the road in Seattle, it would be no surprise if he kept it the same – if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?
Historically the Thorns have been dominant against Chicago. Through 22 all-time meetings, Portland has recorded 13 wins to Chicago's three and the two teams playing to six draws.
The firepower against the Red Stars over the years has been consistent for Portland. In the 22 head-to-head matches played thus far, the Thorns have scored 47 goals against Chicago – good for an average of just over two goals per match.
Also just as impressive is Portland's record on the road against Chicago. Since 2015, the two have clashed in Illinois 10 times, with Portland emerging victorious four times, with two defeats and four draws.
Portland Thorns FC #16 Janine Beckie is having quite the comeback season. After missing all of 2023 due to injury, she's currently joint-top scorer for the club with three goals through five regular season matches.
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 are back on the road this weekend, stopping in Bridgeview, Ill., for a matchup with the Chicago Red Stars. Kickoff from Seatgeek Stadium is scheduled for 4:30pm PT and can be streamed on ION.
Portland (9th, 1-3-1, 4pts) and Chicago (3rd, 3-1-1, 10pts) matchup for the first time this year. In 2023, Portland dominated the season series, winning both matchups and outscoring the Chicago 7-2. The scenario in 2024 looks a little different as the Red Stars currently sit in the top-3 and Portland has just started the climb out of the bottom of the table.
Saturday's hosts is one of the most in-form teams in the NWSL through the season's first five games. Chicago currently sit in the top-three, following a 3-1-1 start to 2024. With exemplary play from midfielder Mallory Swanson (1g, 2a), as well as forwards Allyson Schlegel (2g) and Jenna Bike (2a), the Red Stars are off to one of their best starts ever, collecting 10 points from a possible 15.
Head coach Lorne Donaldson is undefeated when placing Chicago in a 4-2-3-1 formation this season (2-0-1) and following a 2-1 win on the road in Seattle, it would be no surprise if he kept it the same – if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?
Historically the Thorns have been dominant against Chicago. Through 22 all-time meetings, Portland has recorded 13 wins to Chicago's three and the two teams playing to six draws.
The firepower against the Red Stars over the years has been consistent for Portland. In the 22 head-to-head matches played thus far, the Thorns have scored 47 goals against Chicago – good for an average of just over two goals per match.
Also just as impressive is Portland's record on the road against Chicago. Since 2015, the two have clashed in Illinois 10 times, with Portland emerging victorious four times, with two defeats and four draws.
Portland Thorns FC #16 Janine Beckie is having quite the comeback season. After missing all of 2023 due to injury, she's currently joint-top scorer for the club with three goals through five regular season matches.
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