Portland Thorns (7-5-3, 24 points) battled to a 0-0 draw at Utah Royals, marking the team’s sixth shutout of the season.
In the early moments of the match, the Utah Royals nearly took the lead when Dana Foederer launched a shot from deep, but goalkeeper Shelby Hogan was able to get a finger on the ball, pushing it into the crossbar. The Thorns struggled to gain possession at the start of the first half, forced to withstand waves of pressure from the Royals while on their back heels.
In the 22nd minute it appeared as if Sophia Smith had taken the lead with a scorcher from inside the 19-yard-box, but the referee determined there to be an offside decision before the play, negating the goal. Neither side would be able to find the back of the net before the halftime break, entering the locker room scoreless.
The two sides continued to look for the breakthrough, with neither side finding much luck to start the second half. Utah looked to have found the breakthrough in the 88th minute, when Ifeoma Onumonu broke out, unmarked, towards goal, but Hogan was able to make the massive save, preventing what appeared to be a sure goal. In the final minute of stoppage time forward Janine Beckie pinged a cross towards Christine Sinclair, but her header fell directly into the arms of Royals’ goalkeeper Mandy Haught and the match ended tied 0-0.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns are set to continue National Women’s Soccer League play on Friday, July 5 against the San Diego Wave at Providence Park with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. PT, broadcast live on Amazon Prime.
POST-GAME: Interim head coach Rob Gale and his medical staff | Midfielder Jessie Fleming
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Shelby Hogan, Reyna Reyes, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly, Nicole Payne (Marie Müller 62’), Sam Coffey (Olivia Wade-Katoa 76’), Hina Sugita, Jessie Fleming, Payton Linnehan (Janine Beckie 62’), Ana Dias (Christine Sinclair 76’), Sophia Smith
Subs not used: Emily Alvarado, Isabella Obaze, Meghan Klingenberg, Izzy D’Aquila, Marissa Sheva
Utah Royals (4-3-3): Mandy Haught, Madison Pogarch (Lauren Flynn 66’), Ana Tejada, Kate Del Fava, Zoe Burns, Paige Monaghan (Ifeoma Onumonu 66’), Dana Foederer, Agnes Nyberg, Hannah Betfort, Ally Sentnor, Brecken Mozingo
Subs not used: Christina Roque, Addisyn Merrick, Emily Gray, Cameron Tucker, Kaleigh Riehl
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
UTA: Kate Del Fava (caution) 44’
POR: Kelli Hubly (caution) 90’
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 (7-5-3, 24 points) battled to a 0-0 draw at Utah Royals, marking the team’s sixth shutout of the season.
In the early moments of the match, the Utah Royals nearly took the lead when Dana Foederer launched a shot from deep, but goalkeeper Shelby Hogan was able to get a finger on the ball, pushing it into the crossbar. The Thorns struggled to gain possession at the start of the first half, forced to withstand waves of pressure from the Royals while on their back heels.
In the 22nd minute it appeared as if Sophia Smith had taken the lead with a scorcher from inside the 19-yard-box, but the referee determined there to be an offside decision before the play, negating the goal. Neither side would be able to find the back of the net before the halftime break, entering the locker room scoreless.
The two sides continued to look for the breakthrough, with neither side finding much luck to start the second half. Utah looked to have found the breakthrough in the 88th minute, when Ifeoma Onumonu broke out, unmarked, towards goal, but Hogan was able to make the massive save, preventing what appeared to be a sure goal. In the final minute of stoppage time forward Janine Beckie pinged a cross towards Christine Sinclair, but her header fell directly into the arms of Royals’ goalkeeper Mandy Haught and the match ended tied 0-0.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns are set to continue National Women’s Soccer League play on Friday, July 5 against the San Diego Wave at Providence Park with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. PT, broadcast live on Amazon Prime.
POST-GAME: Interim head coach Rob Gale and his medical staff | Midfielder Jessie Fleming
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Shelby Hogan, Reyna Reyes, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly, Nicole Payne (Marie Müller 62’), Sam Coffey (Olivia Wade-Katoa 76’), Hina Sugita, Jessie Fleming, Payton Linnehan (Janine Beckie 62’), Ana Dias (Christine Sinclair 76’), Sophia Smith
Subs not used: Emily Alvarado, Isabella Obaze, Meghan Klingenberg, Izzy D’Aquila, Marissa Sheva
Utah Royals (4-3-3): Mandy Haught, Madison Pogarch (Lauren Flynn 66’), Ana Tejada, Kate Del Fava, Zoe Burns, Paige Monaghan (Ifeoma Onumonu 66’), Dana Foederer, Agnes Nyberg, Hannah Betfort, Ally Sentnor, Brecken Mozingo
Subs not used: Christina Roque, Addisyn Merrick, Emily Gray, Cameron Tucker, Kaleigh Riehl
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
UTA: Kate Del Fava (caution) 44’
POR: Kelli Hubly (caution) 90’
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