Portland Thorns FC (7-5-2, 23 points) suffered a 4-1 loss to the Kansas City Current at Providence Park.
Now unbeated in 14 consecutive matches to start the season, the Kansas City Current came out as the aggressors, pressuring the Thorns’ backline, forcing goalkeeper Shelby Hogan to make several saves in the early minutes of the match. The Current took the lead in the 30th minute when Temwa Chawinga headed a ball into the path of Lo’eau LaBonta who flicked it down into the back of the net. The visiting side nearly doubled their lead in the 37th minute, but a finger-tip save from Hogan saw the ball pushed over the crossbar and out for a corner kick. The ensuing corner kick saw Marie Müller make a goal line clearance, but unfortunately the ball fell directly in the path of Stine Ballisager who tucked away her shot to give Kansas City the 2-0 lead.
Just a minute later Kansas City scored their third of the first half, when LaBonta slammed a long shot past the outstretched arms of Portland’s goalkeeper. The Thorns entered the halftime break down 3-0.
Coming out of the halftime break the Current scored their fourth of the afternoon when Chawinga bodied Nicole Payne off the ball to create an open opportunity on goal. Portland was finally able to pull one back in the 73rd minute when forward Sophia Smith blasted her shot into the upper-right corner. The goal marked Smith’s 10th of the season, tied for the most in the National Women’s Soccer League this season.
UP NEXT: The Thorns are set to face Utah Royals FC at their home stadium in Sandy, Utah on Saturday, June 29, with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. PT. The Thorns return to Providence Park on Friday, July 5 to host the San Diego Wave at 7:00 p.m. PT.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
KCC: Lo’eau LaBonta (Temwa Chawinga) 30th minute: Following a cross into the box, Chawinga headed the ball towards goal, into the path of LaBonta, who redirected the ball into the back of the net.
KCC: Stine Ballisager (Elizabeth Ball) 38th minute: Ball pounced on a poor clearance, putting a short pass to Ballisager who taped the ball into the back of the goal.
KCC: Lo’eau LaBonta 40th minute: From outside the 18-yard box, LaBonta rocketed a shot into the right-side netting, past the diving ‘keeper.
KCC: Temwa Chawinga (Elizabeth Ball) 47th minute: In a foot race with Nicole Payne, Chawinga pushed off the Portland defender to create an open opportunity on goal, slotting her shot inside the right- post.
POR: Sophia Smith (Sam Coffey) 73rd minute: After winning the ball along the sideline, Smith dribbled upfield towards goal before launching a shot from outside the 18-yard-box, tucking her opportunity in the upper-right corner of the goal.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Shelby Hogan, Marie Müller, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly, Reyna Nicole Payne (Reyna Reyes 77’), Meghan Klingenberg (Sam Coffey 69’), Hina Sugita, Jessie Fleming (Marissa Sheva 46’), Janine Beckie (Payton Linnehan 46’), Sophia Smith, Izzy D'Aquila (Christine Sinclair 69’)
Subs not used: Emily Alvarado, Mallie McKenzie, Meaghan Nally, Ana Dias
Kansas City Current (3-4-3): AD Franch, Izzy Rodriguez, Elizabeth Ball, Stine Ballisager, Hailie Mace, Lo’eau LaBonta, Claire Hutton (Desiree Scott 90+4’), Debinha (Bayley Feist 79’), Bia Zaneratto (Ellie Wheeler 66’), Temwa Chawinga (Alex Pfeiffer 90+4’), Michelle Cooper (Lauren 90+4’)
Subs not used: Regan Steigleder, Jordan Silkowitz, Alexa Spaanstra, Claire Lavogez
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY: POR: Kelli Hubly (caution) 62
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 (7-5-2, 23 points) suffered a 4-1 loss to the Kansas City Current at Providence Park.
Now unbeated in 14 consecutive matches to start the season, the Kansas City Current came out as the aggressors, pressuring the Thorns’ backline, forcing goalkeeper Shelby Hogan to make several saves in the early minutes of the match. The Current took the lead in the 30th minute when Temwa Chawinga headed a ball into the path of Lo’eau LaBonta who flicked it down into the back of the net. The visiting side nearly doubled their lead in the 37th minute, but a finger-tip save from Hogan saw the ball pushed over the crossbar and out for a corner kick. The ensuing corner kick saw Marie Müller make a goal line clearance, but unfortunately the ball fell directly in the path of Stine Ballisager who tucked away her shot to give Kansas City the 2-0 lead.
Just a minute later Kansas City scored their third of the first half, when LaBonta slammed a long shot past the outstretched arms of Portland’s goalkeeper. The Thorns entered the halftime break down 3-0.
Coming out of the halftime break the Current scored their fourth of the afternoon when Chawinga bodied Nicole Payne off the ball to create an open opportunity on goal. Portland was finally able to pull one back in the 73rd minute when forward Sophia Smith blasted her shot into the upper-right corner. The goal marked Smith’s 10th of the season, tied for the most in the National Women’s Soccer League this season.
UP NEXT: The Thorns are set to face Utah Royals FC at their home stadium in Sandy, Utah on Saturday, June 29, with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. PT. The Thorns return to Providence Park on Friday, July 5 to host the San Diego Wave at 7:00 p.m. PT.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
KCC: Lo’eau LaBonta (Temwa Chawinga) 30th minute: Following a cross into the box, Chawinga headed the ball towards goal, into the path of LaBonta, who redirected the ball into the back of the net.
KCC: Stine Ballisager (Elizabeth Ball) 38th minute: Ball pounced on a poor clearance, putting a short pass to Ballisager who taped the ball into the back of the goal.
KCC: Lo’eau LaBonta 40th minute: From outside the 18-yard box, LaBonta rocketed a shot into the right-side netting, past the diving ‘keeper.
KCC: Temwa Chawinga (Elizabeth Ball) 47th minute: In a foot race with Nicole Payne, Chawinga pushed off the Portland defender to create an open opportunity on goal, slotting her shot inside the right- post.
POR: Sophia Smith (Sam Coffey) 73rd minute: After winning the ball along the sideline, Smith dribbled upfield towards goal before launching a shot from outside the 18-yard-box, tucking her opportunity in the upper-right corner of the goal.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Shelby Hogan, Marie Müller, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly, Reyna Nicole Payne (Reyna Reyes 77’), Meghan Klingenberg (Sam Coffey 69’), Hina Sugita, Jessie Fleming (Marissa Sheva 46’), Janine Beckie (Payton Linnehan 46’), Sophia Smith, Izzy D'Aquila (Christine Sinclair 69’)
Subs not used: Emily Alvarado, Mallie McKenzie, Meaghan Nally, Ana Dias
Kansas City Current (3-4-3): AD Franch, Izzy Rodriguez, Elizabeth Ball, Stine Ballisager, Hailie Mace, Lo’eau LaBonta, Claire Hutton (Desiree Scott 90+4’), Debinha (Bayley Feist 79’), Bia Zaneratto (Ellie Wheeler 66’), Temwa Chawinga (Alex Pfeiffer 90+4’), Michelle Cooper (Lauren 90+4’)
Subs not used: Regan Steigleder, Jordan Silkowitz, Alexa Spaanstra, Claire Lavogez
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY: POR: Kelli Hubly (caution) 62
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