Wrexham AFC Women are set to make their U.S. debut this summer with their highly anticipated 'Wrex Coast Tour.' The three-game series features competitive matches against top-tier clubs, with two fixtures in Los Angeles against SoCal FC and Tigres Femenil U19, followed by a night game in Portland against Portland Thorns Academy.
Wrex Coast Tour Dates:
Tickets for the Thorns Academy's match against Wrexham Women go on sale Tuesday, May 14, at 10am PT via SeatGeek. Visit WrexCoastTour.com, where ticketing links and additional information for all matches can be found.
Wrexham AFC Women’s U.S. Tour is made possible by title sponsor Ally, a financial services company with the U.S.’s largest all-digital bank and a leading brand in women's sports. Ally’s support will help elevate Wrexham AFC Women’s presence globally, accelerating its ambitions of becoming a top club worldwide.
Wrexham AFC co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds shared their excitement for the Women’s Wrex Coast Tour in a video announcement Tuesday.
Wrexham AFC Women manager Steve Dale said, “Having heard the stories around the Men’s tour last season, it is great that the Women’s team will have the same opportunity. The time it will provide us to prepare for the upcoming league campaign will be vital in our quest to improve on our third position."
“Our focus on elevating women’s sports makes Ally the perfect teammate to bring Wrexham AFC Women to the U.S. for the first time,” said Andrea Brimmer, chief Marketing and Public Relations officer, Ally. “The Wrex Coast Tour gives them the stage they have rightfully earned by capturing hearts with their stories and brilliant play.”
About Wrexham AFC Women
Wrexham AFC Women, the official women’s football department of Wrexham AFC, was reformed in 2018. Following the takeover of the Football Club on February 9, 2021, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds made an immediate financial investment into the women’s football section, and in 2023, the Club achieved promotion to the top tier of Welsh women’s football, the Adran Premier. Wrexham AFC Women were subsequently able to realize their ambition of becoming the first semi-professional women’s football team in Wales. The team also holds the all-time Welsh domestic football attendance record of 9,511, set at the Racecourse Ground on March 26, 2023.
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
Wrexham AFC Women are set to make their U.S. debut this summer with their highly anticipated 'Wrex Coast Tour.' The three-game series features competitive matches against top-tier clubs, with two fixtures in Los Angeles against SoCal FC and Tigres Femenil U19, followed by a night game in Portland against Portland Thorns Academy.
Wrex Coast Tour Dates:
Tickets for the Thorns Academy's match against Wrexham Women go on sale Tuesday, May 14, at 10am PT via SeatGeek. Visit WrexCoastTour.com, where ticketing links and additional information for all matches can be found.
Wrexham AFC Women’s U.S. Tour is made possible by title sponsor Ally, a financial services company with the U.S.’s largest all-digital bank and a leading brand in women's sports. Ally’s support will help elevate Wrexham AFC Women’s presence globally, accelerating its ambitions of becoming a top club worldwide.
Wrexham AFC co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds shared their excitement for the Women’s Wrex Coast Tour in a video announcement Tuesday.
Wrexham AFC Women manager Steve Dale said, “Having heard the stories around the Men’s tour last season, it is great that the Women’s team will have the same opportunity. The time it will provide us to prepare for the upcoming league campaign will be vital in our quest to improve on our third position."
“Our focus on elevating women’s sports makes Ally the perfect teammate to bring Wrexham AFC Women to the U.S. for the first time,” said Andrea Brimmer, chief Marketing and Public Relations officer, Ally. “The Wrex Coast Tour gives them the stage they have rightfully earned by capturing hearts with their stories and brilliant play.”
About Wrexham AFC Women
Wrexham AFC Women, the official women’s football department of Wrexham AFC, was reformed in 2018. Following the takeover of the Football Club on February 9, 2021, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds made an immediate financial investment into the women’s football section, and in 2023, the Club achieved promotion to the top tier of Welsh women’s football, the Adran Premier. Wrexham AFC Women were subsequently able to realize their ambition of becoming the first semi-professional women’s football team in Wales. The team also holds the all-time Welsh domestic football attendance record of 9,511, set at the Racecourse Ground on March 26, 2023.
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