PORTLAND, Ore. (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) – The Portland Thorns are now the NWSL’s league leaders after shutting out San Diego Wave FC 2-0 on Wednesday night at Providence Park as forward Sophia Wilson and defender Marie Müller netted goals to secure victory for the hosts.

In front of a crowd of 19,806 — the largest midweek crowd ever in the first half of a season — the Thorns got the action started early when midfielder Olivia Moultrie laid a ball off in the top right corner of San Diego’s box to connect with Müller, who shot the ball over the keeper into the far-left side of the goal to secure the lead in the first half.

The Wave offense pressed hard in its search for the equalizer after the break, but the Portland backline held its own and closed spaces to limit opportunities. One of San Diego’s clearest chances came in a 1v1 battle with Portland goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold in the 60^th minute and the Australian international made the big save to ensure the Thorns remained on top.

In the 64^th minute, Providence Park erupted in cheers when forward Mimi Alidou set up Wilson to double the lead and bag her first goal at Providence Park since November 2024, also marking the second consecutive match that the forward pair linked up for a goal to secure the win.

UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns travel to face Chicago Stars FC on Sunday, May 3. Kickoff on ESPN 2 and KNKR-2 is scheduled for 10 am PT.

TEAM NOTES

• The Thorns have won all three home matches this season and are unbeaten at home in its last seven matches dating back to September 2025 (all comps).
• Sophia Wilson (F) scored her second consecutive goal, her first in Portland since 2024.
• Marie Müller (D) scored her first NWSL goal to open the scoring of tonight’s match.
• Olivia Moultrie (M) registered her second assist of the season, the 12^th of her career.
• Mimi Alidou (F) tallied her second consecutive assist. Both of her assists were for Wilson goals this year.
• Mackenzie Arnold (G) logged her second clean sheet of the year, the team’s fourth.

GOAL BREAKDOWN

First Half

POR – Marie Müller (Olivia Moultrie) 10'
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Second Half

POR – Sophia Wilson (Mimi Alidou) 64’

LINEUPS

Portland Thorns (4-2-3-1): Mackenzie Arnold (GK), Marie Müller, Jayden Perry, Isabella Obaze, Reyna Reyes (M.A. Vignola 85’), Cassandra Bogere, Jessie Fleming - C, Pietra Tordin (Renee Lyles 76’), Olivia Moultrie, Reilyn Turner (Mimi Alidou 59’), Sophia Wilson

Subs not used:  Morgan Messner (GK), Carolyn Calzada, Deyna Castellanos, Maddie Padelski, Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie

San Diego Wave (4-3-3): Leah Freeman (GK), Perle Morroni, Kristen McNabb, Kennedy Wesley, Amelia Donna Van Zanten (Jordan Fusco 88’), Laurina Fazer (Tatum Wynalda 88’), Kenza Dali - C, Lia Godfrey (Gabi Portilho 46’), Dudinha, Ludmila (Melanie Barcenas 59’), Kimmi Ascanio (Trinity Byars 68’)

Subs not used:  Luisa Agudelo (GK), Nya Harrison, Daniela Arias, Kiki Pickett

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

POR: Wilson (Yellow) 32’, Perry (Yellow) 85’

SD: Byars (Yellow) 72’

MATCH STATS

POR | SD

Goals: 2|0

Assists: 2|0

Possession: 42|58

Shots: 5|11

Shots on Target: 3|3

Saves: 3|1

Tackles: 22|19

Tackles Won: 14|13

Interceptions: 12|6

Fouls: 11|14

Offsides: 0|0

Corner Kicks: 4|5

ATTENDANCE: 19,806
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Referee: Elton Garcia

Assistant Referee 1: Peter Hanson

Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Rizo

4th Official: Jamie Padilla

VAR: Anya Voigt

Assistant VAR: Kaili Terry

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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.
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The Thorns came out into the second half much more threatening in Orlando’s half and finally broke the deadlock in the 58^th 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 63^rd 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 88^th minute — curled the ball into the goal from outside the box in the 96^th 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

• Pietra Tordin extended her assist tally to nine, sitting alongside Croix Bethune (KC) for most in the league so far this season. Tordin is one assist away from equalizing the league record for assists which is 10 (Tobin Heath, POR 2016 and Croix Bethune, KC 2024).  
• Deyna Castellanos scored her first goal of the 2026 season.
• Caiya Hanks, who was removed off the Season-Ending Injury list, made her return to the pitch for the first time since June 15, 2025 and scored the game-winner.
• M.A. Vignola got her first assist of the season.
• The Thorns have gone 12 home regular season matches (dating back to September 2025) without losing (8W,4D), extending the current club record.
• The Thorns have not lost at home in 2026 (6W,3D).
• In seven matches since 2018, Portland has not lost at home against Orlando (7W-0L-0D).

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

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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

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