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PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have signed Morgan Weaver to a five-year extension, keeping the forward in the Rose City through the 2028 season.
“From the moment she was drafted Morgan has exemplified what it means to be aPortland Thorn. Her commitment to this Club, this city and this community are evident in everything she does,” General Manager and President of Soccer Operations Karina LeBlanc said. “She takes great pride in wearing the crest, giving it her all each and every time she walks on the field. We are grateful to have seen her grow and develop these past few years, and thankful for her contributions to our success. We are thrilled with her decision to commit to this club long term and look forward to what we will all be able to do together.”
Morgan first joined the Thorns ahead of the 2020 season as the second overall pick in the NWSL Draft. While her rookie season was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Weaver still appeared in nine matches, scoring her first professional goal on July 17, 2020 against the North Carolina Courage.
Now in her fifth year with the Club, Weaver has recorded 16 goals and 10 assists in 68 regular-season matches, helping lift five trophies, including the 2021 NWSL Shield and the 2022 NWSL Championship. Of the Club’s eight trophies in 12 years, Weaver has aided in the winning of five of them.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Weaver was named the Rose City Riveters’ Supporters Player of the Year an honor given to a singularly exceptional Thorns player who exhibits brilliant talent and stellar character – a player who elevates their teammates, our club, and the City of Portland with the consistency and inspiring awe of a constellation.
As a native of the Pacific Northwest, Weaver has spent her entire career in the region, playing collegiately at the Washington State University where she recorded 43 goals and 12 assists in 85 matches. When she was drafted she became tied for the second highest drafted player in WSU Athletics history.
The Portland Thorns return to Providence Park to host the Chicago Red Stars on Friday, September 13 with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at www.thorns.com.
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, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have signed Morgan Weaver to a five-year extension, keeping the forward in the Rose City through the 2028 season.
“From the moment she was drafted Morgan has exemplified what it means to be aPortland Thorn. Her commitment to this Club, this city and this community are evident in everything she does,” General Manager and President of Soccer Operations Karina LeBlanc said. “She takes great pride in wearing the crest, giving it her all each and every time she walks on the field. We are grateful to have seen her grow and develop these past few years, and thankful for her contributions to our success. We are thrilled with her decision to commit to this club long term and look forward to what we will all be able to do together.”
Morgan first joined the Thorns ahead of the 2020 season as the second overall pick in the NWSL Draft. While her rookie season was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Weaver still appeared in nine matches, scoring her first professional goal on July 17, 2020 against the North Carolina Courage.
Now in her fifth year with the Club, Weaver has recorded 16 goals and 10 assists in 68 regular-season matches, helping lift five trophies, including the 2021 NWSL Shield and the 2022 NWSL Championship. Of the Club’s eight trophies in 12 years, Weaver has aided in the winning of five of them.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Weaver was named the Rose City Riveters’ Supporters Player of the Year an honor given to a singularly exceptional Thorns player who exhibits brilliant talent and stellar character – a player who elevates their teammates, our club, and the City of Portland with the consistency and inspiring awe of a constellation.
As a native of the Pacific Northwest, Weaver has spent her entire career in the region, playing collegiately at the Washington State University where she recorded 43 goals and 12 assists in 85 matches. When she was drafted she became tied for the second highest drafted player in WSU Athletics history.
The Portland Thorns return to Providence Park to host the Chicago Red Stars on Friday, September 13 with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at www.thorns.com.
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