PORTLAND, Ore. – A month after acquiring the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), new club owners RAJ Sports joined with top local leaders and community members at Providence Park to celebrate the beginning of the next era of the Thorns organization.
Representing RAJ Sports were new NWSL Governor Lisa Bhathal Merage and NWSL Alternate Governor Alex Bhathal, as well as their parents Marta Bhathal and Raj Bhathal.
“Our family is deeply humbled and honored to join the Thorns community,” said Bhathal Merage. “Portland’s deep and long-standing love for the Thorns means the world to us, and we could not be more excited to take on the responsibility of guiding an incredible organization to even newer heights in the years ahead.”
Additional speakers included Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, League Commissioner Jessica Berman and Portland Thorns General Manager and President of Thorns FC Operations Karina LeBlanc.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lisa and Alex to the League and to Portland specifically,” said Commissioner Berman. “Each are proven leaders in the world of professional sports and beyond, and they bring so much knowledge and passion to this iconic club. This is a world-class ownership group, and the Thorns, their fans, and the entire Portland community will no doubt benefit for years to come.”
The Bhathal family are also principal co-owners of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, which was recently named NBA Team of the Year, in large part due to the team’s positive impact on the local Sacramento community. The Kings parent organization also own the Sacramento RiverCats AAA baseball club, Stockton Kings NBA-G League club, and Kings Guard NBA 2K esports team.
In addition to their growing sports portfolio, Merage and Bhathal are co-founders and managing partners of Revitate, a Newport Beach, California-based investment firm specializing in sports, real estate, and consumer brand investments.
“The City of Portland is excited to welcome the Bhathal Family to our community in their role leading RAJ Sports as new owners of the Portland Thorns FC,” said Mayor Wheeler. “As all Portlanders appreciate, the Thorns are a beloved institution at the heart of our community – they represent our city’s values, our love of team sports, our role models, our reputation as “Soccer City USA,” and our incredible athletic and outdoor companies. Having met with representatives of the ownership group and learned more about their deep and impactful community involvement in other markets, I am eager to see all of the positive contributions that they will be making in our community as the Thorns continue their success and growth.”
“One thing I know to be true after all my years here in Portland, first as a player, and now as an executive, is just how important the Thorns are to this city,” said LeBlanc. “Portland is a special place, with a passionate fan base and close-knit community. Knowing what I know about the Bhathal family – how they appreciate all the little things that make this club special, and how they’ll be able to leverage their background in and passion for sports to better our club and the trajectory of women’s sports more broadly, I am truly excited to build on the foundation and history of this club and be part of the opportunity that lays ahead.”
Alex Bhathal, who serves as NWSL Alternate Governor, stressed the organization’s mission to make the community proud of their Thorns for generations to come while growing the popularity of the NWSL and women’s sports overall.
Ms. Bhathal Merage also mentioned the event was the beginning of a year-long “listening tour” that Thorns leadership will embark on to gather insights and perspectives from the Thorns organization and Portland community.
The club also announced that Thorns FC fans can now purchase online annual memberships for the 2024 season, as well as individual game tickets.
The Thorns are slated to begin the season on March 16 against Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium before returning to Providence Park on March 24 for the home opener against NJ/NY Gotham FC, tickets for which are on sale now.
Photos from the event
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. – A month after acquiring the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), new club owners RAJ Sports joined with top local leaders and community members at Providence Park to celebrate the beginning of the next era of the Thorns organization.
Representing RAJ Sports were new NWSL Governor Lisa Bhathal Merage and NWSL Alternate Governor Alex Bhathal, as well as their parents Marta Bhathal and Raj Bhathal.
“Our family is deeply humbled and honored to join the Thorns community,” said Bhathal Merage. “Portland’s deep and long-standing love for the Thorns means the world to us, and we could not be more excited to take on the responsibility of guiding an incredible organization to even newer heights in the years ahead.”
Additional speakers included Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, League Commissioner Jessica Berman and Portland Thorns General Manager and President of Thorns FC Operations Karina LeBlanc.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lisa and Alex to the League and to Portland specifically,” said Commissioner Berman. “Each are proven leaders in the world of professional sports and beyond, and they bring so much knowledge and passion to this iconic club. This is a world-class ownership group, and the Thorns, their fans, and the entire Portland community will no doubt benefit for years to come.”
The Bhathal family are also principal co-owners of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, which was recently named NBA Team of the Year, in large part due to the team’s positive impact on the local Sacramento community. The Kings parent organization also own the Sacramento RiverCats AAA baseball club, Stockton Kings NBA-G League club, and Kings Guard NBA 2K esports team.
In addition to their growing sports portfolio, Merage and Bhathal are co-founders and managing partners of Revitate, a Newport Beach, California-based investment firm specializing in sports, real estate, and consumer brand investments.
“The City of Portland is excited to welcome the Bhathal Family to our community in their role leading RAJ Sports as new owners of the Portland Thorns FC,” said Mayor Wheeler. “As all Portlanders appreciate, the Thorns are a beloved institution at the heart of our community – they represent our city’s values, our love of team sports, our role models, our reputation as “Soccer City USA,” and our incredible athletic and outdoor companies. Having met with representatives of the ownership group and learned more about their deep and impactful community involvement in other markets, I am eager to see all of the positive contributions that they will be making in our community as the Thorns continue their success and growth.”
“One thing I know to be true after all my years here in Portland, first as a player, and now as an executive, is just how important the Thorns are to this city,” said LeBlanc. “Portland is a special place, with a passionate fan base and close-knit community. Knowing what I know about the Bhathal family – how they appreciate all the little things that make this club special, and how they’ll be able to leverage their background in and passion for sports to better our club and the trajectory of women’s sports more broadly, I am truly excited to build on the foundation and history of this club and be part of the opportunity that lays ahead.”
Alex Bhathal, who serves as NWSL Alternate Governor, stressed the organization’s mission to make the community proud of their Thorns for generations to come while growing the popularity of the NWSL and women’s sports overall.
Ms. Bhathal Merage also mentioned the event was the beginning of a year-long “listening tour” that Thorns leadership will embark on to gather insights and perspectives from the Thorns organization and Portland community.
The club also announced that Thorns FC fans can now purchase online annual memberships for the 2024 season, as well as individual game tickets.
The Thorns are slated to begin the season on March 16 against Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium before returning to Providence Park on March 24 for the home opener against NJ/NY Gotham FC, tickets for which are on sale now.
Photos from the event
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