PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC midfielder Olivia Moultrie has been named the 2023 Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, awarded to the top player within the United States’ Youth National Team System.
“I’m just super excited and thankful to everyone who voted for me for this award, it’s really special,” Moultrie said. “To see the list of those players who have won it before, and what they’ve gone on to accomplish in their careers, is inspiring and motivating for me. It was a hard year but a fun year and I’m so appreciative of all the older players on the Thorns and the National Team who embraced me and helped me along the way. To grow as a person and a player, you really need your teammates, your coaches and your family, so thanks to all of them. It was a big year of growth for me, and I just hope it’s a step in the right direction. I promise I’m going to work even harder in the coming years.”
Moultrie, 18, wins the award after being nominated for a second consecutive year. In 2023, Moultrie helped lead the United States at the U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which saw her earn a call-up to the Senior National Team in October and subsequently make her debut against China PR on December 2 in the team’s 3-0 victory. Three days later, in Frisco, Texas, Moultrie earned her second cap, a 2-1 win over China PR.
This past year with Thorns FC, Moultrie recorded a career-high 1,205 minutes across 22 matches, 12 of which were starts. Offensively, Mountrlie contributed two goals and three assists for the Thorns, helping the team secure a second-place finish in the NWSL regular season and a semifinal berth in the postseason. The third-year midfielder also appeared in six NWSL Challenge Cup matches, scoring one goal.
Moultrie becomes the second Thorns FC rostered player to be given such an award, joining forward Sophia Smith who earned the title in 2017.
For the second time, fans were able to vote for the U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year Awards with those votes weighted at 15% of the total. Votes for U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year awards are collected from respective National Team coaches, National Team players who earned a cap in 2023, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, National Women’s Soccer League head coaches and select media members and administrators. Moultrie earned 38.3 percent of the overall vote for the Young Female Player of the Year.
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 midfielder Olivia Moultrie has been named the 2023 Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, awarded to the top player within the United States’ Youth National Team System.
“I’m just super excited and thankful to everyone who voted for me for this award, it’s really special,” Moultrie said. “To see the list of those players who have won it before, and what they’ve gone on to accomplish in their careers, is inspiring and motivating for me. It was a hard year but a fun year and I’m so appreciative of all the older players on the Thorns and the National Team who embraced me and helped me along the way. To grow as a person and a player, you really need your teammates, your coaches and your family, so thanks to all of them. It was a big year of growth for me, and I just hope it’s a step in the right direction. I promise I’m going to work even harder in the coming years.”
Moultrie, 18, wins the award after being nominated for a second consecutive year. In 2023, Moultrie helped lead the United States at the U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which saw her earn a call-up to the Senior National Team in October and subsequently make her debut against China PR on December 2 in the team’s 3-0 victory. Three days later, in Frisco, Texas, Moultrie earned her second cap, a 2-1 win over China PR.
This past year with Thorns FC, Moultrie recorded a career-high 1,205 minutes across 22 matches, 12 of which were starts. Offensively, Mountrlie contributed two goals and three assists for the Thorns, helping the team secure a second-place finish in the NWSL regular season and a semifinal berth in the postseason. The third-year midfielder also appeared in six NWSL Challenge Cup matches, scoring one goal.
Moultrie becomes the second Thorns FC rostered player to be given such an award, joining forward Sophia Smith who earned the title in 2017.
For the second time, fans were able to vote for the U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year Awards with those votes weighted at 15% of the total. Votes for U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year awards are collected from respective National Team coaches, National Team players who earned a cap in 2023, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, National Women’s Soccer League head coaches and select media members and administrators. Moultrie earned 38.3 percent of the overall vote for the Young Female Player of the Year.
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