Thorns FC selected five players in the 2024 NWSL Entry Draft, presented by Ally, including forward Payton Linnehan, midfielder Olivia Wade-Katoa, defender Kelsey Kaufusi, goalkeeper Katherine Asman and midfielder Katie Duong.
“A successful 2024 NWSL Draft for us. As our owner Lisa Bhathal Merage said ‘We are bringing great players and even greater people to a great city,’” Portland Thorns FC General Manager Karina LeBlanc said. “It was a complete draft for us, we got a player in every position and took one step closer to building a roster for 2024 that will compete at the highest level.”
“We are really pleased with the young women we have selected to be part of the Thorns family. They are entering a very exciting next stage of their soccer journeys and to see their faces and hear their voices as they embark on this is an honor to be a part of,” Head Coach Mike Norris said. “We feel that we were able to get the right women as we continue to build for the 2024 season and beyond.”
Linnehan, the 11th overall pick, joins Thorns FC from Penn State University where she recorded 34 goals and 24 assists in 90 appearances during her five years as a Nittany Lion. In each of her five seasons with Penn State, Linnehan and her squad made NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Round of 16 in three of the five. Additionally, Linnehan won two Big Ten Tournament Championships in 2019 and 2022.
Wade-Katoa, the 23rd overall pick, and a graduate of Brigham Young University, comes to Portland after recording 25 goals and 20 assists in 120 matches for the Cougars. Wade-Katoa led the Cougars to its first-ever NCAA College Cup, finishing as the runners-up in 2021, before returning again in 2023. Additionally, Wade-Katoa and BYU earned a second-place finish in their first season in the Big 12 Conference.
Kaufusi, the 25th overall pick from Utah State University, joins the Thorns as the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. During her four years with Utah State she made 76 appearances, all of them starts. With her selection, Kaufusi becomes the first-ever Utah State graduate to be drafted into the National Women’s Soccer League.
Asman, the 39th overall pick, joins Linnehan as the second Penn State University Nittany Lion to be selected by the Thorns in the draft. Asman made 323 saves and 27 shutouts across 87 games as the Nittany Lion’s goalkeeper. Before joining Penn State, Asman spent her freshman year as a member of Loyola Marymount where she appeared in one match.
Duong, a Portland, Oregon native, returns to play for her hometown team after three years at Stanford University and two prior at the University of Minnesota, appearing in 66 matches between the two schools. As a member of the Stanford Cardinals, Duong recorded two goals and seven assists, and was a member of the 2023 NCAA College Cup squad that finished as runner-ups.
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
Thorns FC selected five players in the 2024 NWSL Entry Draft, presented by Ally, including forward Payton Linnehan, midfielder Olivia Wade-Katoa, defender Kelsey Kaufusi, goalkeeper Katherine Asman and midfielder Katie Duong.
“A successful 2024 NWSL Draft for us. As our owner Lisa Bhathal Merage said ‘We are bringing great players and even greater people to a great city,’” Portland Thorns FC General Manager Karina LeBlanc said. “It was a complete draft for us, we got a player in every position and took one step closer to building a roster for 2024 that will compete at the highest level.”
“We are really pleased with the young women we have selected to be part of the Thorns family. They are entering a very exciting next stage of their soccer journeys and to see their faces and hear their voices as they embark on this is an honor to be a part of,” Head Coach Mike Norris said. “We feel that we were able to get the right women as we continue to build for the 2024 season and beyond.”
Linnehan, the 11th overall pick, joins Thorns FC from Penn State University where she recorded 34 goals and 24 assists in 90 appearances during her five years as a Nittany Lion. In each of her five seasons with Penn State, Linnehan and her squad made NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Round of 16 in three of the five. Additionally, Linnehan won two Big Ten Tournament Championships in 2019 and 2022.
Wade-Katoa, the 23rd overall pick, and a graduate of Brigham Young University, comes to Portland after recording 25 goals and 20 assists in 120 matches for the Cougars. Wade-Katoa led the Cougars to its first-ever NCAA College Cup, finishing as the runners-up in 2021, before returning again in 2023. Additionally, Wade-Katoa and BYU earned a second-place finish in their first season in the Big 12 Conference.
Kaufusi, the 25th overall pick from Utah State University, joins the Thorns as the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. During her four years with Utah State she made 76 appearances, all of them starts. With her selection, Kaufusi becomes the first-ever Utah State graduate to be drafted into the National Women’s Soccer League.
Asman, the 39th overall pick, joins Linnehan as the second Penn State University Nittany Lion to be selected by the Thorns in the draft. Asman made 323 saves and 27 shutouts across 87 games as the Nittany Lion’s goalkeeper. Before joining Penn State, Asman spent her freshman year as a member of Loyola Marymount where she appeared in one match.
Duong, a Portland, Oregon native, returns to play for her hometown team after three years at Stanford University and two prior at the University of Minnesota, appearing in 66 matches between the two schools. As a member of the Stanford Cardinals, Duong recorded two goals and seven assists, and was a member of the 2023 NCAA College Cup squad that finished as runner-ups.
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