THORNS FC SIGN DEFENDER SAM HIATT
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have signed free agent Sam Hiatt through the 2026 season with an option for 2027, the Club announced today.
“We’ve had the opportunity to watch Sam up close for many years as she played with both Seattle and Gotham. She has proven to be capable at this level, and matches both the positional need and player profile that we are looking for as we begin to build for the upcoming year,” Head Coach Rob Gale said. “Having spoken with Sam, I have been impressed by her character, coupled with her desire to play in Portland and her commitment to improving her game as part of this team.“
Hiatt joins the Thorns following a year-long stint as a member of NJ/NY Gotham FC where she appeared in 17 matches, 12 of them starts. On October 20 against the Orlando Pride Hiatt scored her first professional goal, opening scoring on the way to a 3-1 victory.
Before making the move to Gotham, Hiatt spent her first four professional years in her home state as a member of the Seattle Reign. The Reign drafted Hiatt 33rd overall in the 2020 NWSL Draft and throughout her four years in Seattle she appeared in 45 matches, all of them starts. During the 2022 seasons Hiatt played in 20 out of a possible 22 matches, contributing to eight clean sheets while helping the Reign lift the 2022 NWSL Shield.
Collegiately, Hiatt spent time at Stanford University and Boston College, playing her freshman year as an Eagle before transferring and becoming a Cardinal. During her freshman year Hiatt played and started in 19 matches for the Eagles, registering one goal and five assists. While at Stanford Hiatt recorded two goals and nine assists in 53 games played. Additionally, Hiatt helped Stanford lift two NCAA Championships, winning the title in 2017 and 2019.
Internationally, Hiatt has represented the United States at various youth levels and was part of the U-20 squad which represented the Red, White and Blue at the 2018 U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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 SIGN DEFENDER SAM HIATT
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have signed free agent Sam Hiatt through the 2026 season with an option for 2027, the Club announced today.
“We’ve had the opportunity to watch Sam up close for many years as she played with both Seattle and Gotham. She has proven to be capable at this level, and matches both the positional need and player profile that we are looking for as we begin to build for the upcoming year,” Head Coach Rob Gale said. “Having spoken with Sam, I have been impressed by her character, coupled with her desire to play in Portland and her commitment to improving her game as part of this team.“
Hiatt joins the Thorns following a year-long stint as a member of NJ/NY Gotham FC where she appeared in 17 matches, 12 of them starts. On October 20 against the Orlando Pride Hiatt scored her first professional goal, opening scoring on the way to a 3-1 victory.
Before making the move to Gotham, Hiatt spent her first four professional years in her home state as a member of the Seattle Reign. The Reign drafted Hiatt 33rd overall in the 2020 NWSL Draft and throughout her four years in Seattle she appeared in 45 matches, all of them starts. During the 2022 seasons Hiatt played in 20 out of a possible 22 matches, contributing to eight clean sheets while helping the Reign lift the 2022 NWSL Shield.
Collegiately, Hiatt spent time at Stanford University and Boston College, playing her freshman year as an Eagle before transferring and becoming a Cardinal. During her freshman year Hiatt played and started in 19 matches for the Eagles, registering one goal and five assists. While at Stanford Hiatt recorded two goals and nine assists in 53 games played. Additionally, Hiatt helped Stanford lift two NCAA Championships, winning the title in 2017 and 2019.
Internationally, Hiatt has represented the United States at various youth levels and was part of the U-20 squad which represented the Red, White and Blue at the 2018 U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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