Happy with this signing but let's make sure we also re-sign Becky. Yes, she's in the latter stages of her career but her final year (whenever it comes) should be in Portland. We need her leadership and stability on and off the field.
I do expect Becky Sauerbrunn back. It's not for certain, of course, but I do think it'll happen. She deserves a proper farewell season as well, Kling too.
Sauerbrunn has said she wants to stay in Portland, so hopefully the club can get it done. Hiatt's signing shows there is still someone keeping the lights on at Thorns FC, so hopefully the contract negotiations with Becky are moving along too.
Since the Hiatt signing + Phuoc's hint of more to come has me in a good mood already, let me point out that Hiatt is pretty much the polar opposite of Hubly: Awesome in the air (literally, she has a 99th percentile aerial duel win rate), super calm, and really good in terms of progression with the ball at her feet. Also was the captain of that Stanford team her senior year.
Obviously we need more, but simply not having Sinc and Hubly form a fifth of our field-playing contingent every match is going to be a pretty big deal on its own.
Yeah the two things I noticed in her during her college days was that she was 1) very confident in the air (esp for a college player) and 2) very calm on the ball. I can't remember fully but I do think she has more speed than Hubs.
She also captained the U20 team at the 2018 World Cup.
Funny side note- I stumbled upon a page for that U20 team and was looking at the roster, and just look who Naomi Girma was playing for at the time....California Thorns! I had no idea this was even a club, but I looked at the badge and it's def the Thorns badge, but says California instead of Portland. So, Naomi Girma has been a Thorn.
I did a little hunting around the web to find that California Thorns is/was based in Fresno, CA. As one would expect, any elite youth player from any city in California would find it attractive. So, Girma of San Jose qualified.
In any event, my first thought was to share with you all that, as I was born and raised in Los Angeles, my parents loved roses and as a kid I went with them to the huge L.A. Rose Garden. I've been to Portland a lot, but never to its Rose Garden. Having said that, my SWAG is that there are many more acres of the L.A. Rose Garden than the Portland Rose Garden...which means many, many, many more thorns. :-D :-D :-D But Fresno??? Well, Fresno is an agricultural town and it's very very hot a lot of the year. I imagine they grow a boat load of roses get shipped to florists.
When Runner Girl was still Soccering Girl, baby Thorns appeared at club tournaments in the area, but I never inquired where they were based, just assumed some PDX burb. Fresno? Did not imagine that possibility.
Furthest flung team I can recall was the club from Alaska.
Those coach's showcases had a unique draw compared to other tournaments. The few I spoke with were never from how you say, elite programs. I observed the whole club structure and uni recruiting process as fraught. Unless you finagle your kid onto at least DPL and above, or her coach and club management are somehow connected and feel she's got that "extra something" for them to make calls, it's a mountain to climb and you're probably not summiting.
Fresno's probably not any hotter than the rest of the Valley. Now Redding and Bakersfield, they get hot and don't cool overnight. I expect Pinoe has her thoughts.
You want a few hot climate gals on your club for those Orlando visits.
I've driven that entire valley at quite a lot one time or another throughout my life. You are correct that Fresno and Bakersfield are in that same climate. The climate is pretty consistent up to including Sacramento. However, Redding is much cooler and higher elevation.
Of course, if you are "Sacramento Rick," you will know better than I would.
Will only add Redding is a "city of contrasts." Among my many times to or through there, I've seen a half-foot of snow (bizarre for the Valley) and 118 degrees. Only other place I've encountered 118 was Phoenix in August. Do. Not. Want.
I know stats don't tell the whole story, but dang, if Hiatt is that good in the air, she's gotta be a lock for the preferred 11 on a Thorns team that collectively sucks in that department, no?
Speaking of players with "hops," wasn't that defender Jaz Spencer I saw defending a corner kick and "out-hop'd" Taylor Flint to head the ball away from goal?
Fun fact: she's from a volleyball family and probably carries the black sheep label at family gettogethers. "You have to use your feet? Hah!"
One of Runner Girl's roommates is a volleyball player at Wake, and six feet, five. Truly a woman I can look up to. I swear I did not make one single dad joke--no chance she hasn't heard them all.
First and foremost, I would like to see a new HC answering questions about the team for next season. RG quotes about next season kinda take the joy of a good signing away lol...
(I know a GM will come first, I was just answering Phuoc's question about other moves I'd like to see.)
Yeah, I think any hire worth their salt won't wanna rehash Gale with their rep now on the line. If you watched the Thorns at all last season, it's a miracle we even made playoffs tbh. It was just bad football with some really good players. Let Gale go coach Houston and I'd bet my dog they'd be at the bottom next season.
With Parsons, I dunno. Based on actual convos I've had with him, he seems very eager to please Thorns fans (who he knows has been through it the past few years.) It would be very unpopular to keep Gale around. Also based on these convos, he's straight up told me that the team last year was unrecognizable for many reasons, though he respectfully said he didn't wanna name names. I can't imagine he was only talking about KK...I think he's certainly aware Gale is a poor coach and looking at the influx of good coaches in the league, it's be an anchor to his own career to keep him around. That's not my endorsement of Parsons for GM, I just think he'd have a personal/emotional stake in bettering the team, and I do think he likely knows poor coaching from not, even if he may not be a great one himself.
If it's some other Canadian lackey that they found with little experience and ambition? Yeah prob will stick around.
Do I most prefer someone from a Euro league who already has FA experience and just new ideas and connections? Yes def. We need some global influence if we wanna grow.
Which is another good reason why I'd be less enthusiastic about Parsons. Someone totally new with a real reputation is gonna want to do things their way while Parsons might not have that type of influence.
A feeling is great and all, but it’s really not founded on anything concrete. My guess is Parsons would fire or reassign Gale immediately based on other comments made. That said, I’d bet he’d bring back Angela Salem to be the coach rather than an international assistant.
Well, we have literally nothing concrete to go with on Parsons. Your guess is also based on feeling. What we do know is that he'd be entirely new to the job.
That goes for every GM candidate. We know who Parsons is and there is absolutely nothing from his history here that suggests he’s a Lap dog with no opinion who would knowingly keep a coach he doesn’t view as competent.
To me, it seems like his biggest strike against him is the fact that he’s been here before. People are making up negatives when real ones exist.
1. His past two stops have not been successful
2. We don’t know whether he can handle it as the primary GM.
That’s it. His personality, intellect, disposition, and relationship with both the players and the fans seem like major positives.
You suggested that an experienced sporting director would likely fire Gale and you feel like Parsons would keep him. Based on what?
Your feelings have nothing to do with reality nor Parsons capability to do the job.
I feel like Parsons would fire Gale and had a bigger role in the Thorns roster composition than he’s being given credit for. Gavin Wilkinson was on split duty and the Timbers always appeared to be his primary focus.
Chicago: Players not retained by Chicago: Sydney Schneider, Tatumn Milazzo, Maximiliane Rall, and Ally Cook, making them free agents. Midfielders Julia Bianchi and Sophie Jones did not have options on their contracts for 2025 and become free agents.
Another boat the Portland Thorns front office missed at the college draft.
Going forward, however, it could help recruiting. "Hi, I'm Mike with the Portland Thorns. You played for the California Thorns as a teenager. Wouldn't you like to maintain your tradition when you turn professional?"
1. The draft order in 2021 was determined by the challenge cup preliminary round standings because of COVID, which made it so the Thorns had a much higher natural first round pick than they would have otherwise.
2. There was a lot of back and forth about whether Rodman was going to be eligible for the draft that year because she didn’t actually play in college. Fox was the clear #1, but it was a weak draft high-end talent wise (though the Thorns certainly nailed the two picks they did have).
I don’t recall the order being determined until after the scenarios were in place. If they would have included the whole tournament, the pick would have been a few picks later
mind-twisting, isn't it? the "butterfly effect" would likely have stepped in and ruined it, but in a nearby multiverse the Thorns would have the "Triple Espresso" front line right now.
The voters notice US players when we win a major international tournament. In years when we don't, the same players get ignored, even though they're just as good.
I've been working on ignoring these popularity contests, with partial success.
I must say that I am both surprised and excited. I am excited by the selection, a former U-20 WNT comes with credibility. I am excited because for me this is an essential position, even if Sauerbrunn was 5 years younger and they both started and even if Sauerbrunn had one more season.
The surprise is that Thorns pulled the trigger now, instead of waiting for natural grass to grow under their feet at Providence Park. The other surprise is that Rob Gale made the announcement. I mean, come on. The man has one foot across the threshold.
Heck, I'd even have Becky announced as interim head player-coach. Despite the fact that she's no longer playing, I would say that Becky would be better head coach than Sinclair because Becky know both ends of the field...like Franz Beckenbauer.
I'd prep yourself for the very real possibility that the new GM gives Gale a chance as they get their feet under them, even if it's absolutely the wrong decision.
But, even if he does have one foot out the door, Gale is still the coach as of today and they're gonna have a quote from him in the press release, whether or not he's still the coach in a month.
Loop, currently playing very softly on the Thorns World Headquarters speakers:
"The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened."
So happy because it is probably the team's most needed position fill with Becky getting close to retirement and Hubly's expressed wish to start a family. Now I want to know more about Sam. That makes two Sam's on the team. The era of Emily is over and now the Sams.
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have updated the status of the club’s roster heading into the offseason.
Ahead of the End of Season process, the Thorns have waived forward Izzy D’Aquila, allowing her to pursue other opportunities. D’Aquila joined the Thorns ahead of the 2023 season as the 12th overall pick in the NWSL Draft. Throughout her two years with the Club D’Aquila appeared in 29 matches. D’Aquila scored her first professional goal on May 24 against Orlando Pride. The forward scored her second professional goal on July 5, netting the late-game winner against San Diego Wave.
Midfielder Marissa Sheva, goalkeepers Lauren Kozal and Kat Asman, defenders Kelli Hubly, Meghan Klingenberg, Gabby Provenzano and Becky Sauerbrunn, and recently retired forward Christine Sinclair, are all out of contract and thus Free Agents under the CBA and are free to sign with any team in the league, including the Portland Thorns.
Additionally, The Thorns recently signed midfielder Sophie Hirst and defender Mallie McKenzie to contract extensions. Hirst and McKenzie were set to be free agents per the CBA and elected to re-sign with Portland. The Club also recently signed free agent Sam Hiatt from Gotham FC, inking the centerback through the 2026 season with an option for 2027. Hiatt’s contract will go into effect January 1, 2025.
Portland Thorns Current Roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan
Defenders (6): Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL), Nicole Payne, Isabella Obaze (INTL), Reyna Reyes
Midfielders (6): Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Sophie Hirst, Olivia Moultrie, Hina Sugita (INTL), Olivia Wade-Katoa
One thing I noticed, based on previous form, whenever the Thorns release a forward, after a couple seasons that forward comes bag to Providence Park to reek havoc on the Thorns. It's happened so often that I pause to think that D'Aquila should be re-signed. The Thorns have free'd up a couple goalkeeper spots so D'Aquila could take that seat.
Now, before anyone says I'm crazy, were the Thorns to hire a head coach with a teaching mentality (not just a cheerleader mentality) D'Aquila could be coached-up to be a depth player.
Btw they were the only team to miss the 3pm deadline. And it appears that folks are loling at the FO on Bluesky. Would just like to not be a league joke sometime soon lol...
ROFL. COME ON PEOPLE! The Thorns front office is doing a global search for a fact checker back-up position, backing up the number 2 factor checker backing up the first string fact checker.
Hey everyone, I just realized... I interviewed her at the 2023 NWSL Championship media day.
I am going to put together a shorter Kickin' It with Sam Hiatt together for you all.
Bring it!!!
Happy with this signing but let's make sure we also re-sign Becky. Yes, she's in the latter stages of her career but her final year (whenever it comes) should be in Portland. We need her leadership and stability on and off the field.
I do expect Becky Sauerbrunn back. It's not for certain, of course, but I do think it'll happen. She deserves a proper farewell season as well, Kling too.
Indeed.
Sauerbrunn has said she wants to stay in Portland, so hopefully the club can get it done. Hiatt's signing shows there is still someone keeping the lights on at Thorns FC, so hopefully the contract negotiations with Becky are moving along too.
Have never been so proud in my life. Have to imagine this is what it's like to see your inept little child take their first steps :)))
Loool toddler club. We have graduated to solid food!
I love my large adult club
Since the Hiatt signing + Phuoc's hint of more to come has me in a good mood already, let me point out that Hiatt is pretty much the polar opposite of Hubly: Awesome in the air (literally, she has a 99th percentile aerial duel win rate), super calm, and really good in terms of progression with the ball at her feet. Also was the captain of that Stanford team her senior year.
Obviously we need more, but simply not having Sinc and Hubly form a fifth of our field-playing contingent every match is going to be a pretty big deal on its own.
Yeah the two things I noticed in her during her college days was that she was 1) very confident in the air (esp for a college player) and 2) very calm on the ball. I can't remember fully but I do think she has more speed than Hubs.
She also captained the U20 team at the 2018 World Cup.
Funny side note- I stumbled upon a page for that U20 team and was looking at the roster, and just look who Naomi Girma was playing for at the time....California Thorns! I had no idea this was even a club, but I looked at the badge and it's def the Thorns badge, but says California instead of Portland. So, Naomi Girma has been a Thorn.
https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/7/17/17583142/klimkova-names-2018-u20-womens-world-cup-france-roster
I did a little hunting around the web to find that California Thorns is/was based in Fresno, CA. As one would expect, any elite youth player from any city in California would find it attractive. So, Girma of San Jose qualified.
In any event, my first thought was to share with you all that, as I was born and raised in Los Angeles, my parents loved roses and as a kid I went with them to the huge L.A. Rose Garden. I've been to Portland a lot, but never to its Rose Garden. Having said that, my SWAG is that there are many more acres of the L.A. Rose Garden than the Portland Rose Garden...which means many, many, many more thorns. :-D :-D :-D But Fresno??? Well, Fresno is an agricultural town and it's very very hot a lot of the year. I imagine they grow a boat load of roses get shipped to florists.
When Runner Girl was still Soccering Girl, baby Thorns appeared at club tournaments in the area, but I never inquired where they were based, just assumed some PDX burb. Fresno? Did not imagine that possibility.
Furthest flung team I can recall was the club from Alaska.
Those coach's showcases had a unique draw compared to other tournaments. The few I spoke with were never from how you say, elite programs. I observed the whole club structure and uni recruiting process as fraught. Unless you finagle your kid onto at least DPL and above, or her coach and club management are somehow connected and feel she's got that "extra something" for them to make calls, it's a mountain to climb and you're probably not summiting.
Fresno's probably not any hotter than the rest of the Valley. Now Redding and Bakersfield, they get hot and don't cool overnight. I expect Pinoe has her thoughts.
You want a few hot climate gals on your club for those Orlando visits.
I've driven that entire valley at quite a lot one time or another throughout my life. You are correct that Fresno and Bakersfield are in that same climate. The climate is pretty consistent up to including Sacramento. However, Redding is much cooler and higher elevation.
Of course, if you are "Sacramento Rick," you will know better than I would.
Will only add Redding is a "city of contrasts." Among my many times to or through there, I've seen a half-foot of snow (bizarre for the Valley) and 118 degrees. Only other place I've encountered 118 was Phoenix in August. Do. Not. Want.
FWIW, there is also a Missouri Thorns, also affiliated with PTFC.
I know stats don't tell the whole story, but dang, if Hiatt is that good in the air, she's gotta be a lock for the preferred 11 on a Thorns team that collectively sucks in that department, no?
Speaking of players with "hops," wasn't that defender Jaz Spencer I saw defending a corner kick and "out-hop'd" Taylor Flint to head the ball away from goal?
Could be. If Taylor Flint could hop, I suspect she'd be in the WNBA.
Fun fact: she's from a volleyball family and probably carries the black sheep label at family gettogethers. "You have to use your feet? Hah!"
One of Runner Girl's roommates is a volleyball player at Wake, and six feet, five. Truly a woman I can look up to. I swear I did not make one single dad joke--no chance she hasn't heard them all.
Absolutely correct!
Cool! Not least because she and Soph overlap @ Stanford: 2017-2018/2018-2019 respectively.
Now that was a team who knew how to dominate.
Perhaps a play to keep Soph in town (in addition to being a position of need)?
First and foremost, I would like to see a new HC answering questions about the team for next season. RG quotes about next season kinda take the joy of a good signing away lol...
(I know a GM will come first, I was just answering Phuoc's question about other moves I'd like to see.)
my feeling on this is if it's an experienced sporting director you might see a head coaching change. if it's Parsons i have a feeling you won't
Yeah, I think any hire worth their salt won't wanna rehash Gale with their rep now on the line. If you watched the Thorns at all last season, it's a miracle we even made playoffs tbh. It was just bad football with some really good players. Let Gale go coach Houston and I'd bet my dog they'd be at the bottom next season.
With Parsons, I dunno. Based on actual convos I've had with him, he seems very eager to please Thorns fans (who he knows has been through it the past few years.) It would be very unpopular to keep Gale around. Also based on these convos, he's straight up told me that the team last year was unrecognizable for many reasons, though he respectfully said he didn't wanna name names. I can't imagine he was only talking about KK...I think he's certainly aware Gale is a poor coach and looking at the influx of good coaches in the league, it's be an anchor to his own career to keep him around. That's not my endorsement of Parsons for GM, I just think he'd have a personal/emotional stake in bettering the team, and I do think he likely knows poor coaching from not, even if he may not be a great one himself.
If it's some other Canadian lackey that they found with little experience and ambition? Yeah prob will stick around.
Do I most prefer someone from a Euro league who already has FA experience and just new ideas and connections? Yes def. We need some global influence if we wanna grow.
Which is another good reason why I'd be less enthusiastic about Parsons. Someone totally new with a real reputation is gonna want to do things their way while Parsons might not have that type of influence.
The new GM should immediately have that influence whether it is Parsons or someone else
I don’t disagree with you at all about this.
A feeling is great and all, but it’s really not founded on anything concrete. My guess is Parsons would fire or reassign Gale immediately based on other comments made. That said, I’d bet he’d bring back Angela Salem to be the coach rather than an international assistant.
Well, we have literally nothing concrete to go with on Parsons. Your guess is also based on feeling. What we do know is that he'd be entirely new to the job.
That goes for every GM candidate. We know who Parsons is and there is absolutely nothing from his history here that suggests he’s a Lap dog with no opinion who would knowingly keep a coach he doesn’t view as competent.
To me, it seems like his biggest strike against him is the fact that he’s been here before. People are making up negatives when real ones exist.
1. His past two stops have not been successful
2. We don’t know whether he can handle it as the primary GM.
That’s it. His personality, intellect, disposition, and relationship with both the players and the fans seem like major positives.
Nowhere did I say he was a lap dog. We have no idea if he thinks Gale is competent or not. We have no idea what he would look for in a coach!
"To me, it seems like his biggest strike against him is the fact that he’s been here before. People are making up negatives when real ones exist."
That's certainly not true of me. My biggest fear is that he hasn't done the job before.
You suggested that an experienced sporting director would likely fire Gale and you feel like Parsons would keep him. Based on what?
Your feelings have nothing to do with reality nor Parsons capability to do the job.
I feel like Parsons would fire Gale and had a bigger role in the Thorns roster composition than he’s being given credit for. Gavin Wilkinson was on split duty and the Timbers always appeared to be his primary focus.
We’ll see soon enough
No way I’ve been singing Sam Hiatt’s praises since her ol reign days
Chicago: Players not retained by Chicago: Sydney Schneider, Tatumn Milazzo, Maximiliane Rall, and Ally Cook, making them free agents. Midfielders Julia Bianchi and Sophie Jones did not have options on their contracts for 2025 and become free agents.
Bring me Milazzo, plz.
She's good alright. I get my Cooks mixed up, is Ally one of the Good Cooks?
If so, then a chef's kiss would be in order.
Programming note: College Cup final tonight 4:00 our time. ESPNU/ESPN+.
Can little Wake Forest slay the UNC giant? Fingers crossed.
Yesterday I noted that The Guardian's Top 100, from 100-11 had not included Smith, Rodman, Horan, Swanson, and Girma.
Well, guess what? Smith 3, Rodman 5, Horan 6, Swanson 9, Girma 10.
Banda was also in the Top 10 (7), making for 5 NWSLers in the Top 10.
Just imagine: if things had broken a little differently, all of those players (except Girma and Banda) could be Thorns today.
Naomi Girma WAS a Thorn...just a California Thorn, back in her club days: https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/7/17/17583142/klimkova-names-2018-u20-womens-world-cup-france-roster
Another boat the Portland Thorns front office missed at the college draft.
Going forward, however, it could help recruiting. "Hi, I'm Mike with the Portland Thorns. You played for the California Thorns as a teenager. Wouldn't you like to maintain your tradition when you turn professional?"
Rodman was almost a thorn?
In 2020, Thorns traded Midge Purce and their 2021 #1 pick to Gotham (then SkyBlue) for Rocky Rodriguez. That draft pick ended up being Rodman.
Wha? I mean I love Rocky but how is that even sort of an even trade?
There are a few unmentioned parts here:
1. The draft order in 2021 was determined by the challenge cup preliminary round standings because of COVID, which made it so the Thorns had a much higher natural first round pick than they would have otherwise.
2. There was a lot of back and forth about whether Rodman was going to be eligible for the draft that year because she didn’t actually play in college. Fox was the clear #1, but it was a weak draft high-end talent wise (though the Thorns certainly nailed the two picks they did have).
I don’t recall the order being determined until after the scenarios were in place. If they would have included the whole tournament, the pick would have been a few picks later
mind-twisting, isn't it? the "butterfly effect" would likely have stepped in and ruined it, but in a nearby multiverse the Thorns would have the "Triple Espresso" front line right now.
The voters notice US players when we win a major international tournament. In years when we don't, the same players get ignored, even though they're just as good.
I've been working on ignoring these popularity contests, with partial success.
Now if only a deal could be made for Midge Purce
Does this make Rob coach and GM?
Yes. Resistance is futile.
This is the Kend
Beautiful friend, the Kend
This is the Kend
My only friend, the Kend
Of our elaborate plans, the Kend
Of everything that stands, the Kend
He is the lizard king!
Gee thanks. I'll spend the night tossing and turning in bed from the nightmare.
I must say that I am both surprised and excited. I am excited by the selection, a former U-20 WNT comes with credibility. I am excited because for me this is an essential position, even if Sauerbrunn was 5 years younger and they both started and even if Sauerbrunn had one more season.
The surprise is that Thorns pulled the trigger now, instead of waiting for natural grass to grow under their feet at Providence Park. The other surprise is that Rob Gale made the announcement. I mean, come on. The man has one foot across the threshold.
Heck, I'd even have Becky announced as interim head player-coach. Despite the fact that she's no longer playing, I would say that Becky would be better head coach than Sinclair because Becky know both ends of the field...like Franz Beckenbauer.
I'd prep yourself for the very real possibility that the new GM gives Gale a chance as they get their feet under them, even if it's absolutely the wrong decision.
But, even if he does have one foot out the door, Gale is still the coach as of today and they're gonna have a quote from him in the press release, whether or not he's still the coach in a month.
"After an world wide search for a new GM, we decided mike Norris is the best candidate for the job. He was under our nose the whole time"
ROFL
Loop, currently playing very softly on the Thorns World Headquarters speakers:
"The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened. The streak never happened."
So happy because it is probably the team's most needed position fill with Becky getting close to retirement and Hubly's expressed wish to start a family. Now I want to know more about Sam. That makes two Sam's on the team. The era of Emily is over and now the Sams.
Or we could get Emily Sams and knock it out of the park! Been wanting her since she was in college...
Obviously we need to sign Emily Sams too!
That would be a completely awesome backline.
Emily Sams is the closest thing to Girma in the league, but almost certainly untouchable.
Looking forward to a Green Eggs and Ham-themed tifo w/ the legend reading "I cannot score on Sam-I-Am."
Great wall of Sams!
Here's the full roster release news from the now dead link (I still have the tab up):
PORTLAND THORNS ANNOUNCE END-OF-SEASON CONTRACT UPDATES
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC have updated the status of the club’s roster heading into the offseason.
Ahead of the End of Season process, the Thorns have waived forward Izzy D’Aquila, allowing her to pursue other opportunities. D’Aquila joined the Thorns ahead of the 2023 season as the 12th overall pick in the NWSL Draft. Throughout her two years with the Club D’Aquila appeared in 29 matches. D’Aquila scored her first professional goal on May 24 against Orlando Pride. The forward scored her second professional goal on July 5, netting the late-game winner against San Diego Wave.
Midfielder Marissa Sheva, goalkeepers Lauren Kozal and Kat Asman, defenders Kelli Hubly, Meghan Klingenberg, Gabby Provenzano and Becky Sauerbrunn, and recently retired forward Christine Sinclair, are all out of contract and thus Free Agents under the CBA and are free to sign with any team in the league, including the Portland Thorns.
Additionally, The Thorns recently signed midfielder Sophie Hirst and defender Mallie McKenzie to contract extensions. Hirst and McKenzie were set to be free agents per the CBA and elected to re-sign with Portland. The Club also recently signed free agent Sam Hiatt from Gotham FC, inking the centerback through the 2026 season with an option for 2027. Hiatt’s contract will go into effect January 1, 2025.
Portland Thorns Current Roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Mackenzie Arnold (INTL), Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan
Defenders (6): Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Marie Müller (INTL), Nicole Payne, Isabella Obaze (INTL), Reyna Reyes
Midfielders (6): Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (INTL), Sophie Hirst, Olivia Moultrie, Hina Sugita (INTL), Olivia Wade-Katoa
Forwards (5): Payton Linnehan, Sophia Smith, Alexa Spaanstra, Reilyn Turner, Morgan Weaver
One thing I noticed, based on previous form, whenever the Thorns release a forward, after a couple seasons that forward comes bag to Providence Park to reek havoc on the Thorns. It's happened so often that I pause to think that D'Aquila should be re-signed. The Thorns have free'd up a couple goalkeeper spots so D'Aquila could take that seat.
Now, before anyone says I'm crazy, were the Thorns to hire a head coach with a teaching mentality (not just a cheerleader mentality) D'Aquila could be coached-up to be a depth player.
I hope she goes to a team with a good coach that doesn’t play her out of position. I think she will thrive with good coaching
Bay could make sense because of her Santa Clara days, but she's from SoCal and one of those clubs could be a landing spot.
OTOH Spirit would reunite her with Tara McKeown, her SC teammate and fellow SoCal gal.
Hope she lands a gig, wherever. Never thrived under Thorns' purported system.
Post was updated. Can you tell what they changed?
Lol, literally no changes. Not even a comma lol.
See? Totally functional front office. They didn't make ANY mistakes!!!
Btw they were the only team to miss the 3pm deadline. And it appears that folks are loling at the FO on Bluesky. Would just like to not be a league joke sometime soon lol...
"We're still on daylight time; duh, c'mon people, THINK!"
--FO person assigned to Tuesday cleanup
ROFL. COME ON PEOPLE! The Thorns front office is doing a global search for a fact checker back-up position, backing up the number 2 factor checker backing up the first string fact checker.
Let me guess-one of them went on a six fact winning streak, so the world-wide search was called off...
The mysterious people in charge of the thorns are late turning in paperwork. Every other team already published
The management culture is to be late for work.
They did push through two depth signings so at least someone is working I suppose
I think I post this annually in reference to this FO: https://images.app.goo.gl/FF5WM6NMFKbE3ckH8
ROFL. Thanks for that.
Very accurate