Hanks Nets Stoppage-Time Winner in Return as Portland Thorns Edge Orlando Pride 2-1

Caiya Hanks scored in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to give the Portland Thorns a 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride on Saturday at Providence Park, capping her return from an ACL injury that had kept her out for over a year.

Hanks entered the match in the 88th minute and curled home the winner from outside the box in the 96th, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and extending Portland's home unbeaten streak to 12 matches.

The Thorns broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Pietra Tordin laid the ball off to Deyna Castellanos, who placed it into the top left corner from the top right of the Orlando box, over goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

Pride Level, Thorns Answer Late

The lead lasted five minutes. In the 63rd minute, Mackenzie Arnold's diving punch to clear a crossed ball ricocheted off the knees of Orlando forward Jacquie Ovalle and rolled into the net. It was Ovalle's second goal of the regular season and the first the Pride had scored at Providence Park since 2021.

Both sides pushed for a winner, but the match stayed level until Hanks' late intervention. Arnold made five saves on the night to keep Portland in it, including three in the first half.

The match also marked a celebration of former Thorn Meghan Klingenberg at Providence Park, and Gabi Nunes made her Pride debut as a second-half substitute.

What It Means

The win was Portland's ninth at home on the season and kept the Thorns in the thick of the NWSL playoff race in mid-August. For Hanks, the goal was a landmark moment after more than a year on the sidelines, and it came in just her second appearance back.

Orlando, which made four changes to its starting lineup, was without Kylie Nadaner, Viviana Villacorta, Hannah Anderson, Oihane and Marta through injury and maternity leave. The Pride outshot Portland 12-10 and earned six corners to Portland's none, but could not hold on for a point.